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Innovation and Water: Where Is the Cutting Edge? Urban Water Institute Palm Springs, CA

Innovation and Water: Where Is the Cutting Edge? Urban Water Institute Palm Springs, CA February 19-21, 2014. Presentation Overview. About the Foundation. Water Research Foundation. Advancing the science of water to improve the quality of life. Foundation Background. Research Cooperative

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Innovation and Water: Where Is the Cutting Edge? Urban Water Institute Palm Springs, CA

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  1. Innovation and Water: Where Is the Cutting Edge? Urban Water Institute Palm Springs, CA February 19-21, 2014

  2. Presentation Overview

  3. About the Foundation

  4. Water Research Foundation Advancing the science of water to improve the quality of life

  5. Foundation Background • Research Cooperative • Sponsor research • Communicate knowledge • Over 1,000 subscribers • $13 million subscriber investment

  6. Foundation Research Programs

  7. Research Program Overview Focus Area (60% of research budget) ― identifies a limited number of broadly relevant subscriber issues and solves them with a targeted, multi‐year research response. Emerging Opportunities (20% of research budget) ― enables the Foundation to respond quickly to emergent subscriber challenges and research ideas identified throughout the year. Tailored Collaboration (20% of research budget) ― enables the Foundation to partner with utility subscribers on research that may be more limited or regional in impact. Facilitated Research Services (funded by involved utilities) – enables the Foundation to facilitate research via the development of funding sources beyond WRF’s existing research programs 20% 20%

  8. Innovation Partnerships

  9. Innovation Innovation ― • Technology • Drivers: regulation, energy, staffing expenses • Leadership • Drivers: rates, water supply, staff demographics, politics

  10. Barriers to Technology Innovation • Regulation • Financing • Conservative nature of the industry

  11. WRF Manages Innovation • Foundation research management • Collaboration • Tailored collaboration • Facilitated research services

  12. Research Collaboration • Partnership with Isle, Inc. • Set up technology TAGs • Technologies are presented • Utilities select • WRF manages research

  13. Alignment with Utilities • Trusted by utilities and regulators • Helps overcome “conservative” and regulatory barriers

  14. Technology Examples • Membranes • Forward osmosis • Reverse osmosis • Water quality testing • IDEXX rapid coliform test • Exchange resins • Hexavalent chromium • Energy • Micro turbines

  15. UV Break Through • Numerous projects • Proved UV effective for Cryptosporidium disinfection • Opened door for utility use • Saved utilities billions of dollars

  16. Summary • Research cooperative owned by and directed by water utilities • Sponsor innovative technology research • Communicate results

  17. Thank You Rob Renner Executive Director rrenner@waterrf.org 303.347.6150

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