&EPA www.epa.gov/research science in ACTION INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WORKSHOP ON INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS FOR NON- POTABLE REUSE OF URBAN RAIN WATER AND STORMWATER Background The Clean Water Act requires that EPA regulate certain water quality standards and parameters in navigable waterways. As regional and/or national variability in rainfall event frequencies and volumes continue to change, due in part to increasing fresh water scarcity and changing climatic patterns, there is a need to sustainably manage national water resources. One proposed solution to mitigating stormwater and rainwater runoff to the sewer systems is the use of green infrastructure or rain water and stormwater catchment devices designed for water diversion and reuse. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive approach that targets current rainwater and stormwater collection needs and practices, nor have the current and existing technology barriers and solutions been identified. A Rainwater Catchment Device (Rain Barrel) EPA Cincinnati Water Technology Cluster Team On January 18, 2011, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the commitment of $5 million over the next three to five years to support the research, development, and deployment (RD&D) of cost-effective, innovative water technologies that demonstrate tenets of sustainability, timeliness, innovation, and responsiveness. The EPA Cincinnati water technology cluster team was created to oversee and promote this RD&D effort. The cluster team holds the following goals and objectives as it strives to help solve water challenges: • To promote innovation in the water technology sector in the Cincinnati, Dayton, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana region by communicating water challenges, Agency priorities, and technology needs. • To foster and generate water technology RD&D collaborations among internal and external partners within the region by facilitating access to EPA research facilities and equipment. • To help identify, protect, and transfer EPA intellectual property to the marketplace. These objectives allow the cluster team to promote regional water technology RD&D while maintaining EPA's overall mission of protecting human health and the environment. For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/nrmrl/watercluster. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development EPA/600/S-12/720 December 2012 ------- Research Plan & Objectives To plan a solution strategy for optimizing water resources, EPA is partnering Confluence, Duke Energy, U.S. Green Building Council, EPA Region 6, and the Green Umbrella Regional Sustainability Alliance to organize a workshop to evaluate current methods of rainwater and/or stormwater collection and reuse. The workshop will provide an information exchange on water quality characteristics relevant to protecting public health and ecosystems, treatment technologies, performance standards, and approaches to management and regulation. Rainwater and stormwater reuse within water-scarce regions and for CSO management will also be discussed, along with recent research advances, case studies, and technology challenges. The two day workshop is planned for April, 2013. It is expected that federal, local and state government, non-profit groups, and private industry will attend. Products & Outcomes A Stormwater Collection Drain The workshop will consist of four sessions: • Overview of stormwater and rain water reuse, market analyses, and water quality guidelines • Review of current best practices and examples in the form of case studies • Outline of current technology gaps and needs • Discussion of how to address those gaps and needs with a focus on collaborating on water reuse projects After the workshop's conclusion, a document summarizing its results will also identify existing barriers and make recommendations for potential management strategies. Status Project Tasks/Milestones Topic Discussion & Development Work Group Assembly Agenda Development Invitations Round One Speaker Solicitation Invitations Round Two Workshop Final Document Project Timeline July- Aug. 2012 Sept.- Oct. 2012 Nov.- Dec. 2012 Jan.- Feb. 2013 March- April 2013 May- June 2013 July- Aug. 2013 Contact Dennis Lye, Ph.D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Phone:513-569-7870 E-mail: lye.dennis@epa.gov U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development EPA/600/S-12/720 December 2012 ------- |