Collaboration

Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI) Research Plan

The following research organizations have engaged in the development of the Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI) Research Plan (PDF) (79 pp, 819 KB):

Water Environmental Research Foundation (WERF)

WERF is the research arm of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). WEF is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. Formerly known as the Water Pollution Control Association, WEF is the leading professional organization representing the interests of the wastewater collection and treatment industry.

WERF manages water quality research through a public-private partnership between municipal utilities, corporations, academia, industry, and the federal government. WERF has a research portfolio valued at nearly $60 million, with more than 200 completed and ongoing research projects. WERF research supports more than 250 subscribers, including local municipal wastewater and stormwater agencies in 40 states. Subscribers represent nearly 70 percent of the sewered U.S. population and several agencies in other countries. WERF typically funds close to $7 million in new projects each year.

Water Research Foundation
(formerly AwwaRF)

The Water Research Foundation is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. The Water Research Foundation is a member-supported, international, nonprofit organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies, and other professionals to provide safe and affordable drinking water to consumers. The Water Research Foundation is largely funded by member organizations that voluntarily subscribe in order to support and benefit from the water-related research. Almost 900 water utilities and more than 50 water-related consulting firms and manufacturing companies currently subscribe to the Water Research Foundation. More than $370 million in research, represented by more than 600 completed research projects, have been sponsored by the Water Research Foundation; subscribers provide more than $10 million annually to fund research.

Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC)

Founded in 2002, GWRC is an international water research alliance made up of some of the world's leading water research organizations. GWRC is a nonprofit organization that serves as the mechanism for collaborative water research across the globe. Its focus is on urban water supply, wastewater issues, and renewable water resources. It leverages funding and expertise among the participating research organizations, coordinates research strategies, secures additional funding not available to single research foundations, and actively manages a centralized approach to global water issues. EPA is the first partner of the GWRC; a partnership agreement was signed in July 2003. Other GWRC members are:

• Anjou Recherche – Veolia Water (France)
• AWWA Research Foundation (United States)
• Cooperative Research Center for Water Quality and Treatment (Australia)
• DVGW TZW, German Waterworks Association, Water Technology Center (Germany)
• EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology (Switzerland)
• Kiwa (Netherlands)
• PUB (Singapore)
• Stowa, Foundation for Applied Water Research (Netherlands)
• Suez Environmental, International Research Center on Water and Environment – CIRSEE (France)
• United Kingdom Water Industry Research (United Kingdom)
• Water Environment Research Foundation (United States)
• Water Research Commission (South Africa)
• Water Services Association of Australia
• WateReuse Foundation (United States)

National Research Council Canada,
Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC)

NRC-IRC is the leading construction research agency in Canada. Equipped with world-class facilities, NRC-IRC carries out applied and contract research on issues of strategic importance to the Canadian construction sector. Through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, NRC-IRC assists the sector in becoming more competitive through innovation and helps to foster the provision of safe and sustainable built environments.

NRC-IRC's Urban Infrastructure Research Program develops technologies for the design and rehabilitation of infrastructure systems, and innovative tools and techniques for the evaluation and management of these systems. The research focuses on buried utilities, urban roads, concrete structures, and sustainable infrastructure for water and wastewater systems.

University Research Organizations

Penn State University , Pipeline Infrastructure Research Center

University of Houston, Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology

Louisiana Tech University, Trenchless Technology Center

Polytechnic University of New York, Department of Civil Engineering

U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)

OPS conducts and supports research to support PHMSA regulatory and enforcement activities and to provide the technical and analytical support for planning, evaluating, and implementing the OPS programs. OPS sponsors research and development (R&D) projects focused on providing near-term solutions that will increase the safety, cleanliness, and reliability of the nation's oil, gas, and hazardous materials pipeline systems.

Recent R&D projects include leak detection; detection of mechanical damage; damage prevention; improved pipeline system controls, monitoring, and operations; and improvements in pipeline materials. These projects are addressing technological solutions that can be quickly implemented to improve pipeline safety.

Stakeholder involvement and collaboration are critical to the success of the AWI research program. The program is based on a public-private research approach that optimizes collaboration and technology transfer.