Newsletter #118 for July 2025

Lead Innovation Hub: Removing Lead Pipes Faster, Fully, and Forever

The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) has launched the Lead Innovation Hub, which serves as the go-to resource for all things related to lead service line replacement. The Hub currently includes over 200 resources, intended for utilities and decision makers, to guide them through their lead service line replacement journey. 

Resources featured include:

• Case Studies that highlight innovative approaches to LSL replacement in cities like Milwaukee and Benton Harbor, which can provide valuable insights into successful strategies for LSL replacement.

• Reports on topics like effective public education strategies and lessons learned through LSL replacement.

• State/Local Laws and Policies which can serve as models for communities and provide guidance on funding LSL replacement.

• Checklists to guide utilities through the process of developing a financial plan and identifying key priorities.

• Guides and Templates on lead service line inventories and public outreach.

• Review of Technologies such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) for lead service line detection.

EPIC is hosting a webinar on 7/31/25 (1 PM Central) where they will introduce the Innovation Hub, and highlight the Hub’s key features and resources and how they can be used to help address common challenges many utilities face in their lead service line replacement journey.

Algae-based systems improve wastewater recycling for rural and regional communities

Researchers at Flinders University in South Australia are exploring the potential of algae-based wastewater treatment systems to improve wastewater management in rural and regional communities, which are often financially burdened and lack access to advanced technologies. Traditional wastewater treatment methods are often not suitable for these communities due to higher energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions. This innovative approach utilizes the natural ability of algae to absorb nutrients and other pollutants, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for treating sewage.

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Phycology, highlights the use of high-rate algal ponds (HRAPs) as an appropriate technology for many regional communities. However, these systems often produce wastewater effluent with high levels of microalgal suspended solids, which can increase capital and operating costs due to the need for their removal. The study aims to mitigate this challenge by using larger native filamentous algal strains, and operating HRAPs as sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) to improve effluent treatment and biosolids removal. Field trials for this low-cost "SBR-HRAP" technology is being done at SA Water's Angaston wastewater treatment plant in the Barossa Valley. The outcome of this research provides a new operational strategy for wastewater HRAPs, particularly for the benefit of regional and rural communities.

Source

South Dakota Mines Professor Uses AI to Study Disinfection Byproducts in Treated Drinking Water

A research group at South Dakota Mines is utilizing AI to better understand the formation and prevalence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The study aims to create a more comprehensive picture of the DBPs that can form when disinfectants react with organic matter in water, many of which are currently unregulated. The project combines machine learning and lab work to build a comprehensive database of both regulated and unregulated DBPs, fill key data gaps, and identify high-risk compounds based on how often they occur, at what levels, and how toxic they are. The ultimate goal is to create predictive tools to guide future regulations and smarter water treatment. This research effort is backed by National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER). 

From Theory To Precision: ORP Monitoring As The New Standard In Water Treatment

Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) monitoring is emerging as a promising alternative to conventional CT (concentration × time) methods for evaluating disinfection performance. While CT relies on indirect inputs and assumptions to estimate effectiveness, ORP provides real-time, direct feedback on actual water quality conditions. This enables operators to make timely adjustments to chemical dosing and maintain consistent disinfection performance. ORP is also simpler to implement, eliminates the need for manual CT calculations, and its sensors can be integrated with automated control systems to sustain optimal disinfection levels. This article provides more in-depth information on ORP monitoring. 

Upcoming Events

A listing of webinars, symposia, and conferences relevant to this work.

Recent Publications

Wastewater | Open Access

Sediments accumulated in sewer settling basins as recorders of historical use of drugs: Potential and limitations

Thiebault T., Simonneau A., Lanos P., Dufresne P., Le Milbeau C., Hatté C., Jacob J. 2025. Sediments accumulated in sewer settling basins as recorders of historical use of drugs: Potential and limitations. Water Science & Technology. 92(1). doi:10.2166/wst.2025.092.

Why it's interesting: This study investigated the prevalence of drugs (e.g., pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs) in wastewater by assessing sediment collected from settling basins. These basins are engineered to capture grit and solids before they reach the main treatment plant. Since these setting basins are located closer to excretion areas, they offer a more favorable location for collecting samples for wastewater-based epidemiology. Additionally, the sediments found in these basins can record a wider variety of contaminants. The study aims to analyze the occurrence of drugs in a core sample taken from a settling basin to examine their presence and vertical distribution, develop an age-depth model highlighting drug detection, and evaluate the potential of this innovative approach for sediment-based epidemiology.

Drinking Water | Not Open Access

Nature-inspired water purification: Integrating riverbank filtration and biofilm-regulating nanofiltration

Li N., Liu Y., Wan H., Long L., Xing J., Shao S., Liu G., Van der Meer W. 2025. Nature-inspired water purification: Integrating riverbank filtration and biofilm-regulating nanofiltration. Water Research. 285. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124077.

Why it's interesting: This study explores an innovative, nature-based nanofiltration (NF) configuration designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of drinking water treatment. While traditional NF is effective at removing emerging pollutants, it is not a viable alternative to conventional treatment systems due to high energy demands, stringent pretreatment requirements, and significant membrane fouling. These factors that make NF systems chemically intensive and costly to operate. To address these challenges, researchers developed a novel system by integrating riverbank filtration (RBF) as a natural pretreatment with a modified NF system that employs a submerged, flat-sheet membrane configuration. This setup operates at very low pressure, allowing biofilm to naturally form on the membrane surface. The resulting membrane biofilm helps mitigate fouling by promoting self-cleaning and self-stabilization of the membrane system. The study focuses on assessing the selective removal of emerging pollutants by the RBF-NF system and membrane fouling over a 6-month period to investigate the potential for cleaning-free operation. 

The study found the system effectively removed a wide range of pollutants, including 60.6% of natural organic matter and 30.7% - 68.0% of trace organic compounds, while leaving beneficial minerals in the water. Most notably, the biofilm that grew on the membrane acted as a self-cleaning layer, allowing the system to operate for 6 months with stable pressure and no physical or chemical cleaning required. Additionally, the system reduced energy consumption by 94.6 % and carbon emissions by 87.4 % compared to traditional NF processes, making it an attractive and sustainable solution for managing emerging contaminants. 

Wastewater | Open Access

Enhanced biofilm formation and municipal wastewater treatment efficiency using granular activated carbon modified bio-ball carriers in moving bed biofilm reactor

Yang X., Zhou Y., Zhang L., Benally C., Liu Y. 2025. Enhanced biofilm formation and municipal wastewater treatment efficiency using granular activated carbon modified bio-ball carriers in moving bed biofilm reactor. Bioresource Technology. 435. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132947.

Why it's interesting: This study introduces an innovative biological wastewater treatment system which integrates plastic bio-balls containing granular activated carbon (GAC) within a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) configuration to enhance effluent quality. Although GAC is widely used in wastewater treatment for its ability to promote biofilm growth, its high density typically makes it unsuitable for conventional MBBR systems. By embedding GAC within bio-balls, this limitation can be overcome, making GAC a viable option for MBBR applications. This novel system could enable treatment plants to manage higher organic loads within a smaller footprint, offering a promising solution for facilities seeking performance upgrades without major infrastructure expansion.

Industry News

Carolina researchers successfully remove hazardous chemicals from water

UNC-Chapel Hill researchers have developed a reusable filtration resin that effectively removes a majority of PFAS chemicals, including the complete removal of PFOA and PFOS, from drinking water.

Treating sewage with algae a win for Burdekin farmers and community 

An innovative wastewater treatment system in Burdekin, Australia is using native seaweed and sunlight to naturally and cost-effectively remove nutrients from sewage, with the resulting algae being repurposed as a crop enhancer for local farmers.

With a molecule and a membrane, a better way to convert contamination into fuel

Yale researchers have developed a more efficient method to convert nitrate found in contaminated water into ammonia by using electrochemical processes.

From Green to Clean: Innovative Algae Treatment Hits Minnesota Lake at Peak Bloom Season

The Pokegama Lake Association (PLA) in Minnesota is deploying the state's largest nanobubble technology to mitigate harmful algal blooms.

Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment

Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder are using nanoscale membranes to significantly improve conventional water treatment and desalination.

Innovations for Small Systems is a continuation of the newsletter previously provided by the two National Centers for Innovation in Small Drinking Water Systems: DeRISK at the University of Colorado - Boulder and WINSSS at University of Massachusetts - Amherst under a U.S. EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant.

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