Applications Invited for Integrating Equitable Outcomes into Water Reuse Projects

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About the Organization

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

WRF was formed in 2018 through the integration of three highly respected research collaboratives: WateReuse Research Foundation, Water Environment Research Foundation, and Water Research Foundation. Separately, these organizations focused on research to support varied segments of the water sector—water reuse, wastewater and stormwater, and drinking water, respectively. Now a One Water organization, WRF delivers the research programming the sector needs to address the most pressing water issues holistically.

About the Grant

This project is funded by The Water Research Foundation (WRF) as part of WRF’s Research Priority Program.

Project Objectives:

• Equip utilities and decision-makers to holistically assess an alternative water system's potential benefit and/or impact.
• Quantify or operationalize equitable impacts from alternative/diversifying water systems.
• Identify metrics to assess and inform decision-making processes for equitable implementation of diversifying water systems.

Budget:

Applicants may request up to $200,000 in WRF funds for this project.

Background and Project Rationale:

Alternative source water or water reuse projects present emerging opportunities to increase community resiliency and meet environmental objectives. However, beyond environmental impacts, there is unique potential to offset existing water challenges and potentially improve community access and service provision quality. In 2017, the US Water Alliance released a national briefing report which delineated “water equity” across three major pillars:

• Ensure all people have access to clean, safe, affordable water service.
• Maximize the community and economic benefits of water infrastructure investment.
• Foster community resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Water reuse systems can benefit communities by expanding water supplies and improving local resiliency. However, the intersection between these principles of water equity and these innovative systems remains unclear. Who stands to benefit from alternative water systems, and how does this new type of infrastructure affect local investments, such as workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, and affordability?

An opportunity exists to strengthen the understanding of equitable outcomes within the context of water reuse systems. Water professionals, planners, and other decision-makers need to be equipped to appropriately engage communities during project conception and highlight project benefits. While funding opportunities increasingly emphasize the need to engage different communities, clear metrics for evaluating water equity in infrastructure projects remain limited. Addressing this gap will help ensure that water reuse projects are designed and implemented in a way that maximizes community benefits.

Research Approach:

This RFP is intentionally flexible in the research approach to encourage creativity and originality from proposers. Proposers should describe how they will conduct the research to meet the objectives listed above. The following approach is intended as a starting point. Please note that proposers are expected to demonstrate some level of partnership in their work. However, WRF is also available as a resource to help support the project team in identifying case studies, or project participants. Please note that diversity of representation across the types of water reuse projects is important for a successful proposal.

• Task 1: Strengthening the definition of “water equity” in the context of diversifying water systems.
• Task 2: Developing an equity framework for diversifying water systems
• Task 3: Operationalizing the framework with case studies

Expected Deliverables:

The deliverables for this project are intentionally flexible to encourage creativity and originality from proposers. However, proposals should be clear on how deliverables are relevant and the appropriate mechanism for communicating research findings to the target audience. Potential deliverables may include (but are not limited to):

• Guidance document expanding previous definitions of equity with respect to diversifying water systems and recommendations for maximizing co-benefits to communities
• Research report (must use WRF’s Research Report Template)
• Equity framework for practical project planning to operationalize the expanded equity definitions
• In-depth case studies showcasing the various aspects of the equity framework
• Webcast, conference presentation, etc.
• Peer-reviewed journal article
• Field demonstration/pilot project
• Fact sheet, case study, white paper, etc.
• Workshop (consider a plan to document workshop)
• Technology Deliverables (must follow the Technology Deliverables Guidance)

Please note that conference presentations, workshops, and webcasts may be included as part of the Communication Plan but are not necessarily considered as sufficient stand-alone deliverables for this work.

Project Duration: The anticipated period of performance for this project is 18-24 months from the contract start date.

Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted from both U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities.

How to Apply

Proposals are accepted exclusively online in PDF format, and they must be fully submitted before 3:00 pm Mountain Time on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The online proposal system allows submission of your documents until the date and time stated in this RFP. To avoid the risk of the system closing before you press the submit button, do not wait until the last minute to complete your submission. Submit your proposal at https://forms.waterrf.org/cbruck/RFP5303

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