Grant

• Develop a standardized framework for evaluating the economic, environmental, and social costs and benefits of alternative water systems, including municipal wastewater reuse (for all forms of reuse—potable or non-potable), desalination, and stormwater management. Niche sources such as atmospheric water capture and floodwater harvesting are excluded.
• Assess various financing methods for alternative water systems and determine how financing options impact project feasibility, cost structures, and long-term sustainability.
• Identify and quantify non-monetized benefits, such as improved public health, enhanced ecosystem services, and increased community well-being. Examples include ecosystem services, natural capital valuation, resilience, and community amenities, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes.
• Incorporate community acceptance, communication, education, and risk tolerance considerations to better understand the barriers to adoption (e.g., financial, policy, market forces) and how community preferences influence decision-making processes.
• Compare how different alternative water systems perform when applied across sectors (municipal and industrial) and system type (centralized vs. decentralized systems).
• Create a decision-support framework that allows users to weigh trade-offs based on localized needs and priorities, while providing transparency in assumptions and methodologies.

WRF RFP Contact: Jessica Metcalf

For instructions on how to submit proposals, refer to these instructions or this video.

The Potential Participants listed at the bottom of this page have indicated interest in participating in this research. This information is updated frequently as utilities are encouraged to volunteer throughout the RFP cycle.