The total value of the project is $355,164, with $200,000 funded by the WateReuse Research Foundation and $155,164 in-kind contribution from the research partners and participating utilities. American Water will directly receive $150,000 to pay for research costs.

The project will utilize "conventional, culture-based, and state of the art molecular procedures" to better understand reclaimed water quality and establish its relationship with Legionella occurrence and inactivation. There are many species of Legionella, but Legionella pneumophila is the predominant species responsible for both the severe (Legionainaire's disease) or the self-limiting mild (Pontiac fever) forms of human disease.

"Incorporating this information into sophisticated mathematical models will allow us to estimate Legionella risk from exposure to unrestricted urban reuse," said Dr. Mark LeChevallier, Director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship at American Water. "The data gathered during this project will allow the water reuse industry to tailor mitigation efforts in areas providing the greatest benefit."

The project team will consist of LeChevallier as Principal Investigator, with American Water's Dr. Zia Bukhari and Dr. Patrick Jjemba, serving as Co-Principal Investigators. Dr. Charles Haas from Drexel University will collaborate with the American Water team to perform the risk assessments.