The Water Research Foundation (WRF), a nonprofit sponsor of research supporting the water community, released requests for proposals (RFPs) for three Emerging Opportunities projects and one Focus Area project.

Research topics include water loss control, communication on cyanotoxins, water and wastewater capacity charge programs, and fostering sustainable relationships between clean water agencies and the community. WRF is also seeking utility volunteers for these projects.


WRF creates research solutions on challenges facing the water community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and reuse. WRF creates research solutions on challenges facing the water community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and reuse. The first RFP is for a project entitled “Development of a Risk Communication Toolkit for Cyanotoxins.” This project will provide guidance, templates, and tools to help utilities, regulatory agencies, and water professionals communicate regarding the risks associated with cyanotoxins in public drinking water supplies and finished drinking water, in contrast to those risks posed by freshwater recreational waters.

A second RFP is for a project entitled “Forging Powerful and Sustainable Relationships Between Clean Water Agencies and the Community.” This project will investigate how leading clean water agencies have leveraged messages and community programs to foster long-term sustainable relationships within a community as a way to tangibly demonstrate the value of water and the technology that creates clean water.

The third RFP is for a project entitled “Guidance on Implementing an Effective Water Loss Control Plan.” The project will create a guidance manual and decision framework to help utility practitioners develop an actionable water loss control plan with the goal of reducing non-revenue water. The decision framework is meant to align with the utility’s strategic goals, local circumstances, and financial parameters.

An RFP for one Focus Area project has also been posted by WRF. This is for a project entitled “Trends and Best Practices of Water and Wastewater Capacity and Connection Charges and Transactions.” The project will evaluate utility capacity charge programs and identify best practices, innovation, and emerging trends within those programs.

Governed by utilities, WRF plans, manages, and delivers research on challenges facing the water community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and reuse.

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