Research on Innovative and Alternative Wastewater Technologies
When addressing water infrastructure needs, communities can move toward greater sustainability by selecting the solution that fits their unique local circumstances. An important element of the infrastructure planning process is the evaluation of alternatives for meeting an infrastructure need. This can mean everything from an assessment of the latest treatment technologies, to considering distributed or decentralized solutions, to green infrastructure investments to help manage wet weather impacts on aging systems. EPA provides critical information and resources on innovative and alternative technologies and helps communities of all sizes navigate these options to solve their local water challenges.
Select Reports and Fact Sheets
EPA’s Clean Water Technology Center tracks the state of the science in various wastewater technology areas, assesses technologies in priority areas, and shares objective cost and performance information. Some of this research is compiled below in a searchable table. Additional resources on innovative and alternative wastewater technologies for both centralized and decentralized systems are available in the Searchable Clearinghouse of Wastewater Technology (SCOWT).
| Report | Description |
|---|---|
| PFAS, Microplastics, and Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCP) Wastewater Treatment Technology References (pdf) | Latest list of references on emerging contaminant reports and technologies. |
|
A Compendium of U.S. Wastewater Surveillance to Support COVID-19 Public Health Response Compendium and Recorded Roundtable |
The compendium details various COVID-19 wastewater surveillance programs across the nation from 2020 to early 2021, led by federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and associations, universities, and the private sector. It explores federal and other funding sources, developing and implementing wastewater surveillance programs for SARS-CoV-2, and uses case studies to provide implementation insight and lessons learned. The document additionally guides those interested in implementing wastewater surveillance in the future by elaborating on funding, project management, results, and potential actions to prevent the continued spread of COVID-19. |
| Denitrifying Filters - Wastewater Management Fact Sheet | This fact sheet provides a technical overview of the denitrifying filter technology. The factsheet covers the two major configurations of the denitrification filter and different types of filter equipment. |
|
Emerging Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and In-Plant Wet Weather Management Fact Sheet |
This report updates the original 2008 publication “Emerging Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and In-Plant Wet Weather Management." The report provides information on four of the five categories of development regarding emerging wastewater treatment and in-plant wet weather management technologies. |
| This fact sheet provides information on an effective energy management plan for wastewater treatment facilities, including tracking, evaluating and upgrading to automated processes for operations and maintenance. | |
| Environmental and Cost Life Cycle Assessment of Disinfection Options for Municipal Wastewater Treatment | The study addresses the following research questions: (1) What are the net life cycle impacts associated with the collection and treatment of municipal wastewater? (2) What are the contributions of each life cycle stage to the net result for each impact category? What are the contributions of each step in the wastewater management system? (3) What are the contributions of specific environmental releases to the net result for each technology and impact category? (4) What is the effect of plausible parameter variability? What parameters associated with wastewater characteristics have the greatest effect on net greenhouse gas and human health impact results? |
| Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Bath, New York Wastewater Treatment Plant: Potential Upgrade Implications | This study showcases the life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of a resource recovery hub from a community wastewater treatment plant. |
|
External Carbon Sources for Nitrogen Removal - Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet |
This fact sheet provides information on the role of carbon in nitrogen removal, dosage and kinetics, and sources of carbon. |
| This fact sheet provides information on fuel cells, their ability to generate power using an external supply that continuously replenishes the reactants, and their application at wastewater treatment plants. | |
| The U.S. EPA completed a study and report that analyzed the long-term performance of five facilities in the U.S. and one facility in Canada that implemented innovative technologies or process enhancements designed to significantly intensify treatment or enhance the removal of nitrogen or phosphorus species. The analysis centered on assessing technology performance and statistical variability of plant effluent nutrient concentrations over a three-year period. Each case study presents a detailed process description, performance analysis, assessment of process train consistency in meeting permit limits, and lessons learned in process implementation. | |
| Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Mixed Wastewater and Graywater Distributed Treatment for Non-Potable Reuse in San Francisco | This study explores the environmental impacts and life cycle cost of decentralized wastewater treatment coupled with on-site, non-potable reuse (NPR) as a strategy for alleviating water scarcity. |
| Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Water and Wastewater Treatment Options for Sustainability: Influence of Scale on Membrane Bioreactor Systems | The goal of this study is to determine the influence of scale on the energy and cost performance of different transitional membrane bioreactors (MBR) in decentralized wastewater treatment (WWT) systems by performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis. The study explores MBRs as an emerging technology to provide decentralized WWT services while maximizing resource recovery. |
| This fact sheet provides an overview of the membrane bioreactors in wastewater treatment plants, their advantages, applicability, design features, and design considerations. The fact sheet includes case studies highlighting the use of membrane bioreactors. | |
| This fact sheet provides information on different configurations of microturbines that use rotational energy to generate power and their use as an auxiliary and supplemental power source for wastewater treatment plants. | |
|
Multi-Stage Anaerobic Digestion - Biosolids Technology Fact Sheet |
This fact sheet describes the different stages of anaerobic digestion and their applicability as a retrofit in wastewater treatment solids digestion. |
| This reference document provides information on recent advances in nutrient removal technology and practices. The document provides information to assist local decision makers and regional and state regulators plan cost-effective nutrient removal projects for municipal wastewater treatment facilities. | |
| This design manual discusses process and technology modifications and additions for nutrient removal at existing wastewater treatment plants. The manual provides information on establishing design objectives and selecting candidate treatment processes; and design approaches for chemical phosphorus removal, biological nutrient removal, and effluent filtration. | |
|
Peracetic Acid - Alternative Disinfection Methods Fact Sheet |
This fact sheet provides information on the mechanisms of disinfection using peracetic acid, their applicability, and case studies at wastewater treatment plants. |
| This fact sheet provides an overview of pipe bursting where existing pipe is opened and forced outwards by a bursting tool. | |
| Potable Reuse Compendium | This document expands on the discussion in the 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse of both indirect potable reuse and direct potable reuse practices and focuses on centralized municipal reuse. |
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Side Stream Nutrient Removal - Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet |
This fact sheet provides information on side stream nutrient removal using the single reactor for high activity ammonia removal over nitrite (SHARON) process and the annamox process. |
| This fact sheet provides information on photovoltaic solar cells, their advantages and disadvantages, and their application at wastewater treatment plants. | |
| Water Reuse Guidelines (2012) (643 pp, 17.5 MB, 2012, About PDF) |
The 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse includes updated discussion of regional variations of water reuse in the United States, advances in wastewater treatment technologies relevant to reuse, best practices for involving communities in planning projects, international water reuse practices, and factors that will allow expansion of safe and sustainable water reuse throughout the world. The guidelines provide more than 100 case studies from around the world that highlight how reuse applications can and do work in the real world. |
| Water Reuse Guidelines (2004) (480 pp, 7.6 MB, 2004), About PDF) |
The 2004 Guidelines for Water Reuse examines opportunities for substituting reclaimed water for potable water supplies where potable water quality is not required. The guidelines present and summarize recommended water reuse guidelines, along with supporting information, for water and wastewater utilities and regulatory agencies, particularly in the United States. |
| Water Reuse Guidelines (1992) (262 pp, 19.1 MB, 1992, About PDF) |
The 1992 Guidelines for Water Reuse primarily address water reclamation for non-potable urban, industrial, and agricultural reuse. It also touches on augmentation of potable water supplies by indirect reuse. |
|
Water Reuse Guidelines (1980) |
The 1980 Guidelines for Water Reuse provides information on the technical, economic, legal, institutional, and public involvement issues regarding non-potable reuse. |
| This fact sheet provides information on different configurations of wind turbines and their use as auxiliary and supplemental power source for wastewater treatment plants. |