미국 국토개발부는 담수화와 물 정화 시스템 연구와 실험을 위해 150만 달러를 제공한다.
개발부는 담수화와 물 정화가 필요한 광범위한 분야를 다루기 위해 민간 사업과 물 처리 시설, 대학의 제안을 구하고 있다. 이 제안은 국가적 의의와 광범위한 기술 혜택 연구에 관심이 있어야 한다.

개발부의 연구 우선순위를 지원하는 제안은 심의 절차동안 추가 융자를 받을 수 있다.

연구 우선순위는 다음과 같다.

1. Brackish 지하수 국가 담수화 연구 시설에서 이루어지는 연구와 조사
2. 다양한 염분 처리수를 위한 융통성있게 사용 가능한 시스템의 개발과 발전
3.  높은 농도의 용해된 토양과 셀렌을 포함하는 농업 환원수에 대한 연구

Funding totalling US$ 1.5 million is being offered this year by the US Bureau of Reclamation for laboratory and pilot-scale studies of desalination and water purification systems.

Reclamation is seeking proposals from universities, water utilities, private industry and others to address a broad range of desalting and water purification needs. It is interested in research that will have national significance and where the benefits of the technology will be widespread.

Proposals that support Reclamation's research priorities will receive additional credit during the rating process. Those research priorities are:

1. Research and pilot studies conducted at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility
2. Development and evaluation of flexible use systems for treating waters of significantly varying salinities
3. Pilot studies treating agricultural return flows containing elevated levels of total dissolved solids and selenium.

Laboratory studies lasts up to 13 months and are typically bench-scale studies involving small flow rates - less than 2 gallons per minute (0.13 L/s).

Pilot-scale studies typically follow research studies to demonstrate the technology works at a larger scale. They usually involve flow rates between 1 and 20 gallons per minute (0.06-1.3 L/s) and are tested using natural water sources rather than synthetic or laboratory-made feedwater.

Up to US$ 150,000 will be available for each laboratory study. Up to US$ 200,000 per year for each pilot-scale project will be available, for a total of up to US$ 400,000 for two years.

The funding opportunity announcement is available at www.grants.gov by searching for announcement number R14AS00036. Proposals must be submitted through the same site by 14 May 2014.

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse/ 2014년 4월 15일]