United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Urban Watershed Management Branch
INNOVATION AND RESEARCH FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE 21sT CENTURY:
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
FLOOD
IMPACT STATEMENT
Through this $10 million cooperative
agreement, The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and
Development (ORD) will increase its recognition
as an active leader and supporter of research
that seeks innovative solutions to problems
posed by aging water infrastructure.
BACKGROUND:
Aging and deteriorating water infrastructure is a priority issue for EPA. In 2002, the EPA's Office of Water (OW) carried
out a study to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing the nation's drinking water and wastewater utilities.
In September 2002, the Agency published, The Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis (EPA-816-R-
02-020), also known as the "Gap Analysis" report (EPA, 2002). OW's response to the aging water infrastructure problem
is their Sustainable Water Infrastructure (SI) Initiative, which seeks to promote and enable better use of our resources,
reduce the funding gap, and move the nation's water infrastructure down a pathway toward sustainability.
The SI Initiative identifies four main "pillars:" better management, full-cost pricing, watershed approach, and water
efficiency that support sustainable water infrastructure. The SI Initiative seeks to promote and support better execution
by utilities in these four "pillar" areas. Led by OW and supported by many other Program Offices and Regions, the SI
Initiative represents a collaboration with public and private utilities and municipal governments that provide drinking
water and wastewater services; state and tribal water and wastewater programs; drinking water and wastewater
equipment manufacturers and consultants; academia; and environmental advocacy groups.
In fiscal year 2007, ORD's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) initiated the Aging Water
Infrastructure (AWI) Research Program, to support the SI Initiative with sound, scientific data. The goal of the AWI
Research Program is to generate the science and engineering to improve and evaluate promising innovative
technologies and techniques to reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of operation, maintenance, and
replacement of aging and failing drinking water and wastewater treatment and conveyance systems.
DESCRIPTION:
NRMRL has funded this research project in support of its AWI Research Program. This cooperative agreement was
competitively awarded to a non-profit organization to conduct research that will produce, evaluate, and summarize
performance, cost, and value data and information about innovative technologies that will assist the user community to
reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of design, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of
aging/failing wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water conveyance and treatment infrastructure. Outputs are sought
that can be producing their intended benefits for the user community within four years. The user community consists of
utilities, technology and service providers, researchers and research funding organizations, and regulators.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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The cooperative agreement was advertised in March 2008, and the award was announced on JulylS, 2009. The specific
project team will be determined at award, and the specific projects will be determined post-award based on the
proposal and an assessment of research progress and current needs and priorities. The intent is to fund the cooperative
agreement in the amount of $2.5 million per year for each of the four years, for a total amount of $10 million. This major
cooperative agreement will provide ORD with a substantial increase in research capability in scientific, technical and
practical expertise; hours; facilities; equipment; and resources to meet the goals of the AWI Research Program.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water, Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Drinking Water (DW), Long Term Goal (LTG) - DW-2 Control, Manage, and Mitigate Health Risks; Water
Quality (WQ) LTG - WQ-3 Source Control
AWARDEE: Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
The desired outcome from the program is to assist the user community, such as water utilities, to more effectively meet
their Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and improve water infrastructure sustainability. It is
expected that this project will result in increased acceptance of new and innovative technologies by decision makers
who adopt, regulate, and design infrastructure technologies.
OUTPUTS:
Expected project outputs include:
• Technical guidance documents, published research papers, and other technical reference material on topics such
as:
o Inspection, leak detection/location/characterization, condition assessment, service life estimation, and cost
estimating tools for existing wastewater/stormwater collection systems and drinking water distribution
systems
o Performance and cost analysis of innovative repair, rehabilitation, and replacement technologies and
procedures for wastewater/stormwater collection systems and drinking water distribution systems
o Innovative approaches for wastewater/stormwater treatment and for evaluating the efficacy of water and
wastewater/stormwater treatment for emerging contaminants
Innovative distribution system design and operating approaches that minimize and/or counteract post-
treatment water quality deterioration
Approaches to substantially reduce energy usage and/or costs in water conveyance and treatment
Decision support systems that enable more efficient and effective selection of critical operation, maintenance and
capital improvement options.
RESOURCES:
Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/awi/
CONTACTS:
Diana Ruffini, Project Officer - (732) 321-6678 or ruffini.diana@epa.gov
Steven Doub, Media Relations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 or latham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
www.epa.gov/nrmrl
EPA/600/F-09/028
October 2009
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