Water Quality
A look into GLWA’s water quality standards, testing, and treatment practices.
Research + Innovation
GLWA’s Research and Innovation Team is a group of highly skilled water professionals dedicated to finding solutions to the problems facing our organization, the region, and the water sector as a whole. Utilizing research, modeling, and hands-on programming, GLWA is paving the way for optimization of our systems and innovation throughout the sector.
PILOT
PLANTS
GLWA is a ‘hub utility’ that brings people together around the science of water, fostering regional collaboration and national partnerships to drive innovation and address complex water challenges and constantly improve its processes. Always looking forward, GLWA is preparing for a strong future by building resilient infrastructure and educating the next generation of water guardians.
GLWA owns and operates two research pilot plants that replicate its full-scale water treatment plants and their processes. Both pilot plants are managed and operated by GLWA’s Research and Innovation Team. The impact of various treatment and operational changes are evaluated on a small scale within the pilot plants to provide insight to help optimize GLWA’s full-scale operations.
The pilot plants serve three main purposes: research, treatment optimization, and workforce development. By offering students and GLWA team members research opportunities in the pilot plant environment, individuals are provided with a safe place to grow and learn without jeopardizing full-scale plant operations.
WHat We’re
Working On
- A large diameter pipe boneyard facility. The program was built to to illustrate pipe and valve types, as well as their deterioration and damage, for education and training, serve as a resource for the characterization of pipe deterioration and damage, and maintain a pool of aged/damaged pipes that may serve as unique test specimens.
- Midwest Biosolids Association (MBA): a coalition of biosolids experts promoting environmentally sound management of biosolids and residuals, fostering cooperation among association members, governmental agencies, private corporations and the general public in the management of biosolids, and promoting research, sharing technical and general information about the benefits of organics recycling.
- Studying the process of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) which converts organic waste from our Water Resource Recovery Facility into fuel.
BECOME A
RESEARCH PARTNER.
GLWA partners with universities, research organizations, and other water and wastewater utilities across the country to conduct research projects pertaining to the sector. By joining forces with other organizations, our research team is working to promote resiliency, collaboration, and innovation. To partner with us, contact our team at the email below.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to connect with our Research and Innovation team? Contact our Director of Research and Innovation at the email below.