물 환경 연구 재단(Water Environment Research Foundation)은 최근 수처리 플랜트들을 수자원 복구 시설로 전면 교체하는 계획에 박차를 가하기 위해 적극적인 연구에 투자하고 있는 중이라고 밝혔다.

위 제안의 요청을 통해 하·폐수로부터 거시적 영양성분, 에너지, 재이용 가능한 물을 복구할 수 있게 되는 더욱 심도있는 이해를 위한 연구에 대한 경매를 이번 달 진행하게 될 것이다. 현금 약 오십만 달러에 이르는 돈으로 WERF는 경매인들이 그들의 연구비를 차입, 보상하는 상호협력 파트너십을 형성하기를 바라고 있는 것으로 알려졌다. WERF는 이번 달과  향후 이어질 여러 연구 수여 상금을 통해 그들의 연구가 확장되기를 기대하고 있다.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 25, 2013 -- The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is embarking on an aggressive research cycle to accelerate the transition of wastewater treatment facilities into water resource recovery facilities.

A request for proposals will be issued this month seeking bids on research to further our understanding of the recovery of macro-nutrients, energy, and water from wastewater. With nearly half a million dollars in cash, WERF hopes bidders will significantly leverage these research dollars with in-kind partnerships. WERF anticipates issuing several research grants this month and then several more with additional funds later in the year.

In early August, WERF will make another $350,000 available for research to advance processes/practices with potential for energy recovery/efficiency or which address barriers to energy recovery in the wastewater treatment process. WERF is collaborating with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to co-fund this research. Successful teams will be able to demonstrate the relevance of the proposed research to New York State as well as to benefit the greater water environment sector.

All of these research funds come on the heels of WERFs recently completed pre- bidding process for innovative research under its Unsolicited Research Program. The Unsolicited Research Program provides nearly half a million dollars to fund research that can be the catalyst for transforming our understanding of our water resources. To date, submittals have come in at greater levels than in recent years. The WERF Research Council will review these pre-proposals and select a subset for full proposals later this year.

"This cycle of research funding is just the beginning of much more to come in other areas such as integrated water management and expanded resource recovery," explains Carrie Capuco, WERF Director of Communications. "We are hopeful that sharing the news of this innovative research will excite the public about the future of water resource recovery."

[출처: Waterworld / 2013년 7월 25일]