Quick Links

 

 

Past Projects


The following list includes research projects that NWRI has funded since 1991:

 

 

Fate and Transport of Pathogens

Quantification of Bacterial Transport Processes in Subsurface Environments

Principal Investigator: R. Ford
Partners: University of Virginia, National Science Foundation

Transport and Fate of Viruses in the Vicinity of Pumping Wells

Principal Investigator: D. DeBorde
Partners: University of Montana, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Field Experiment and Modeling of Viral Transport in Groundwater

Principal Investigator: Y. Corapcioglu
Partners: Texas A&M University, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Norwalk Virus Disinfection and Reduction by Land Treatment

Principal Investigator: M. Sobsey
Partners: University of North Carolina, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Transport and Transformation of Antibiotics and Hormones in the Aquatic Environment

Principal Investigator: D. Sedlak
Partners: University of California Berkeley

Deposition Mechanisms and Long-Term Scale Factors Influencing Virus Transport in Porous Media

Principal Investigator: T. Olson
Partners: University of California Irvine, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Groundwater Transport of Viruses

Principal Investigator: J. Ryan
Partners: University of Colorado, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Water Quality


Denitrification of Drinking Water in a Rural Community in Colorado

Principal Investigator: J. Silverstein
Partners: University of Colorado at Boulder, Town of Wiggins (Colorado)

PCR Detection and Assessment of Viability Methods for the Detection of Legionella Species in Potable Water Supplies

Principal Investigator: C. Paszko-Kolva
Partners: Perkin-Elmer

Quantitative Detection of Injured or Nonculturable Microorganisms by Signature Lipid Biomarker Analysis

Principal Investigator: D. White
Partners: Microbial Insights, Inc.

Development and Application of Molecular Techniques to Detect Indicator and Pathogenic Microorganisms in Treated Wastewater

Principal Investigator: C. Palmer
Partners: Orange County Sanitation District

Dyer Road Well Field Color Removal Project

Principal Investigator: S. Malloy
Partners: Irvine Ranch Water District, CH2M Hill

Quality and Wildlife Enhancement in Prado Wetlands

Principal Investigator: A. Horne
Partners: University of California Berkeley, Orange County Water District

Risk Reduction in Drinking Water Distribution Systems by Online Monitoring of Pathogen Ecology for Quantitative Evaluation of Mitigation Procedures

Principal Investigator: D. White
Partners: University of Tennessee, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ECAO, Inc.

Microbial Risk Assessment for Recycled Water

Principal Investigator: R. Cooper
Partners: Irvine Ranch Water District

Interactions between Pipe Materials, Corrosion Inhibitors, Disinfectants, Organics, and Distribution System Biofilms

Principal Investigator: A. Camper
Partners: Montana State University, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ECAO, Inc.

Collaborative National Study Using Molecular Technology to Detect Hepatitis A Virus and Virulence Factor Genes in E. Coli

Principal Investigator: C. Palmer
Partners: University of North Carolina, City and County of Honolulu (Hawaii), Orange County Sanitation District

Relationship of Dichloroacetate (DCA) and Trichloroacetate (TCA) Induced Hepatic Tumors with the Induction of Peroxisomes

Principal Investigator: R. Bull
Partners: American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Coastal Runoff Impact Study: Causes of Surf Zone Pollution in Huntington Beach, California

Principal Investigator: S. Grant
Partners: University of California Irvine

Urban Runoff Impact Study Phase II

Principal Investigator: S. Grant
Partners: County of Orange and Beach Cities (California)

Urban Runoff Impact Study Phase III: Origins of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Nuisance and Storm Flows from Urban Watersheds

Principal Investigator: S. Grant
Partners: University of California Irvine, County of Orange

The Use of Bioassays and Chemical Measurements to Assess the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Water Reclamation Systems

Principal Investigator: J. Montgomery
Partners: Water Reuse Task Force (Bureau of Reclamation, Water Environment Research Foundation, WateReuse Foundation)

Innovative DNA Array Technology for Detection of Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Environments

Principal Investigator: S. Kullman
Partners: Water Reuse Task Force (Bureau of Reclamation, Water Environment Research Foundation, WateReuse Foundation)

Residential Runoff Reduction Study

Principal Investigator: J. Berg
Partner: Calfed, Irvine Ranch Water District (California)

Investigations of Treatment Options for Low-Level Hexavalent Chromium Removal

Principal Investigator: D. Froelich
Partner: American Water Works Association Research Foundation

Water Softener Pilot Program

Principal Investigators: D. Kung and K. Knight
Partners: Irvine Ranch Water District, American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Southern California Salinity Coalition, Claremont Graduate University (California), Orange County Sanitation District, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, California State Department of Water Resources

Rejection of Pharmaceuticals by Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Analysis

Principal Investigators: D. Phipps and G. Rodriguez Partner: Orange County Water District (California)

The Rate of Bromate Reduction in the Human Stomach, Part I

Principal Investigators: J. Cotruvo and G. Gordon
Partners: Southern Nevada Water Authority, International Bottled Water Association

The Rate of Bromate Decomposition in the Human Stomach, Phase II

Principal Investigators: J. Cotruvo and G. Gordon
Partners: Southern Nevada Water Authority, American Water Works Association Research Foundation

Salinity Reduction Study

Principal Investigators: K. Knight and D.S. Kung
Partners: Claremont Graduate University (California), Southern California Salinity Coalition, Inland Empire Utilities Agency

Dynamics of Point and Nonpoint Source Fecal Pollution from an Urban Watershed in Southern California

Principal Investigator: S.B. Grant
Partners: University of California, Irvine, County of San Bernardino, County of Orange

The Role of Extracellular Polymeric Substances on the Fate and Transport of Fecal Coliforms in Groundwater Environments

Principal Investigator: S. Walker
Partners: University of California, Riverside

 

Low-Dose Risks from Bromate: The Relationship between Drinking Water Constituents and the Actual Dose to Susceptible Organs in Rats and Humans
Principal Investigators:D Cotruvo and R. Bull

Partners: Awwa Research Foundation, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Public Utilities Board Singapore, Southern Nevada Water Authority, International Ozone Association Long Beach Water Department, Calleguas Municipal Water District

 

Evaluation of Riverbank Filtration Performance under Extreme Environmental Conditions: An International Collaboration
Principal Investigator: C. Ray

Partners: University of Hawaii at Mañoa, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India), National Institute of Hydrology (India)

 

Source, Fate, and Transport of Endocrine Disruptors, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care Products in Drinking Water Sources in California

Principal Investigators: Dr. Y. Carrie Guo and Stuart W. Krasner, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

 

 

Treatment Technology and Monitoring

Ozone-Induced Biodegradability of Disinfection Byproduct Precursors

Principal Investigator: G. Amy
Partners: University of Colorado at Boulder, Irvine Ranch Water District

Identification of Microbially Mediated Aesthetic and Health Issues Related to Santa Ana River Recharge

Principal Investigator: B. Olson
Partners: University of California Irvine, Orange County Water District

Organic Carbon Characterization of Advanced Treated Wastewater at Water Factory 21

Principal Investigator: M. Reinhard
Partners: Stanford University, Orange County Water District

Investigation of Design Parameters and Biological Factors Influencing Vapor-Phase Bio-Treatment of Volatile Organic Contaminants in Groundwater

Principal Investigator: H. Ridgway
Partners: Orange County Water District

Potential for Genetic Enhancement of Bacterial Degradative Processes in Wastewater

Principal Investigator: B. Olson
Partners: University of California Irvine, Irvine Ranch Water District

Norwalk Virus in water and Wastewater: Detection, Occurrence, Persistence, and Reduction by Treatment

Principal Investigator: M. Sobsey
Partners: University of North Carolina, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Development and Testing of New Nanofiltration Membranes for Application to Water Treatment: An Integrated Polymer Chemistry/Engineering Approach

Principal Investigator: F. DiGiano
Partners: University of North Carolina, Bureau of Reclamation

Fouling Composition During Membrane Treatment of Secondary Effluent: Microscale Characterization Leading to Fouling Prevention on the Pilot Scale

Principal Investigator: G. Leslie
Partners: Orange County Water District, Bureau of Reclamation

Influence of Molecular Conditioning Films on Microbial Colonization of Synthetic Membranes Determined by Internal Reflection Spectrometry

Principal Investigator: K. Ishida
Partners: Orange County Water Districts, Bureau of Reclamation

Dean Vortex Instabilities for Tubular Membrane Module Design

Principal Investigator: G. Belfort
Partners: Rensselaer Polytechnic University, General Electric Corp.

Analysis of Biocide/Biofilm Interactions by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

Principal Investigator: H. Ridgway
Partners: Orange County Water District, Bureau of Reclamation

Nutritional and Physio-Chemical Manipulation of Reverse Osmosis Biofilm Integrity

Principal Investigator: H. Ridgway
Partners: Orange County Water District, University of New South Wales

Dean Vortex Instabilities for Reducing Concentration Polarization and Fouling and Developing New Membrane Module Designs

Principal Investigator: G. Belfort
Partners: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, General Electric Corp., Bend Research Corp.

Sodium Pumping Technology for Desalination

Principal Investigator: R. Schleicher
Partners: General Atomics, Inc., Bureau of Reclamation

Colloidal Organic Fouling of Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Principal Investigator: M. Elimelech
Partners: University of California Los Angeles, Bureau of Reclamation

Microbial Inactivation and Characterization of Disinfection Byproducts Using Ultraviolet Irradiation in Reclaimed Wastewater

Principal Investigator: J. Oppenheimer
Partners: Montgomery Watson Harza, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

Development and Characterization of Ultrafiltration Membranes and Relation of Membrane Properties to Adsorptive Fouling

Principal Investigator: M. Clark
Partners: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Bureau of Reclamation

Biofouling Control through Non-Toxic Means: Application of Zosteric Acid to Water Treatment Systems - A Phase 1 Research Program

Principal Investigator: R. Zimmerman
Partners: San Jose State University

Fungal Growth Studies

Principal Investigator: A. Murphy
Partners: Bureau of Reclamation

Microbial Regrowth and Population Characterization of Suspended and Fixed Biomass in Concrete and Steel Reservoirs

Principal Investigator: H. Baribeau
Partners: Irvine Ranch Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Assessing the Ability of Membrane Bioreactors to Meet Existing Water Reuse Criteria

Principal Investigator: S. Adham
Partners: Montgomery Watson Harza, City of San Diego (California), Bureau of Reclamation

Evaluation of Pulsed Blackbody Ultraviolet Technology for Reclaimed Water Disinfection and NDMA/Disinfection Byproduct Reduction

Principal Investigator: C. Chou
Partners: Orange County Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District

Biomonitoring Demonstration Project

Principal Investigator: G. Woodside
Partners: Orange County Water District, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Novel Membrane Biofilm Reactor for Groundwater Treatment and Remediation

Principal Investigator: S. Adham
Partners: Montgomery Watson Harza (California), Northwestern University

Development of Colloidal Polymer Adsorbent for Selective Natural Organic Material Removal

Principal Investigator: M. Clark
Partner: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Enhancement of Microfiltration Performance via Membrane Stretching

Principal Investigator: D. Lloyd
Partners: University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Reclamation

Investigation of Microfiltration and Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination

Principal Investigator: P. Shoenberger
Partner: West Basin Municipal Water District (California)

Potential of Pteris Ferns for Remediating Selenium Contaminated Groundwater

Principal Investigator: L. Ma
Partner: University of Florida

Coupled Effects of Scaling and Colloid Deposition on the Performance of Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filters

Principal Investigator: V. Tarabara
Partner: Michigan State University

Financial and Technological Analysis of Water Treatment Technology Implementation Using Distributed Optimal Technology Network (DOT-Net) Concepts

Principal Investigators: W.J. Weber and J.W. Norton
Partner: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Degradation of Estrogenic and Carcinogenic Substances in Water Using Alternative Water Treatment Technologies - Membrane Technology and Photocatalysis

Principal Investigators: H. Coleman, G. Leslie, and R. Amal
Partners: University of New South Wales (Australia)

Microporous Mixed Porous Materials in Membranes for Water Purification

Principal Investigator: D. Lloyd
Partner: University of Texas at Austin

 

Optimization of Filtration Flux Rate for the Production of Title-22 Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water

Principal Investigators: K. Nelson and B. Sheikh

Partners: University of California, Berkeley, California Department of Health Services, Monterey County Department of Environmental Health, WateReuse Foundation, Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency

Reverse Osmosis Treatment Using Ion Exchange Brine Recycled and Selected Precipitation
Principal Investigator: W. Ela

Partner: Arizona Water Institute

 

Development and Testing of 'Smart' Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Purification
Principal Investigator: E.M.V. Hoek

Partners: UCLA Water Technology Research Center, California Nanosystems Institute

 

Revision of “NWRI Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse, 2nd Edition”
Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert W. Emerick, ECO:LOGIC Engineering (Rocklin, CA)

 

Development and Testing of 'Smart' Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Purification

Principal Investigator: Dr. Eric M.V. Hoek, University of California Los Angeles

 

 

Knowledge Management


Develop Data on U.S. Costs for Potable Water Produced by Desalination and Membrane Softening

Principal Investigator: G. Leitner
Partners: Leitner & Associates, Inc., Bureau of Reclamation

Water Security and Future Development in the San Juan Basin

Principal Investigator: W. Blomquist
Partner: San Juan Basin Authority

Assessing Risk Information Regarding Coastal Runoff

Principal Investigator: W. Blomquist
Partners: Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside (California)

Focus on Orange County's Water Future

Principal Investigator: W. Blomquist
Partners: County of Orange (California), Municipal Water District of Orange County

Framework for Public Perception and Participation in Water Reuse Initiatives

Principal Investigator: T. Hartley
Partners: Water Environment Research Foundation

Estimating the Economic Value of Enhanced Water Supply Reliability: South Orange County (California)

Principal Investigator: S. Archibald
Partners: Municipal Water District of Orange County

A "Near Sighted" Program for Western Water Resources: Getting to 2010

Principal Investigator: W. Blomquist

 

Feasibility Study: Applying Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Practical Environmental Restoration Management Process to Watershed Management

Principal Investigator: Z. Demir
Partner: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California)

Salt Management Guide for Landscape Irrigation with Recycled Water

Principal Investigator: K. Tanji
Partners: University of California, Davis, Southern California Salinity Coalition, Central Basin Municipal Water District, and WateReuse Foundation

Low Pressure Membrane Survey

Principal Investigator: D. Furukawa

Wastewater Utility Branding Manual

Principal Investigator: J. Ruetten
Partners: Southern California Alliance of Publically Owned Treatment Works

 

White Paper to Review the 2003 Recycled Water Task Force Recommendations
Principal Investigator: M. Nellor

Partners: Nellor Environmental Associates, WateReuse California

 

Assessment of Water Reuse as an Approach for Meeting Future Water Supply Needs
Principal Investigator: Dr. Stephanie Johnson, National Research Council of the National Academy of Science (Washington DC)

 

Regulatory Aspects of Direct Potable Reuse in California
Principal Investigator: Dr. James Crook, Environmental Engineering Consultant (Massachusetts)

 

A Proposal to Better Value Reliable Water Supplies

Principal Investigators: Steven Kasower and Dr. Brent Haddad, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, and Dr. Robert Raucher, Stratus Consulting (Boulder, CO)

 


Exploratory Research


Crossflow Sampler Fouling Index

Principal Investigators: S. Adham and A.G. Fane
Partners: MWH, University of New South Wales (Australia)

 

Recovery of Metal Ions from Membrane Concentrates by Dendrimer Enhanced Filtration

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mamadou S. Diallo, California Institute of Technology

 

 

For more information:


Click here to learn about our Research Program.

Click here to view currently-funded projects.

Click here to learn how to apply for research funding.