Applications Invited for Smart and Connected Energy Management

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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:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart and connected energy management in water and wastewater utilities.
• Recommend tools and guidance for implementing smart water networks to reduce waste and improve overall energy efficiency.

Budget:

Applicants may request up to $150,000 in WRF funds for this project.

Background and Project Rationale:

To optimize plant energy performance, staff need to have real-time knowledge of plant operating conditions, parameters, and performance. Accurate energy performance quantification is crucial for identifying inefficiencies, prioritizing maintenance efforts to mitigate excess energy use, and identifying poor energy performance and operational issues.

By harnessing the capabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for real-time monitoring and analysis, it is feasible to assess various operating issues, including leaks, pressure deviations, pump performance, and other water operations issues that are wasting energy. WRF project 4917, Utilizing Smart Water Networks to Manage Pressure and Flow for Reduction of Water Loss and Pipe Breaks (Karl et al. 2022), examined using smart meters for pressure loss. This project would build on 4917’s work to examine the specifics of energy optimization points in the system best informed with IoT applications.

Research Approach:

The proposed research approach would involve the following:

• Conduct a detailed literature review to identify best practices and gaps in this subject.
• Survey utilities of different sizes and water/wastewater treatment types to collect information, best practices, and challenges related to implementing smart energy programs.
• Identify process and component energy wastes or excesses within water and wastewater operations and distributions that would be informed by smart water networks by in-depth case studies, network analysis, or other approaches.
• Develop a guidance manual of best practices for implementing smart water utility network technology and analysis approaches. The guidance manual should include:
• Recommendations on what components should or should not be included based on size and/or frequency of use.
• How to establish a baseline for quantifying the effectiveness of smart and connected energy management initiatives.

Expected Deliverables:

Possible deliverables could include:

• Literature review synthesis document
• Summary of survey results
• Final research report
• Utility-facing guidance document, including recommendations on equipment inclusion and guidance for establishing baseline energy usage
• Webcasts and conference presentations
• Open access journal article

Project Duration:

The anticipated period of performance for this project is 18 months from the contract start date.

Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted from domestic or international 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/rfp-5296

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Water Research Others