EPA 820-R-14-006
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Promoting Technology Innovation
for Clean and Safe Water
WaterTechnology Innovation Blueprint—Version 2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
April 2014
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Contents
Overview.
1
The Business Case for Technology Innovation for Water 2
Market Opportunities for Technology and Institutional Innovation.... 4
Putting It All Together: Achieving Water Sustainability 10
A Path Forward: Actions to Promote Technology Innovation 11
A Cross Section of Views and Actions About Innovation
in the Water Sphere
For More Information,
16
17
References and Endnotes.. ..18
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Overview
Our freshwater resources are limited and face mounting pressures from
drought, flooding, pollution, population growth, and competition from
many uses (e.g., ecosystem protection, drinking water, agriculture, energy
production, recreation). Technology innovation can help address our water
challenges and put us on a more sustainable path while supporting economic
growth.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to be a catalyst to
promote and support technology innovation to protect and ensure the sustain-
ability of our water resources.
On March 27,2013, EPA's Office of Water issued the Blueprint for Integrating
Technology Innovation into the National Water Program, which highlighted EPA's
initial ideas and plans for advancing technology innovation across various
water programs. This document expands on those ideas and frames the busi-
ness case for water technology innovation; identifies "market opportunities"
where technology innovation could help solve water challenges; provides
examples of emerging innovation pioneers; identifies tools for assessing water
risk; and frames a more robust set of actions that EPA will take to promote tech-
nology innovation for clean and safe water.
In the past year, EPA has widely communicated the goals and opportunities
of the technology initiative, engaging a broad spectrum of partners and
stakeholders. For example, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy
Stoner has visited many innovation pioneers to raise awareness of very prom-
ising efforts to solve water resource challenges cheaper, faster and using less
energy. Efforts to promote and foster technology innovation will continue to be
dynamic and evolving.
For purposes of this document, technology innovation is defined as:
The development and deployment of new technologies and processes; new
applications of existing technology; production changes; and organizational,
management and cultural changes that can improve the condition and sus-
tainability of our water resources.
In short, this includes: (1) new technologies; (2) new management approaches
(e.g., regional coordination); or (3) techniques that increase the efficiency of
existing systems (e.g., sensors and controls).1
"Every American deserves
clean and safe water;
we will achieve that
goal by supporting the
advancement and use of
innovative technologies to
meet challenges and seize
opportunities in the water
sector."
—EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy
"Technology innovation can
accelerate progress toward our
goals of clean and safe water.
EPA and many stakeholders
will strive to support
technology innovation to solve
water resource problems...
cheaper, faster and using less
energy!"
—EPA Acting Assistant Administrator
for Water Nancy Stoner
novation for Clean and Safe Water
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The Business Case for
Technology Innovation for Water
"Despite consistently growing public awareness
and recognition, water continues to be under-
appreciated and undervalued. We need
fundamental change in the way we manage, utilize
and view our finite water resources."
—From the TechKNOWLEDGEy Strategy Group's 2073 Water
Market Review: Growing Awareness, Growing Risks, 20132
Clean and safe water is essential for public health and
healthy ecosystems, for the nation's economic well-being,
and for the welfare of our families and communities. In
the United States, a significant amount of water is used
every day. For example, in 2005 almost 330 billion gallons
of freshwater was withdrawn for use:
• 29.4 billion gallons per day was withdrawn for domes-
tic use.
• 19.2 billion gallons per day was withdrawn for indus-
trial and mining use.
• 138.8 billion gallons per day was withdrawn for use in
farming (including agricultural and horticultural irriga-
tion, livestock, and aquaculture).
• 142 billion gallons per day was withdrawn to produce
energy in thermoelectric power plants.3
Water, uses of water resources, and the services to
provide clean water play a significant role in economies
around the world. For example, the value of the global
water market—control and cleanup of water—is esti-
mated at $500 billion per year.4 Many aspects of the U.S.
economy also depend on large supplies of water:
• In 2012, the total revenue for the domestic U.S. water
and wastewater industry was $139 billion.5
• In 2011,44 million anglers spent $48 billion to fish in
U.S. waters.5
• In 2007, irrigated crops accounted for 55 percent of the
total value of U.S. crops.7
• In 1999, the beverage industry used 12 billion gallons
of water to produce $58 billion worth of products.8
Water Resource Challenges in the United
States and Globally
Water resources in the United States and globally are
facing many challenges—both in quality and quantity—
due to a number of growing issues, such as population
growth, development and climate change. Innovative
technologies offer the promise to address these chal-
lenges more cost-effectively and expeditiously.
Water Scarcity: Aquifers are being depleted at a much
higher rate than natural precipitation and ground water
recharge is refilling them. As of February 2014, over 36
percent of the continental U.S. is experiencing moderate
to severe drought conditions.9 A fifth of the world's people,
more than 1.2 billion, live in areas of physical water scar-
city.10 Some predict that half of the world's population will
live with chronic water shortages by the year 2050.11
Water Quality: Many of the nation's coastal waters, estuar-
ies, rivers, streams and lakes remain impaired as a result of
pollution and/or physical alterations. For example, according
to the 2008-2009 EPA National Rivers and Streams Assess-
ment (NRSA), 55 percent of the nation's river and stream
miles do not support healthy populations of aquatic life,
with phosphorus and nitrogen pollution being just one of
the problems.13 Increases in population and land develop-
ment present additional challenges such as increased storm-
water runoff from impervious surfaces. Declining source
water quality poses challenges for conventional water
treatment plants in meeting drinking water standards.
Aging Infrastructure: America's water and waste-
water infrastructure is aging. The American Society of
Civil Engineers gives the current water and wastewater
"Water is an essential commodity: human life—and
indeed all life on earth—depends upon it. Water is
also a critical input to production in a number of
economic sectors.... Every sector of the economy is
influenced in some way by water."
—From EPA's The Importance of Water to the U.S. Economy
Synthesis Report, 201313
tinq Technology Innovation for Clean and Safe Water
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infrastructure a grade of "D."14There are an estimated
240,000 water main breaks per year in the United States.
Assuming every broken pipe needs replacing, the cost
over the coming decades could exceed $1 trillion.15
Wastewater systems experience approximately 75,000
sanitary sewer overflows annually, discharging 3 to 10
billion gallons of untreated wastewater, leading to some
5,500 illnesses due to exposures to contaminated recre-
ational waters.15 Estimates of costs for wastewater and
stormwater needs exceed $298 billion,17 while drinking
water needs exceed $384 billion18 over the next 20 years.
Climate Change Impacts: Climate change is exacerbat-
ing the challenge of protecting water resources, ecosys-
tems and our water infrastructure. According to the EPA
National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate
Change, the negative impacts on water resources take a
variety of forms. Warmer air, warmer water and changes in
precipitation patterns increase water pollution problems.
More extreme weather events (e.g., flooding) can have
devastating impacts on water and wastewater infrastruc-
ture and aquatic systems. Rising sea levels will alter ocean
and estuarine shorelines, and the increased frequency,
severity and duration of drought will affect public water
supply, agriculture, industry and energy production uses.
Warmer water and changing flows alter aquatic biology.
Many, or all, of these things combine to change the avail-
ability of drinking water.19
"During the next 10 years, many countries
important to the United States will experience
water problems—shortages, poor water quality,
or floods—that will risk instability and state failure,
increase regional tensions, and distract them from
working with the United States on important US
policy objectives."
—From the National Intelligence Council's Global Water
Security, 201220
Access to Water and Sanitation: About 783 million
people worldwide do not have reasonable access to
clean and safe water for consumption, and about 2.5
billion do not have access to basic sanitation.21
Tools to Assess Water Supply Risk
and Vulnerability
A variety of tools has been developed for use by compa-
nies, utilities, planners and others to assess current and
"In communities all around the world, water supplies
are coming under increasing pressure as population
growth, climate change, pollution, and changes in
land use affect water quantity and quality."
—From the National Academy of Sciences' Potential for
Expanding the Nation's Water Supply Through Reuse of
Municipal Wastewater, 201222
future water risks. With a greater understanding of the
risks, these players then often seek technical or institu-
tional innovation. Some examples of tools that address
either water availability and/or water quality risks include:
• Global Water Tool (World Business Council for
Sustainable Development)—Designed for compa-
nies and organizations to map their water use and
then assess risks relative to their global operations and
supply chains.
• Aqua Gauge (Ceres)—A way for companies to assess,
improve and communicate their corporate-wide water
risk management approach.
• Watersketch Toolbox (Finnish Environment
Institute)—Offers information and practical tools
and methods for sustainable river basin planning and
management.
• Local Water Tool (GEMI)—Intended for companies
and organizations to evaluate the external impacts,
business risks, opportunities and management plans
related to water use and discharge at a specific site or
operation.
• CREAT, Climate Resilience Evaluation and Aware-
ness Tool (EPA)—Organizes available climate data and
guides users through a process of identifying threats,
vulnerable assets and adaptation options to reduce
risk.
• Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas (World Resources
Institute)—Intended for companies, investors, govern-
ments and communities to better understand where
and how water risks are emerging around the world.
• Sea Level Rise Tool For Sandy Recovery (NOAA)—
Provides a set of map services to help communities,
residents, and other stakeholders consider risks from
future sea level rise in planning for reconstruction
following Hurricane Sandy.
An inventory of other water tools and their use, as well
as other information, is available at http://water.epa.gov/
infrastructure/watersecuritv/techtools/index.cfm.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
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Market Opportunities forTechnology
and Institutional Innovation
Our water resource and sustainability issues represent
market opportunities for technology and institutional
innovation and to promote economic growth. Descrip-
tions of the most pressing needs and promising opportu-
nities are outlined below.
1. Conserving and Recovering Energy
Much of the country's water and wastewater infrastruc-
ture was constructed at a time when energy costs were
low; therefore little was invested in energy efficiency or
energy generation. Similarly, traditional agricultural prac-
tices could take advantage of opportunities for energy
savings (e.g., more efficient drip irrigation systems) and
nutrient recovery. Energy conservation and recovery
in the water and agriculture sectors have significant
promise:
• Approximately 2 percent of the nation's total energy
consumption, (69.4 billion kilowatt-hours) is used for
drinking water and wastewater treatment services.23
• Wastewater treatment plants have an estimated 400
megawatts (MW) of biogas-based electricity generat-
ing capacity and approximately 38,000 million Btu per
day of thermal energy generating capacity.24
• AgSTAR estimates that there are 8,200 U.S. dairy and
swine operations that could support biogas recovery
"The US has the potential to realize the benefits
of advanced water and wastewater strategies
on a national scale. Achieving this, however, will
require engaging engineering, financial, and
political leadership to crystallize an actionable
national water agenda, strengthen the mechanisms
that mitigate sector fragmentation and deliver a
supportive policy framework."
—From Ernst and Young's TheUS Water Sector on the Vergeof
Transformation, 201325
systems, collectively able to generate more than 13
million MWh per year and displace about 1,670MWof
fossil-fuel-fired generation.25
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine a future when water, wastewater and agricul-
tural activities can cost-effectively generate as much
energy as they consume!
2. Recovering Nutrients
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus is one of the leading
causes of water pollution across the nation.27 Point
sources (e.g., municipal wastewater treatment facilities,
Innovation Highlight:
Utility Harnesses Hydropower
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) harnesses
energy via an in-line hydroelectricturbineand generator. The hydro-
electric system extracts the kinetic energy of potable water as it travels
down-gradient from the treatment plant to a network of tanks. MWRA's
system has a rapacity of 200 kilowatts, of which 25 percent is used
onsite by the utility and 75 percent is exported back to the grid. More
information can be found at http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/05en-
erav/pdf/2012/011812-eneravstaffsummarv.pdf.
Innovation Highlight:
Dairy Farm Goes Energy Positive
Brubaker Farm, a 900-head dairy in Lancaster Country, Pennsyl-
vania, captures methane from manure digestion and produces
electricity to provide power to the farm and sell excess back to the
grid, enough to power 150-200 homes. Waste heat from the gen-
erator heats waterforthe farm and is used to dry digested solids for
bedding for cow comfort. More information an be found at http://
www.usdairv.com/~/media/usd/public/brubakercasestudv.ashx.
tinq Technology Innovation for Clean and Safe Water
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Innovation Highlight: Utility Extracts
Nutrients from Wastewater
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Struvite Recovery
Facility in Virginia recovers phosphorus from wastewater recycle
streams. The recovered phosphorus is transformed at HRSD's Nan-
semond facility into a commercial fertilizer. More information can
be found at http://www.ostara.com/sites/default/files/
Ostara-Hampton-Roads-Case-Studv.pdf.
concentrated animal feeding operations) and nonpoint
sources (e.g., agricultural activities, urban stormwater
runoff, septic systems) contribute to nutrient pollution of
surface and ground water. Approximately 14,000 water
bodies are affected by nutrient pollution throughout the
United States.28 Every state in the U.S. has nutrient-im-
paired waters that have the potential for serious health
and ecological effects (e.g., harmful algal blooms, oxygen
dead zones, unhealthy drinking water).29
Nutrient treatment and recovery technologies are being
used at muncipal wastewater treatment plants, but
implementation has been slow due to complexities in
deployment, high energy use, and overall high costs.
New techniques are needed to reduce and recover nutri-
ents at substantially less cost and with a reduced carbon
footprint.
>• Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine if we could recover nutrients from human
and animal wastes and convert them into marketable
commodities before they negatively impact surface
and ground water!
3. Improving and Greening of the Water
Infrastructure
There is a critical need to rehabilitate the nation's water
and wastewater infrastructure, the costs of which are
estimated at $682 billion ($384 billion for drinking water
infrastructure30 and $298 billion for wastewater and
stormwater infrastructure31).There is an expanding array
of technologies and techniques available for assessing,
Innovation Highlight: The Greening of Our Cities
Philadelphia established the Green City Clean Waters program in
2010. The city has removed 10,000 square feet of impervious paving
and has begun installation of green street blocks throughout the city.
Sixteen green school projects have been completed and private busi-
nesses are now engaged in approximately 300 greening projects. The
city also has an incentive program for stormwater billing that grants
a nearly 100 percent credit for green retrofits. More information can
be found at http://www.phillvwatersheds.org/what were doing/
documents and data/cso long term control plan.
Onondaga County and the city of Syracuse's "Save the Rain" campaign
began in 2009 and is a comprehensive plan to clean up and restore
Onondaga Lake and its tributaries, including a strong outreach effort
to educate the general public on ways to lessen the overflow of
sewage into Onondaga Lake.The program includes construction of
innovative gray and green infrastructure, including the War Memorial
Arena, with a 15,000-gallon cistern system, the first system in the
country designed to use harvested rainwater for a hockey rink. One
of the key elements of Save the Rain is transparency. Every project
advanced through the program has a unique Web page where the
public can review the project design elements, cost and stormwa-
ter capture objectives. More information can be found at http://
savetherain.us/.
rehabilitating and retrofitting wastewater, drinking water
and stormwater infrastructure.
Green infrastructure, referred to by some as blue-green
infrastructure or natural Infrastructure, is based on the
principles of natural systems to build or rebuild our
infrastructure to achieve an array of objectives such as
stormwater management, improved water reuse, climate
adaptation and resilience, improved habitat and biodi-
versity, less heat stress, improved air quality, and greater
aesthetic value.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine if we could vastly expand the use of green
and natural infrastructure to improve the nation's
water infrastructure while also achieving a broad array
of environmental, social and economic benefits by
designing with nature in our urban environments!
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4. Conserving and Eventually
Reusing Water
Competition for water resources and diminished
resources because of drought are driving the need for
water conservation, efficiency, and reuse. In order to
create a more sustainable water future, cities and states
are encouraging water conservation as a way to reduce
demand. Water reuse technologies have also been
implemented in numerous locations in the United States
and throughout the world. For example, Israel reuses 70
percent of its domestic wastewater.32
Innovation Highlight: The World's Largest
Potable Reuse System
The Ground Water Replenishment System (GWRS), operated by the
Orange County Water District, is the world's largest planned indi-
rect potable reuse project. The system recycles treated wastewater
from the Orange County Sanitation District using a three-step
purification process to produce a near-distilled-quality waterthat
exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. Operational
since January 2008, this state-of-the-art water purification project
produces 70 million gallons per day, which is enough water to
meet the needs of nearly 600,000 residents in north and central
Orange County, California. Each day, approximately 35 million gal-
lons of the GWRS water are pumped into injection wells to create
a seawater intrusion barrier, and another 35 million gallons are
pumped into the district's percolation basins in Anaheim, where
the water naturally filters through sand and gravel to the deep
aquifers of the ground water basin. More information can be found
at: http://www.awrsvstem.com/the-process.html.
Innovation Resource: EPA WaterSense
Program Saves Water
WaterSense, a partnership program by EPA, is helping to sustain
and protect the nation's water supply by fostering the devel-
opment and use of water-efficient products, new homes and
services. WaterSense brings together a variety of stakeholders to
promote the value of water efficiency, encourage innovation in
manufacturing, and decrease water use and reduce strain on water
resources and infrastructure. More information can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html.
In light of growing populations and climate change, con-
serving water can help communities meet future needs.
Many technologies exist to help consumers save water in
the home and office. In addition, with the need for water
infrastructure upgrades and replacements estimated at
hundreds of billions of dollars, technologies that help
water utilities reduce water loss, fix leaks and prioritize
main replacement not only improve water efficiency, but
can also mitigate some portion of those costly infrastruc-
ture needs.
Technologies currently exist to provide treatment for
varying levels of water reuse such as irrigation, industrial
use, gray water applications, and indirect and direct pota-
ble reuse.There is a vast potential for additional technol-
ogy development and application to conserve and reuse
water resources. The nation's 15,000 municipal wastewa-
ter facilities discharge approximately 32 billion gallons of
water every day.33 Water reuse and repurposing can serve
to reduce pressure on other sources of fresh water, such
as ground water (which 44 percent of the population
depends on for drinking water).34
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine if we could increase water reuse to support
the water needs of our burgeoning population!
5. Reducing Costs and Improving
Techniques for Water Monitoring
Newer monitoring technologies, such as improved
water quality sensor technology, remote sensing and
satellite imagery, hold opportunities to generate sub-
stantially more data at lower cost. New sensor technol-
ogy coupled with improved telemetry and information
technology can make data on water quantity and water
quality available for a broader range of applications.
Sensor and laboratory advances also provide opportu-
nity for reducing the overall cost of water quality mon-
itoring. New tools are being developed to store, com-
municate, analyze and visualize the vast data streams.
Currently, less than 30 percent of the nation's surface
water bodies are assessed by EPA, states or tribes, partly
because of the high cost of traditional fixed-station
water quality monitoring.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine collaborative monitoring efforts that provide
low-cost, watershed-scale, real-time data on water
quality and quantity that facilitate protection and wise
use of our water resources!
novation for Clean and Safe Water
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Innovation Highlight: Proliferation of Remote/Continuous Monitoring
The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is
working to create a network of monitoring buoys for real-time, contin-
uous water quality data on the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers.
More information can be found at http://www.ngrrec.org/.
Researchers at Clemson University are building the"lntelligent River"
to provide real-time monitoring, analysis and management of water
resources. More information can be found at http://www.clemson.edu/
public/ecology/.
Wireless Waterway is a project commissioned by the Port of Pittsburgh
that will use the latest monitoring and information technology to man-
age the water resources in real time so commerce and recreation along
the Pittsburgh Waterfront are easierfor everyone. More information can
be found at https://www.wirelesswaterwavs.com/.
The Jefferson Project is a collaborative effort between Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, IBM and the FUND for Lake George (New York)
to develop a lake environmental monitoring and prediction system to
provide a real-time understanding of lake health. More information can
befoundathttp://
fundforlakegeorge.org/solutions/the-iefferson-proiect.
The Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRE-
COS) is a network of real-time monitoring stations on the Hudson River
Estuary. HRECOS is a collaborative effort between multiple agencies,
including the New York State Department of Environmental Conserva-
tion, USGS and NOAA, among others. More information can be found at
http://www.hrecos.org.
The River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON) is an effort between
Clarkson University's Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries and IBM
to use real-time monitoring technologies to better understand the Hud-
son River ecosystem from the headwaters in the Adirondack Mountains
to the ocean. More information can be found at http://www.bire.org/
river-and-estuarv-observatorv-network/.
6. Improving Performance of Small
Drinking Water Systems
Small drinking water systems consistently provide safe,
reliable drinking water to their customers; however,
many small systems also face a number of challenges:
• Over 94 percent of the more than 156,000 public water
supply systems are small, each serving fewer than
10,000 people.35
• In its fifth report to Congress in 2011, EPA identified a
total infrastructure need of $64.5 billion for small drink-
ing water systems throughout the country.35
• Very small drinking water treatment systems (serving
fewer than 500 people) have the highest percent-
age of health-based violations of all system sizes (74
percent).37
A 2006 report from EPA's Inspector General38 identified
these challenges as: (1) lack of financial resources, (2)
aging infrastructure, (3) difficulties obtaining financial
assistance, (4) cost of scale, (5) management limitations,
(6) lack of long-term planning, (7) system operator issues,
and (8) challenges with understanding and/or compli-
ance with regulations.
Innovation Highlight: Use of Gray Water as
Makeup for Cooling Towers
The Public Service Enterprise Group's Linden Generating Station
does not currently employ a cooling water intake structure.
Instead, the Linden Generating Station uses reclaimed wastewater
from the nearby Linden Roselle Sewerage Authority (LRSA) for all
its cooling water needs. Approximately 4 of the 11 million gallons
per day of treated wastewater from LRSA is pumped to the Linden
Generating Station. After being used for cooling, any remaining
water (e.g., cooling tower blowdown) is pumped back to LRSA for
treatment again. More information can be found at http://www.
pseg.com/info/environment/ps caring.isp.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine the deployment of new cost-effective and
affordable technologies that substantially improve
the technical and financial capacity of small drinking
water systems!
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Innovation Resource:
National Center for Innovation
The EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) recently
sought applications to establish a National Centerfor Innovation
in Small Drinking Water Systems. The Center will research and
develop innovative and sustainable technologies and approaches
to improve the sustainability of small systems. More information
can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2013/2013 star
drinkingwater.html.
Innovation Resource: GREAT—A Tool for
Improving Resiliency
EPA has developed the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Aware-
ness Tool (CREAT), a software tool to assist drinking water and
wastewater utility owners and operators in understanding
potential climate change threats and in assessing the related risks
at their individual utilities. CREAT provides users with access to
the most recent national assessment of climate change impacts
for use in considering how these changes will impact utility
operations and missions. CREAT allows users to evaluate poten-
tial impacts of climate change on their utility and to evaluate
adaptation options to address these impacts using both tradi-
tional risk assessment and scenario-based decision-making. More
information can be found at http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/
watersecuritv/climate/creat.cfm.
7. Reducing Water Impacts from Energy
Production
Vast amounts of water are used each year for energy pro-
duction in the United States. A considerable amount of
water is used to cool thermoelectric power plants, grow
feedstock and produce biofuels, and extract oil, coal and
natural gas. Further, the polluted water discharges from
energy production poses difficult challenges for effective
management.
Opportunities exist for innovative solutions to not only
alleviate the potential water quality impacts from energy
production activities, but also provide for more efficient
and cost-effective energy production. For example,
beneficial reuse of produced water may be an attractive
opportunity for oil and gas production wells located in
water-scarce regions, where limited freshwater resources
exist and the potential costs for produced water dis-
charge are high.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine the United States continuing its journey
toward securing energy independence without threat
to surface or ground water quality and quantity!
8. Improving Resiliency of Water
Infrastructure to the Impacts of
Climate Change
In 2012, Super Storm Sandy affected approximately 60
million people and caused approximately $50 billion
in damage, primarily across the Northeast. Affecting
Innovation Highlight:
Adapting to Climate Change and Water Reuse
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) saw its Main Street
WastewaterTreatment Plant inundated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
With the help of funding from FEMAand other sources, the treatment
plant was replaced and located outside the city of Pensacola and
away from the coastal plain. The Central Water Reclamation Facility
was rebuilt using treatment technology that an enable the reuse of
100 percent of the nearly 22.5 million gallons per day (average flow)
treated at the facility. More information can be found at http://www.
ecua.fl.aov/services/wastewater-services.
Innovation Highlight: Reinventing the Toilet
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation challenged universities
to design toilets that capture and process human waste without
piped water, sewer or electrical connections, while capturing useful
resources. The Foundation's Water Sanitation and Hygiene Pro-
gram strives to spur change to improve worldwide drinking water
while reducing sanitation-related problems. More information
can be found at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/
Global-Development/Water-Sanitation-and-Hvaiene.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
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Innovation Highlight:
Using Roleplaying to Manage Watersheds
The University of Virginia (UVA) Bay Game is a computerized sim-
ulation based on the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The watershed
simulation allows players to take the roles of stakeholders, such as
farmers, developers, watermen and local policy-makers, and make
decisions about their watershed. More information can be found at
http://www.virqinia.edu/vpr/sustain/BayGame/about/.
more than 690 drinking water and wastewater utilities,
it showed how vulnerable our water infrastructure can
be to extreme weather/climate events. With almost $600
million of funding provided by Congress, EPA is working
with the states of New York and New Jersey to build new,
more resilient infrastructure.
On November 1,2013, President Obama issued an exec-
utive order that prompts actions to enhance the nation's
preparedness and resilience to extreme events and
climate change. The increasing occurrence of extreme
events, such as floods, drought and storm surge, under-
scores the need to utilize new technologies for planning
how and where to rebuild existing or build new infra-
structure with greater resiliency.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine if we could protect our water infrastructure
from the effects of extreme weather and climate
change!
9. Improving Access to Safe Drinking
Water and Sanitation
Despite technological advances on many fronts, hun-
dreds of millions of people worldwide still lack access
to the most basic of needs—clean drinking water and
sanitation facilities.
• In 201 ^approximately 768 million people worldwide
(more than twice the population of the United States)
relied on unimproved drinking water sources with
significant threats of contamination.39
• At the end of 2011,2.5 billion people worldwide lacked
access to improved sanitation facilities40 and more people
had a mobile-cellular phone subscription than a toilet.41
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine if access to safe drinking water and sanita-
tion practices—basic human needs—were no longer
responsible for deaths and illness worldwide!
10. Improving Water Quality of Our
Oceans, Estuaries and Watersheds
Less than half of the nation's lakes, rivers, streams and
coastlines achieve a level of quality to safely allow for
their intended uses (e.g., potable water supply, ecosystem
protection, swimming, fishing). Similarly, ocean waters and
the nation's ground water are also vulnerable to pollution
and experiencing impacts from anthropogenic sources.
Because watersheds are defined by natural hydrol-
ogy, they represent a logical basis for managing water
resources. Assessments at watershed levels allow for
efficient identification of the types of stressors that affect
a watershed, as well as the controls and actions required
to protect or restore the water resource.
Innovation in approaches, tools and techniques that
can be used to improve and maintain the health of our
nation's waters can drastically help address point and
nonpoint sources of pollution, help rebuild ecosystems,
restore waters, and address threats from invasive species
and other impacts.
> Technology Innovation Challenge and Aspiration:
Imagine a holistic, integrated watershed-based
approach to water quality and water quantity manage-
ment, which maximizes ecosystem restoration!
-------
Putting It All Together:
Achieving Water Sustainability
It is difficult to envision sustainable solutions to our water
challenges without technological innovations, such as
the distinct opportunities identified above. While these
water resource challenges and market opportunities are
framed as individual pursuits, ideally, many of these can
be achieved in an integrated manner. So, for example, in
the case of a traditional municipal wastewater treatment
facility, imagine a utility that generates energy; captures
nutrients for resource recovery; sells their water for reuse;
generates half the volume of biosolids; emits substan-
tially less greenhouse gases; uses green and natural
infrastructure to manage stormwater, mitigate climate
impacts and provide aesthetic cityscape benefits; and
contributes to a comprehensive watershed monitoring
program in partnership with a diverse set of partners.
Just imagine if we put all of the pieces together!
"Business has a critical role to play in applying
its expertise and experience in developing,
implementing and scaling-up, through partnerships,
watershed focused solutions."
—From WBCSD's Sharing Water: Engaging Business, 2009.42
tinq Technology Innovation for Clean and Safe Water
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A Path Forward: Actions to
Promote Technology Innovation
Our water resource and sustainability issues present
significant market opportunities for new technology, new
thinking and enhanced economic growth. EPA will be a
positive contributor with utilities, industry, investors and
entrepreneurs to support technology innovation for clean
and safe water. Below are example actions EPA will take to
support our common quest for water sustainability.
Advocate for Technology Innovation
EPA's National Water Program will be an active advocate
for technology innovation.
• The National Water Program will ensure that this issue
is a "front and center"topic with our regions and state
partners. EPA's National Water Meeting with the regions
and states will include a focus on technology innova-
tion and ways the program can foster innovation.
• In April 2012, EPA released its Technology Innovation for
Environmental and Economic Progress: An EPA Roadmap
report (http://www2.epa.gov/envirofinance/innovation).
The Roadmap sets out a vision for technology innovation
and outlines support strategies for technology devel-
opment and deployment. The Office of Water will be an
active advocate and participant on the Agency Technol-
ogy Innovation Network.
• The Office of Water will maintain a network list of key
EPA innovation contacts (both at headquarters and in
regional offices) for each of the market opportunity
areas to foster collaboration and coordination within
EPA and externally.
* The Office of Water will continue to work with the
Office of Research and Development on a number of
technology-innovation-related programs and initia-
tives, including implementation of the Safe and Sus-
tainable Water Research Strategy. For example, the
Office of Water will support implementation of the
"Nitrogen and Co-pollutant Research Roadmap"to
review the Agency's current nutrient research, assess
gaps, and prioritize future research directions to reduce
nutrient pollution nationwide.
• The Office of Water will support the regional water
technology innovation clusters in their efforts to pro-
mote technology innovation, including efforts to verify
emerging technologies, research and pilot promising
technologies, and provide awards to encourage inno-
vation. More information about the exciting efforts of
the regional technology clusters can be found at http://
www2.epa.gov/clusters-program.
Communicate Actions and Successes
The Office of Water will showcase and celebrate examples
of technology innovation aimed at highlighting or solv-
ing water resource issues through a website focused on
water innovations. The Administrator, Deputy Administra-
tor and other senior leadership within EPA will continue
to showcase examples on innovation successes through
site visits across the United States.
Create the Regulatory Space to Foster
Technology Innovation
There are many barriers to innovation that are often cited
(e.g., institutional, cultural, financial, regulatory). EPA
will consider ways in which its regulatory activities can
reduce barriers to, or encourage incentives for, technol-
ogy innovation. Following are example actions that EPA
will take, in cooperation with our EPA region and state
partners:
• Update the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Stan-
dards Program to more explicitly consider sustainable
and innovative technologies when developing national
standards for controlling water discharges. Stepping
back and asking a broad set of questions about the
best available technology might include consideration
of energy use, sludge generation and disposal, process
changes or green chemistry alternatives, water con-
servation and reuse opportunities, and byproduct and
pollutant recovery prospects.
• Explore ways in which NPDES permits could be tailored
to foster technology innovation within existing legal
-------
and regulatory authorities. Examples of permitting
innovation might include watershed-based permit-
ting, opportunities to foster process optimization or
use of existing excess treatment capacity, derivation of
long-term average limits for nutrients, opportunities
to explore alternative technologies and performance
testing of those technologies, or implementation of
integrated planning as outlined in the Stoner-Giles
memo of June 5,2012.43
Provide technical support to overcome barriers and
allow for the use of innovative technology (e.g., ways
to advance "Utility of the Future" concepts). This might
include considering energy, carbon sources, green-
house gas generation, and water and biosolids reuse in
a holistic, systems approach.
Continue to foster and promote consideration and use
of green and natural infrastructure to achieve a broad
set of environmental, social and economic objectives.
Participate and contribute to efforts by external parties
such as the Water Environment Federation, American
Waterworks Association and others to explore regula-
tory and/or policy strategies to identify and overcome
barriers to the acceptance of innovative and new
technology.
Continue to collaborate with the Department of Com-
merce under the Environment and Technology Work-
ing Group and Environmental Trade and Technology
Advisory Committee in promoting technology-based
policies internationally, as well as promoting the
environmental technologies exporters'online portal
(https://new.export.gov/envirotech/toolkit).
Support for Speeding Delivery of Proven
Technologies
The Office of Water will examine ways to address the
ongoing challenges expressed by technology develop-
ers for bringing new technologies to market. Technol-
ogy providers face a complex system of state and local
requirements that can discourage acceptance, adoption
and use of new technologies. For example, by engaging
and supporting independent third-party technology
evaluation efforts, EPA aims to continue to help bridge
the gap between technology development and imple-
mentation for water-related technologies. EPA's Office of
Water will:
• Evaluate the opportunities to support the growing
demand for technology assessment and performance
demonstration/verification of a spectrum of water-
related technologies (e.g., independent third party).
• Participate in development of the Water Environment
Federation (WEF) and Water Environment Research
Federation (WERE) Leaders Innovation Forum for Tech-
nology, (LIFT), WEF's StormwaterTesting and Evalua-
tion for Products and Practices (STEPP) workgroup, and
other promising technology evaluation efforts.
• Coordinate with other domestic and international
efforts, including:
* The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council
(ITRC), a state-led coalition working to advance the
use of innovative environmental technologies and
approaches.
» The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has partnered
with Isle Inc., an independent consultancy that
Innovation Highlight:
Third Party Technology Evaluation
The Water Environment Federation and Water Environment
Research Foundation have established LIFT (Leaders Innovation
Forum forTechnology), a program designed to enable technology
evaluations for municipal and industry end-users to share the cost
of conducting demonstrations to accelerate adoption of new and
innovative technologies. More information can be found at http
www.werf.org/lift.
Innovation Highlight: High-Efficiency
Ultraviolet Disinfection System
Several drinking water utilities, together with the Water Research
Foundation, are working to pilot a high-efficiency UV system. The
UV system uses a highly reflective chamber with claims of over
99 percent reflectance of 254 nm UV generated. The low-pressure
UV system will be compared to the existing medium-pressure UV
system at the water treatment plant. The research will evaluate the
reliability and effectiveness of the technology for Cryptosporidium
inactivation, maintenance requirements, and operation and mainte-
nance costs.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
-------
Innovation Resource: Potential Funding Opportunities to Support Technology Innovation
There are a number of potential funding and other resources available
to assist in the research and development of innovative solutions to
water-resource-oriented issues and challenges. Examples include:
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)—SBIR encourages
domestic small businesses to engage in research that has the potential
for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program,
SBIR enables small businesses to develop, and take to market, technolo-
gies that help EPA meet its mission of protecting human health and the
environment."
Science to Achieve Results (STAR)—STAR is EPA's primary competitive
grants programforfunding extramural research in environmental
science and engineering for universities and nonprofit organizations.
Small Business TechnologvTransfer(STTR)—STTR expands funding
opportunities in the federal innovation R&D arena. Central to the
program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include
the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit
research institutions.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRR—Underthe CWSRF, EPA
provides grants or"seed money"to states to capitalize state loan fund
programs that provide low-interest-rate loans with flexible terms
to fund waterquality protection projects for wastewater treatment,
nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estuary
management.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
(SERDP)—SERDP is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) environmen-
tal science and technology program, planned and executed in partner-
ship with DOE and EPA, that issues an annual solicitation for proposals
from the federal government, academia and industry.
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP)—
ESTCP provides funding forthe demonstration of environmental
technologies pertinent to DOD priorities.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)—CIG is a voluntary program
intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative con-
servation approaches and technologies, awarding competitive grants to
non-federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, tribes or
individuals.
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Financial Assis-
tance Programs—Through financial assistance, EERE provides funding
for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)—DIV holds a quarterly grant
competition for innovative ideas, pilots and tests them using cut-
ting-edge analytical methods, and scales solutions that demonstrate
widespread impact and cost-effectiveness.
Additional information related to funding opportunities can be found
on the Office of Water Funding and Grants Web page at http://water.
epa.gov/qrants fundinq/home.cfm.
accelerates the market uptake of emerging technol-
ogies by introducing them to potentially interested
water utilities during the pre-commercial stages of
development.
• Continue to support efforts such as the Confluence
Water Technology Innovation Cluster (http://
watercluster.org/wordpress/), where state regulators
with Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana recently signed a
groundbreaking cooperative agreement that allows
the Confluence to work with companies to complete
testing that can be approved by all three states at
once—dramatically speeding time to market.
The Office of Water will support EPA's ongoing efforts
and programs supporting the development and imple-
mentation of innovative water-related technologies,
such as the Aging Water Infrastructure Research Pro-
gram (http://www.epa.gov/awi/) and STAR grants,
fellowships and research contracts under the Small
Business Innovative Research Program (http://www.
epa.gov/ncer/).
Facilitate Financing and Funding
Opportunities
EPA recognizes the critical role that funding and financ-
ing play to support the development and implementa-
tion of technology. Examples of actions EPA's Office of
Water will take include:
• Support innovative financing efforts for water, waste-
water and stormwater, including green and natural
infrastructure.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
-------
Innovation Highlight:
Utility Goes Energy Positive
More than a decade ago, East Bay Municipal Utilities District
(EBMUD) in California began accepting organic wastes from local
food processors, food growers and livestock producers to better
utilize the excess capacity in its existing anaerobic digesters.
The result has been a doubling of biogas production. Along with
the revenue generated from tipping fees, the increase in biogas
production enabled EBMUD to fund a renewable energy system that
generates more powerthan the facility needs. In 2012, EBMUD's
wastewater treatment plant became the first in North America
to be a net energy producer. More information can be found at
http://www.ebmud.com/water-and-wastewater/environment/
wastewater-enerav.
Innovation Highlight:
Reinventing Urban Water Infrastructure
ReNUWIt is a multi-institution research centerfor re-inventing the
nation's urban water infrastructure, focusing on safe, sustainable
urban water infrastructures enabled by technological advances in
natural and engineered systems, and informed by a deeper under-
standing of institutional frameworks. The research center works in
close partnership with utilities, water service providers, equipment
manufacturers and international research partners to convert great
ideas into practical and sustainable solutions. More information can
be found at http://renuwit.org/.
• Consider funding of innovative projects that address
virus and multiple contaminant treatment at very small
drinking water systems.
• Promote public-private partnerships for meeting infra-
structure needs.
• Support innovative financing efforts for water, waste-
water and stormwater, including green infrastructure.
Special consideration will be made for funding of inno-
vative projects that address virus and multiple contami-
nant treatment at very small drinking water systems.
Partner and Leverage Action with Others
EPA will support a broad spectrum of partners who have
a critical role in fostering technology innovation, includ-
ing, for example:
• Partner with States and Tribes: The EPA Office of
Water will work closely with our state and tribal part-
ners on steps to foster technology innovation, includ-
ing ways to offer regulatory flexibilities for innova-
tion and reciprocity for technology assessment and
verification.
• Partner with Other Federal Agencies: EPA will work
with other federal agencies to leverage resources to
support innovative technology. For example, EPA is
partnering with the Department of Energy to leverage
opportunities to advance innovation in the water-energy
nexus space.
1 Support Partnership Agreements and Memoranda
of Understanding (MOUs) for Innovation: The EPA
has the ability to enter into partnership agreements
and MOUs that foster innovation. As an example, EPA
joined the Partnership on Technology Innovation and
the Environment in 2012 to accelerate the develop-
ment, adoption, deployment and export of technol-
ogies that protect health and the environment while
growing the economy and creating jobs.44 Also, EPA
has recently established an MOU with Imagine H20 to
identify and foster innovative water technologies that
show promise, if implemented, in developing sustain-
able water supplies and watersheds.45
1 Support Water Technology Innovation Clusters:
EPA's Office of Research and Development has the lead
for supporting and networking with other water tech-
nology clusters. EPA's National Water Program will also
remain active and help communicate the efforts and
accomplishments of the clusters and work in collabora-
tion with research and the cluster leaders.
1 Assess the Science of Remote Sensors and Emerg-
ing Watershed Monitoring Networks: EPA will work
with the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA and other part-
ners to assess the state of the science of remote sensors
and remote sensing technology and the capability of
emerging watershed-based monitoring networks to
provide real-time water information.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
-------
Promote Integrated Watershed Monitoring Net-
works: The EPA Office of Water will explore partner-
ships with the business community, watershed groups
and others to build water quality and water quantity
monitoring data systems to organize information on
and characterize on a watershed scale.
Contribute to Third Party Dialogues: External part-
ners have played a crucial role in convening discussions
among a broad range of stakeholder groups to explore
and pursue different aspects of water technology and
sustainability. For example, as part of their Charting
New Waters Initiative, the Johnson Foundation at Wing-
spread has convened key experts on several emerging
water issues. EPA will actively engage in these kinds
of progressive dialogues that include balanced and
diverse representation.
Support Export Programs and Increase Demand
and Market Opportunities for U.S. Technolo-
gies and Services: EPA with other federal agencies
(e.g., Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade
Development Agency) will continue to advance eco-
nomic development in partner countries by providing
technical assistance and capacity building that sup-
ports legal and regulatory reform related to commer-
cial activities and infrastructure development, estab-
lishing industry standards, and participating in other
market-opening activities. These technical assistance
programs facilitate favorable business and trade envi-
ronments for U.S. goods and services.
Support Research, Development, and
Demonstration Projects
The EPA Office of Water will continue to support research,
development and deployment of technologies to sup-
port and address the water challenges articulated above.
The EPA Office of Water will also support continued
grants to early stage companies through its own and
through Small Business Innovation Research.
novation for Clean and Safe Water
-------
A Cross Section of Views and Actions
About Innovation in the Water Sphere
Since the release of the March 2013 "Blueprint," EPA has con-
tinued to engage with a broad cross section of utility, busi-
ness, investment, and academic leaders and practitioners
to understand the dynamics and opportunities that restrain
or foster the pursuit of technology innovation. We clearly
recognize that there are direct roles and activities that EPA's
National Water Program can engage in. Just as importantly,
there are crucial roles that others can take, including states,
utilities, the private sector, NGOs and citizens.The following
is a short sampling of examples and perspectives from var-
ious sources on the technology innovation landscape that
have helped to shape this document and inform the actions
that EPA will take. These are just examples.
• American Water Summit—Accelerating Change: On
November 5-6,2013, over 300 attendees representing
diverse interests including public and private utilities,
finance and investors, consultants, and others partic-
ipated in discussions related to driving performance,
promoting the value of water, creating new financial
models and incentives for investment, and recognizing
water as a driver for economic growth.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF) CEO Round-
table (2012): On October 1,2012, WEF convened a dis-
cussion with 16 CEOs and then Administrator Lisa Jack-
son and Acting Water Assistant Administrator Nancy
Stoner.They identified four key needs for innovation:
(1) promoting public-private partnerships, (2) technol-
ogy evaluation and sharing of performance data, (3)
willingness among regulatory agencies and utilities to
take greater risks to support pursuit of innovation, and
(4) better communication and education of the public.
• Utility of the Future: In 2013, the National Association
of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), in collaboration with
the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)
and WEF, released The Water Resources Utility of the
Future.. .A Blueprint for Action. Among other things,
these organizations have fundamentally redefined the
business case and role for the traditional "wastewater
treatment utility"to one that emphasizes resource
recovery (water, nutrients and energy).
• U.S. Water Alliance: The U.S. Water Alliance has been a
key catalyst for fostering and demonstrating innovation
and water sustainability through their annual "One
Water Leadership Summifand "U.S. Water Prize."Their
quest for a national water vision with "one water"at
its core has led to roundtables and workshops among
diverse stakeholders and decision-makers, emphasizing
the value of water and the urgency of integration and
leadership at multiple levels
U.S. and World Business Council: The U.S. and World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD
and WBCSD) have been key innovation catalysts in
the business community.They have convened critical
dialogues and issued key papers (i.e.,"Water: Facts and
Trends,""Water Valuation, Building the Business Case,"
and "Sharing Water: Engaging Business") that encour-
age businesses to engage in water valuation practices
and become involved in the equation of healthy water-
shed management.
The Water Research Foundation published Water
Quality Impacts of Extreme Weather-Related Events in
2014. Based on actual utility case-studies, the report
outlines actionable steps water utilities can take to
prepare for changing weather patterns.
The American Water Works Association, in its 2013
State of the Water Industry Report, highlights the chal-
lenges and opportunities faced by the water sector
as assessed by experts at utilities, in government and
among manufacturers.
Regional Technology Clusters: Regional water technol-
ogy innovation clusters exist in various locations across
the United States (and internationally).They include
interconnected firms, supporting institutions, local
governments, business chambers, universities, investors
and others that work together in a particular geographic
area to promote economic growth and technological
innovation. Clusters foster collaboration between many
different groups and provide a variety of advantages in
developing innovative technologies that build on the
geographic area's strengths and interests. Several formal
and emerging clusters exist. More information can be
found at httD://www2.eDa.aov/clusters-Droaram.
tinq Technology Innovation for Clean and Safe Water
-------
Please visit http://www2.epa.gov/innovation/watertech
for more information about technology innovation in
the water sphere and for an electronic version of this
document.
EPA welcomes discussion, comments and feedback.
Comments can be directed to Jeff Lape, Deputy Director,
Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, U.S.
EPA, MC-4301T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington
DC 20460. Jeff's email is lape.jeff@epa.gov and his phone
is (202) 566-0480.
"Innovative technology can play a significant role
in solving many of the water-related problems
facing the U.S. and also providing opportunities
for economic development. The preponderance
of evidence demonstrates that environmental
protection and economic progress go hand-in-
hand. President Obama said that the U.S. will win
the future by out educating, out innovating, and out
building competitors."
—From EPA's Fiscal Year 2014 National Water Pro-
gram Guidance, 2013
novation for Clean and Safe Water
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References and Endnotes
1 Kiparsky, M., Sedlak, D., Thompson, B.H., Truffle r, B. 201 3. The Inno-
vation Deficit in Urban Water: The Need for an Integrated Perspec-
tive on Institutions, Organizations and Technology. Environmental
Engineering Science, Volume 30, Number 8.
2 TechKNOWLEDGEy Strategic Group. 201 3. 2073 Water Market
Review: Growing Awareness, Growing Risks. Issue 16, page 1.
(accessed
September 18, 201 3).
3 USGS. 2009. Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005.
USGS Circular 1344. (accessed February 24, 2014)
4 TechKNOWLEDGEy Strategic Group. 201 3. 2073 Water Market
Review: Growing Awareness, Growing Risks. Issue 16, page 19.
(accessed
September 18, 201 3).
5 TechKNOWLEDGEy Strategic Group. 201 3. 2073 Water Market
Review: Growing Awareness, Growing Risks. Issue 16, page 18.
(accessed
September 18, 201 3).
6 American Sportfishing Association. 201 3. Sportfishing in America.
(accessed September 18, 2013)
7 USDA Economic Research Service. 2013. Irrigation & Water Use:
Background,
8 EPA Office of Water. 2000. Liquid Assets 2000: America's Water
Resources at a Turning Point. Page 2. (accessed Sep-
tember 18,2013)
9 National Drought Mitigation Center. 2014. Western U.S. Still in
Grips of Drought in February 2014. (accessed March 10, 2014)
10 Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture.
2007. Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment
of Water Management in Agriculture. London: Earthscan, and
Colombo: International Water Management Institute.
11 The Economic Times. 2011. Half of World Population to Struggle
for Water in 2050. (accessed March 10,2014)
12 EPA. 2013. The National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009:
A Collaborative Survey. EPA 841-F-13-004.
13 EPA Office of Water. 2013. The Importance of Water to the U.S.
Economy: Synthesis Report. Page 13. (accessed November 21,2013)
14 American Society of Civil Engineers. 2013.2073 Report Card for
America's Infrastructure, (accessed February 24,2014)
15 American Society of Civil Engineers. 2013. Drinking Water. In 2073
Report Card for America's Infrastructure. < http://www.mfra structur-
ereportcard.org/a/#p/drinking-water/overview> (accessed March
10,2014)
16 EPA. 2013. Aging Water Infrastructure,
(accessed September 18,2013).
17 EPA. 2008. Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2008: Report to Congress.
Page 2-4. (accessed September 18,2013)
18 EPA. 2013. Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assess-
ment: Fifth Report to Congress, (accessed March 10,2014)
19 EPA. 2014.2012 National Water Program Strategy. (accessed September 18,2013)
20 National Intelligence Council. 2013. Global Water Security. Intel-
ligence Community Assessment ICA 2012-08.
21 World Health Organization and UNICEF. 2013. Progress on Sanitation
and Drinking- Water: 2013 Update, (accessed Septem-
ber 18,2013)
-------
22 National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. 2012.
Understanding Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's
Water Supply Through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater.
23 Electric Power Research Institute and Water Research Foundation.
2013. Electricity Use and Management in the Municipal Water Supply
and Wastewater Industries,
24 EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership. 2011. Opportunities
for Combined Heat and Power at Wastewater Treatment Facilities:
Market Analysis and Lessons from the Field, (accessed September
18,2013)
25 Ernst and Young. 2013. The US Water Sector on the Verge of Transfor-
mation: Global Cleantech Center White Paper. < http://www.ey.com/
Publication/vwLUAssets/Cleantech Water Whitepaper/SFILE/
Cleantech-Water-Whitepaper.pdf> (accessed September 18,2013)
26 EPA. 2014. Market Opportunities for Biogas Recovery Systems.
(accessed
September 18,2013)
27 EPA. 2014. National Summary of State Information. (accessed
February 24,2014).
28 State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group. 2009. An Urgent Call to
Action: Report of the State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group.
(accessed September 18,2013)
29 EPA Office of Inspector General. 2009. EPA Needs to Accelerate Adop-
tion of Numeric Nutrient Water Quality Standards. (accessed
September 18,2013)
30 EPA. 2013. Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assess-
ment: Fifth Report to Congress, (accessed March 10,2014)
31 EPA. 2008. Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2008: Report to Congress.
(accessed September 18,2013)
32 Stutz, E. 2010. Israel: World Leader in Recycled Water.
33 EPA. 2008. Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2008: Report to Congress.
Appendix I, Page I-5. (accessed September 18,
2013)
34 National Ground Water Association. 2010. Groundwater Facts.
(accessed January 23,2014)
35 EPA. 2012. Water: Small Systems and Capacity Development: Basic
Information, (accessed September 18,2013)
36 EPA. 2013. Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assess-
ment: Fifth Report to Congress, (accessed September 18,
2013)
37 EPA. 2011. National Characteristics of Drinking Water Systems Serv-
ing 10,000 or Fewer People, (accessed September 18,2013)
38 EPA Office of Inspector General. 2006. Much Effort and Resources
Needed to Help Small Drinking Water Systems Overcome Chal-
lenges. Report No. 2006-P-00026.
39 World Health Organization and UNICEF. 2013. Progress on Sanita-
tion andDrinking-Water:2013 Update, (accessed
September 18,2013)
40 Ibid.
41 Water.org. 2014. Millions Lack Safe Water, (accessed September 18,2013)
42 World Business Council for Sustainable Development. 2009. Shar-
ing Water: Engaging Business, (accessed September 18,
2013)
43 EPA. 2013. Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Plans.
(accessed
September 18,2013)
44 The Partnership is a voluntary collaborative committed to accel-
erating the development, adoption, deployment and export of
technologies that protect human health and the environment
while growing the U.S. economy and creating American jobs. In
addition to EPA, members of the Partnership currently include the
Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions (Duke Uni-
versity), the Center for Environmental Policy (American University),
the Environmental Defense Fund, and others.
45 Imagine H20 is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepre-
neurship in the water sector for people to address and potentially
solve water problems. Imagine conducts an annual competition
that awards a business plan prize ("the Prize") to selected water
entrepreneurs whose technologies show promise in addressing
various water-related environmental problems.
-------
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
http://www2.epa.gov/innovation/watertech
Disclaimer: The statements in this document are intended solely as information transfer. This document is not intended, nor can
it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States. This document does not impose
legally-binding requirements.The examples and related links are illustrative and not intended to be comprehensive. Reference herein
to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily
constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, orfavoring by the United States Government.
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