Advanced Concepts

• Research Questions
• Outputs from Research Activities
• Research Projects

Relates to the application or adoption of new and innovative infrastructure designs, management procedures and operational approaches. The infusion of these advanced concepts into an established drinking water distribution or wastewater collection system is especially challenging. These innovative concepts can "evolve" in existing systems through system retrofit opportunities, but their compatibility with the in-place infrastructure system is critical. As existing systems expand with new development, the opportunity for the application of advanced concepts grows. These new sub-systems become opportunities for demonstrating the effectiveness of new and innovative concepts. The advanced concepts relating to integrated management go beyond comprehensive asset management and include maximizing benefits from low impact development, water reuse, source water protection and watershed management. For utilities with responsibilities for and jurisdiction over both drinking water and wastewater systems, the institutional challenges to integrated management may be reduced. These utilities may be potential test beds for these integrated water resources and infrastructure management approaches.

Research Questions

1. On a global basis, what is the state-of-the-technology in field of sewerage system design?
2. Is there a better way to design and operate sewage systems given the concern for Wet Weather Flow (WWF) stressors and are there emerging technologies that can be used for treating and controlling WWF at a reasonable cost?
3. What effective watershed management strategies are available and how do communities/utilities select the most appropriate subset from these to match specific watershed needs?
4. How can we effectively prevent and reduce pollutant discharges to receiving waters of the urban watershed?
5. What are the best to retrofit existing and construct new sewer/sewage systems in urban settings?
6. How can distribution system be designed, constructed and operated to achieve a better balance between water quantity and quality requirements, fire protection and cost?
7. How can measuring, sensing, modeling, and system control be improved and effectively integrated to improve water quality and system efficiency?

Outputs from Research Activities

• Green infrastructure research forum, cosponsored by OW and ORD, on January 17-18, 2008
• Construction of a state-of-the-art permeable pavement demonstration site in Edison, NJ
• STAR Grant RFA to support research on advanced designs and management approaches for drinking water and wastewater conveyance systems
• Evaluation and performance monitoring of the Kansas City, MO green infrastructure project
• State-of-the-technology report on advanced drainage designs and system configurations
• Evaluation reports on removal of emerging pollutants by conventional treatment for water reuse
• National Assessment reports on the effects of climate conditions on water infrastructure
• New and improved sensor-based pipe leak detection technologies
• Cooperative agreements
• EPA sponsored workshops
• Journal Articles

Research Projects