Alternative water supply development highlighted at White House Water Summit

Washington, D.C. — The White House Water Summit was intended to raise awareness of the national importance of water. Research that accelerates innovation in water reuse, improves water reuse in the Potomac watershed, recovers resources from wastewater, and improves water services resiliency were all featured in the March 22 event.

“The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the WateReuse Research Foundation (WRRF) are excited that we are clearly pushing research forward on alternative water supply development,” explained WERF and WRRF Executive Director Melissa Meeker.

WERF’s partnership with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) in the Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) was highlighted as one of the commitments that the Administration and non-federal institutions are making to build a sustainable water future. A technology focus on water reuse will establish a new network of water users to identify, evaluate, and demonstrate innovative technologies that will help improve the effectiveness and reduce the costs of water reuse.

In addition, three WERF partnerships with the Administration were highlighted:

• A recent $750,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Improving Water Reuse for a Much Healthier Potomac Watershed began on March 22.

• A Water Resources Dashboard that provides a “one-stop shop” for water-relevant data needs to ensure water services resiliency made its debut on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website March 22, as well.

•A National Water Resource Recovery Test Bed Facility Network and Directory, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, EPA, National Science Foundation, and Department of Agriculture also was highlighted at the Water Summit. Its purpose is to connect those working on recovering energy and other valuable resources from wastewater with test facilities appropriate for their needs. Each of these projects illustrates WERF’s commitment to the administration to build a sustainable water future.

Meeker was one of 200 participants invited to the White House Water Summit.