Newsletter #120 for September 2025
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The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting proposals for fourteen (14) new research projects that address critical water-sector challenges. These opportunities join the 9 RFPs announced in August, bringing the total to 23 active projects with a combined funding pool of $5.2 million. Funded through WRF's Research Priority Program, these projects were selected by WRF’s Research Advisory Council, which develops their annual research agenda by identifying the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Focusing on the One Water approach, these 14 newly announced research projects explore a wide range of pressing topics, including asset
management, PFAS source identification, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, and more
Research Focus Areas:
The focus areas for the fourteen new research projects include:
- Developing a Robust Framework for PFAS Source Identification and Characterization (5355)
- Simultaneous Control of Regulated and Emerging DBPs of Health Concern (5361)
- Nature-Based Approaches for Concentrate and Salinity Management (5366)
- Data Centers: Understanding Economic Considerations and Opportunities for Water and Wastewater Utilities (5367)
- Framework for Assessing Alternative Water Systems: Economic, Environmental, and Social Aspects (5368)
Proposals are due on November 20, 2025, 3 PM MT and should be submitted through WRF's new online portal. Prospective applicants should refer to WRF's proposal submittal guidance to gain familiarity with the new submission process.
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A collaborative pilot project between the University of Calgary, the Japan Sewage Works Agency, FujiClean, and LM Wastewater, with funding from Alberta Innovates, is evaluating the performance of FujiClean Jokaso, a compact Japanese wastewater treatment unit designed to be used in colder climates and rural communities across Canada. Installed at UCalgary’s Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) research facility, the Jokaso system includes a full-scale municipal treatment processes within a 40-foot shipping container. The system uses biological treatment, filtration, clarification, and disinfection to produce wastewater effluent safe for discharge into natural water sources. The pilot aims to determine whether this technology can replace traditional septic tanks and lagoon systems, offering a more efficient and scalable solution for remote areas.
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Source
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Stanford researchers are reimagining wastewater as a valuable resource rich in nutrients, pharmaceuticals, minerals, and metal cumulatively worth billions of dollars. At the heart of this effort is the Codiga Resource Recovery Center, a demonstration site on Stanford’s campus that allows scientists to directly access and experiment with raw wastewater from the local sewer system. Using advanced treatment technologies, including microbial fuel cells and membrane filtration,
researchers are exploring ways to recover ammonia for fertilizer, extract phosphorus, and even generate electricity, all while improving water quality. The work reflects a growing shift toward circular water systems that prioritize sustainability and resource recovery.
The article also highlights the evolution of direct potable water reuse, with California now permitting direct reuse of highly treated wastewater for drinking. Stanford scientists are studying the microbiological implications of recycled water, which lacks the natural microbial diversity found in drinking water sources. Additionally, Stanford researchers are advancing technologies to recover nutrients like ammonia and phosphorus, extract valuable materials from wastewater, and generate renewable energy through microbial and electrochemical systems. By combining rigorous science with public engagement, the team aims to overcome the “yuck factor”, build trust in recycled water, and support a more
sustainable water economy.
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Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a promising alternative to traditional biogas recovery from sewage sludge by focusing on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), a common intermediate compound used in many materials, including bioplastics. Instead of converting sludge into methane, which is an energy intensive process, the team used hydrogen peroxide to inhibit methanogenesis and dramatically increased VFA yields, achieving over 30 times more VFAs than untreated controls. The study also revealed that light exposure further enhanced the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, prompting new reactor designs that incorporate LED lighting
to improve efficiency and reduce chemical use. This approach could improve anaerobic digestion to be a more economically viable and sustainable process for resource recovery.
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San Jose Water (SJW) has launched an ambitious operations control and data initiative designed to optimize pump operations, reduce energy costs, and lower carbon emissions. Recognizing that pump operations accounted for over 90% of its annual energy expenses, SJW implemented a centralized data infrastructure using the AVEVA PI system to aggregate real-time data from flow meters, pressure sensors, and SCADA systems. This change allowed the utility to monitor pump performance, define key performance indicators (KPIs), and transition from reactive to condition-based maintenance.
As a result, SJW improved operational visibility, reduced downtime, and enhanced decision-making around energy-efficient pump scheduling. The utility is also adopting an enterprise asset management (EAM) system to further strengthen its asset management capabilities. In summary, this real-time data infrastructure initiative has transformed SJW's everyday operations, cut costs, and positioned the utility on a clear path toward a sustainable and efficient future.
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Upcoming EventsA listing of webinars, symposia, and conferences relevant to this work.
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Water Quality Technology Conference
November 9 - 13, 2025 / Tacoma, WA
American Water Works Association
This conference brings together water professionals, researchers, and technology experts from around the world to explore cutting-edge science, treatment innovations, and emerging challenges in drinking water quality.
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Wastewater | Open Access
Research on the synthesis of lithium iron phosphate using vivianite prepared from municipal sludge
Chen, T., Chen, Y., Yang, Q., Lin, K., Su, M., & Chen, L. Research on the synthesis of lithium iron phosphate using vivianite prepared from municipal sludge. Scientific Reports. 15, 31420. (2025). doi:10.1038/s41598-025-16378-7.
Why it's interesting: Municipal sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, is often viewed as a disposal challenge, but it contains valuable phosphorus resources that can be recovered. In this study, researchers developed a novel resource recovery strategy which converts wastewater sludge to vivianite, a stable iron phosphate mineral, using a custom dual-chamber electrolytic cell. The vivianite was then used as a precursor for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄), a key cathode material in lithium-ion batteries. Through solid-phase synthesis, researchers explored various parameters including molar ratios, reducing agents, sintering temperatures, and furnace positioning to identify the optimal conditions for producing high quality
lithium iron phosphate. Although further exploration is needed to assess costs and scalability, this process presents an innovative and sustainable solution for recycling wastewater sludge.
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Wastewater | Open Access
Eradicating microplastics in wastewater: microalgae as a sustainable strategy
Silva, P.M., Sousa, P.M.S., Simões, M., Sousa, C.A. Eradicating microplastics in wastewater: Microalgae as a sustainable strategy. Science of the Total Environment. 999, 180366. (2025). doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180366.
Why it's interesting: Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as persistent and harmful pollutants in wastewater, with conventional treatment process unable to fully remove them. This review explores the potential of microalgae as a sustainable solution for MPs removal from wastewater. Microalgae can sequester MPs through hetero-aggregation, bioadsorption, and even biodegradation, while also contributing to nutrient recovery and carbon neutrality. Microalgae-based systems have demonstrated microplastics removal efficiencies of up to 84–98% for certain polymer types, with some studies reporting complete biodegradation of specific microplastics over extended periods. Although
promising, the study highlights challenges such as long retention times, harvesting costs, and the need for further research into biodegradation mechanisms and sludge management. The integration of microalgae into WWTPs offers a circular economy approach, but scaling up remains a key hurdle.
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Wastewater | Open Access
Pilot-scale treatment of domestic wastewater using selective ion flow cells
Lozada-Castro, J.J., Bastidas-Obando, J.D., Guerrero-Fajardo, C.A. (2025). Pilot-scale treatment of domestic wastewater using selective ion flow cells. Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability. 2. (2025). doi:10.20935/AcadEnvSci7894.
Why it's interesting: This study evaluates a pilot-scale wastewater treatment system using Selective Ion Flow Cell (SIFC) technology. SIFC systems treat wastewater by using electrochemical processes that selectively target and remove contaminants including heavy metals and nutrients through ion exchange and controlled flow dynamics, reducing the need for extensive chemical additives. With this technology, researchers were able to achieve high removal efficiencies of COD (90.54%), fats and oils (93.8%), and total solids (83.7%) with an optimal flow rate of 50 ml/min with a hydraulic retention time of 5.33 hours. These results met Colombian discharge regulations and demonstrated the potential of SIFCs not only for pollutant removal
but also for clean energy generation, producing up to 3.53 moles of hydrogen per hour. The study highlights the dual benefit of wastewater treatment and renewable energy production, promoting SIFC technology as a sustainable wastewater management process.
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