The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting research to address the knowledge gaps associated with the extent and variability of water quality impacted by wastewater effluent, the potential associations between levels of de facto reuse and human health risk, and the interventions needed to mitigate the impacts of de facto reuse.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/21/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The unplanned contribution of treated municipal wastewater to downstream water supplies is a common occurrence across the country. In some instances, wastewater can represent a significant portion of the total flow in receiving waters, with population growth, urbanization, and drought further increasing the contribution of wastewater to receiving waters. The National Academy of Engineering identified the quantification of de facto reuse as a priority research need for water reuse. Efforts to quantify the occurrence and potential health impacts have recently been made as water utilities have increasingly adopted a One Water framework. This framework is an integrated, holistic approach to managing all water—drinking water, wastewater and stormwater—as a single resource.
Outputs expected from the research funded under this funding opportunity may include, but are not limited to:
- Development of appropriate frameworks and methodologies for utilities, states, municipalities, and communities to quantify the extent and contribution of de facto reuse in drinking water sources.
- Decision support tools to assess risks associated with de facto reuse for utilities to manage water supply and protect human health.
- Risk assessments along with development of risk models and quantification of wastewater effluent contribution to water supply.
- Cost analysis for mitigation methods to reduce de facto reuse risk from pathogens and chemicals.
- Research, testing reports, and peer reviewed publications pertaining to the research areas.
- Support for small and large utilities for a better understanding of the potential impacts of de facto reuse on drinking water.
- Resources designed to assist states, municipalities, treatment facilities, and other stakeholders to identify when they experience levels of de facto reuse high enough to be of concern and tools to respond accordingly.
Outcomes expected from the research funded under this funding opportunity may include, but are not limited to:
- Better understanding of the impact, risk, and strategies to manage de facto reuse across the country with the goal of protection of human health from drinking water consumption.
- Increased collaboration between communities and water agencies to implement a united watershed approach.
- Improved holistic approaches that consider a variety of water sources, utility size, and regions of the country.
- Changes in public perception to planned water reuse with further research on the commonality of de facto reuse and better understanding of the extent of its risk.
Research Areas
- Research Area 1: Develop a holistic understanding of the national impact of de facto reuse
- Research Area 2: Evaluate the potential human health risk associated with de facto reuse
- Research Area 3: Explore interventions to mitigate risk from de facto reuse impacted drinking water
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $9,500,000
- Award Ceiling: $2,375,000
Project Period
3 years
Eligibility Criteria
- This solicitation is available to public and private nonprofit institutions and public and private universities and colleges located in the United States and its territories or possessions. Foreign universities/organizations, U.S. States, territories and possessions, the District of Columbia, State and local government departments, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments of the U.S., are not eligible to apply under this funding opportunity. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.
- Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
