Water Research Foundation coordinates multiple research programs to collectively address issues of its subscribers and the drinking water community as a whole. Proactive planning processes are used to develop a balanced, well-rounded research agenda. Management and oversight are applied at each stage of research, including peer review. The common thread in all research projects is value and benefit to subscribers.
Funding for the Foundation research programs is provided primarily from subscribing members. Additional sources include funding awarded through various federal governmental agencies, partnerships with other research organizations, and contributions made by supporters.
Following are brief descriptions of the Water Research Foundation research programs. Click on each program heading for more information.
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| This program is the largest of the Foundation research programs in both the amount of funding involved and the number of projects funded. Through the Solicited Research Program, projects that best address current and emerging issues of high priority to the drinking water community are identified through an extensive research planning process. Projects are then awarded to research contractors through a competitive request-for-proposals process. |
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| Core research on fundamental topics often becomes the stepping stone to further advancements in drinking water science. Each year, the Foundation funds a number of research proposals received through the Unsolicited Research Program that have the potential to lay the groundwork for such advancements. |
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This program serves as a unique form of research partnership that is reserved exclusively for our utility subscribers, providing them the opportunity to leverage their research dollars with Foundation funds. |
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| Water Research Foundation collaborates with a number of national and international research organizations to sponsor studies of mutual benefit. The Partnership Program emphasizes collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and leveraged funding. To date, more than 30 organizations have partnered with the Foundation to address broad-based issues within the global water supply community. |
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Strategic Research Initiatives serve as a means of effectively sustaining multi-year, multi-project research activities aimed at solving specific problems or achieving specific advancements of critical importance to water suppliers. |
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| The objectives of this program are to identify time-sensitive issues for the drinking water community, fund research to determine the potential magnitude of the issues and assess the need for further research, and deliver results to utilities in an expeditious manner. |
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| Research projects under this program address the unique needs and challenges of smaller water supply systems. |
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The Project Continuation Reserve Program provides additional funds for further research on an ongoing Foundation project within any of the research programs. |
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