WERF and WEF Working To Increase Use of Innovative Solutions in Water Sector

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF; Alexandria, Va.) is looking for ways to accelerate use of innovations in water treatment and water reclamation facilities while reducing risk and conserving resources. To accomplish this, WERF partnered with the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria) to implement the Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) initiative, according to a WERF Executive Watermark article, released Aug. 16.

The LIFT initiative includes multiple efforts such as the newly developed Technology Evaluation Program to foster strategic partnerships. The program offers a vetting system to screen new technologies and processes, a platform facilitating collaboration between facilities for evaluating and testing new technologies, and peer-reviewed information about emerging technologies, the article says.

LIFT also provides technology evaluations for end-users in the water sector. These evaluations enable end-users to share the risk and costs of conducting demonstrations, so they are able to adopt new technologies faster, the article says.

As part of the initiative, WEF will conduct training, education, and outreach about LIFT, and lead a benchmarking study on how individual utilities accomplish Research and Development (R&D) and identify resources and policies to implement effective R&D. The initiative also will include a forum for R&D managers and individuals for technology identification and deployment to share experiences, activities, and interests, the article says.

To get involved in LIFT, contact Gina Street, WERF, gstreet@werf.org.