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Newsletter #113 for February 2025 |
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The Environmental Research Institute of the States, a education and research nonprofit that focuses on improving the environment in the United States, has published their biennial ERIS report. ERIS conducts biennial surveys of state and environmental agency research needs to identify key research priorities and support EPA with research planning. This report highlights the finding from the sixth survey which was conducted in Fall 2024.
The survey asked to identify the top research needs in five categories. The findings aim to guide policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in prioritizing their efforts and resources to address the most critical environmental issues facing their state. Below are the water and wastewater focused research areas with specific research needs highlighted:
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This article highlights an innovative research conducted by a graduate student at NC State University, where the use of a low cost filtration system composed of biochar was explored as a method to improve water quality in rural wastewater systems. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance produced by heating plant materials. In recent years, biochar has been extensively studied as a sustainable wastewater treatment solution due to its ability to effectively remove contaminants, its low cost, and its environmental benefit. Biochar can effectively absorb pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater before it is discharged.
The project, funded by North Carolina’s Water Resources Research Institute, aims to develop a cost-effective technology to create biochar in such a way that small towns can apply it to their treatment facilities, no matter the size. The research focuses on identifying the ideal parameters to develop magnesium-doped biochar, which can absorb phosphates, and hydrogen peroxide-doped biochar, which absorbs ammonium from wastewater. After testing to confirm the developed biochar filter's effectiveness in nutrient removal, researchers are now preparing to apply the filter at bigger wastewater treatment wetland facilities. |
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The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting pre-proposals for its Tailored Collaboration Program, which provides an opportunity for subscribing utilities to partner with WRF on regional research projects or projects that address issues of interest to a significant subgroup of WRF subscribers, and to receive up to $150,000 in matching funds for the projects.
Pre-proposals are currently being accepted and must be sponsored by a WRF subscribing utility. To find a subscribing utility, WRF maintains a list of their utility subscribers.
The deadline to submit a proposal is June 2, 2025 |
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Upcoming Events
A listing of webinars, symposia, and conferences relevant to this work. |
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Drinking Water | Open Access
Field Testing of an Affordable Zero-Liquid-Discharge Arsenic-Removal Technology for a Small-Community Drinking Water System in Rural California
Bandaru S., Smesrud L., Majmudar J., Hernandez D., Wickliff P., Tseng W., Gadgil A. 2025. Field Testing of an Affordable Zero-Liquid-Discharge Arsenic-Removal Technology for a Small-Community Drinking Water System in Rural California. UC Berkeley. doi:10.3390/w17030374.
Why it's interesting: This study investigated the field implementation of novel air cathode assisted iron electrocoagulation (ACAIE) technology for arsenic removal in Allensworth, CA, a rural community where groundwater arsenic concentrations exceeded 250 µg/L. ACAIE is a technology that enhances traditional iron electrocoagulation by generating hydrogen peroxide at the cathode. This process accelerates the oxidation of iron and arsenic, leading to more efficient removal of arsenic from water. ACAIE is effective for small drinking water systems because the treatment process is quick and highly efficient, cost-effective, and can be scaled to meet the needs of smaller communities. This study highlights the system's cost-effectiveness, as well as its limitations, detailing the opportunities for further operational improvements. |
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Drinking Water | Not Open Access
Optimization of small-scale solar nanofiltration systems for water purification and energy production
Jiang H., Fathabad A., Cheng J., Arnold R., Karanikola V. 2025. Optimization of small-scale solar nanofiltration systems for water purification and energy production. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 71. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107197.
Why it's interesting: This study presents a cost analysis of optimized solar-nanofiltration (SNF) systems to desalinate water and provide excess energy for rural communities where centralized electrical and water services are not feasible. System design and operation were numerically simulated and optimized to minimize system costs while satisfying a series of constraints on water production and reserved energy at two locations (Tucson, AZ and Seattle, WA) during winter. The study utilized Matlab's Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to optimize the design and operating conditions (battery, membrane, solar array, feed pressure, water production, reserved energy) of the SNF system. Results showed that SNF provided a promising opportunity to use available regenerative energy to both treat water and provide nighttime electricity. |
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Drinking Water | Not Open Access
Automatic small water supply system for remote areas with plasma-modified poly(tetrafluoroethylene) membranes
Chang Y., Chang J., Lee D., Huang C. 2025. Automatic small water supply system for remote areas with plasma-modified poly(tetrafluoroethylene) membranes. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 196. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2025.106857.
Why it's interesting: This study aimed to develop, build, and test a self-sustained small water supply system with an annual capacity of.26MG, using 20 surface-modified PTFE membranes for filtration. The system was installed and operated in a remote site of northern Taiwan for 242 days, using a groundwater source, even with intermittent power outrage and mud flooding. Long-term tests showed the system produced high quality drinking water without coagulants or disinfectants, significantly reducing chemical costs, achieving a water production cost of 5 cents per thousand gallons. |
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