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Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center

Center Overview

The Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center develops and tests technologies to understand and mitigate emerging and traditional contaminants in water. The WET Center's mission is to develop methods and technologies to detect, understand, mitigate and/or control contaminants, including conventional and emerging contaminants of concern, that can adversely impact water quality and the environment.

The WET Center focuses on water contaminants (chemical, biological, physical), water quality, and water treatment technologies, researching conventional and emerging contaminants of concern (ECCs). ECCs generally refers to chemicals, biological agents, and materials recently detected in the environment that may pose a potential or real threat to human health or the environment, but that are not generally regulated or expected to undergo changes in regulations. ECCs have also been referred to as micropollutants, chemical compounds of emerging concern, microconstituents, and trace organics. Examples include pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluorinated substances, microplastics, and others.

The WET Center engineers and scientists use microbial, chemical, and mathematical approaches to perform collaborative research. Faculty and students work with industry representatives and build upon their research dealing with water contaminants and technologies.

Universities

Arizona State University
Temple University
University of Arizona

View Center Website

Center Personnel

Rominder Suri
Center Staff
+1 215 707 7547
rominder.suri@temple.edu

Ian Pepper
Center Staff
+1 520 626 6000
ipepper@ag.arizona.edu

Morteza Abbaszadegan
Center Staff
+1 480 965 5479
abbaszadegan@asu.edu

Research Focus

The WET Center research areas include:

Analytical methods for emerging contaminants of concern‚ analysis.
Biosolids and reclaimed water reuse.
Chemical and biological sensors for detection and monitoring.
Industrial and municipal wastewater, and groundwater treatment.
Microbial and chemical risk assessment including antimicrobial-resistance and antibiotic resistance genes.
Mine tailing restoration, Marcellus shale hydraulic fracturing wastewater management.
Potable water treatment technologies, security, and distribution.
Water resources and water sustainability.
Water toxicology, estrogenicity, and ecological health.

Awards

1361498

I/UCRC: Water and Environmental Technology Center

In Phase II operation, the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC intends to minimize any adverse effects of emerging contaminants (EC) on human health and/or the environment. The research challenges in this area include the need for more scientific information about levels, fate, transport, ecological and health impacts of ECs in the environment, the need for improved detection and monitoring capabilities, and for new cost-effective treatment technologies and optimization of existing operations at both water and wastewater treatment plants. Center engineers and environmental scientists utilizing microbial, chemical, and mathematic approaches will work collaboratively in coordination with center industry representatives to perform this research. WET's industrial, need-focused research program aims to enhance scientific understanding and help address potentially significant health and environmental problems. BROADER IMPACT The challenges addressed and potential benefits derived from the work of the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC impact several industries including: the Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products Industries; the Oil and Natural Gas Industry; Pesticide and other Chemicals Industry; entities that treat wastewater and drinking water; and companies that create and service technologies for the removal of contaminants from water. Students and faculty will experience state of the art research projects of value to both industry and the community. Many member companies have overseas installations, and students will be exposed to regulatory, technological, social and cultural aspects of different countries, enhancing their global experiences. In addition, every effort will be made to engage and involve minority students, as well as students and teachers from local K-12 schools, in part through existing programs at the center's institutions. The Center will further enhance the ongoing efforts at the three institutions of integrating research into classroom teaching. Read More >

1361505

I/UCRC: Water and Environmental Technology Center

In Phase II operation, the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC intends to minimize any adverse effects of emerging contaminants (EC) on human health and/or the environment. The research challenges in this area include the need for more scientific information about levels, fate, transport, ecological and health impacts of ECs in the environment, the need for improved detection and monitoring capabilities, and for new cost-effective treatment technologies and optimization of existing operations at both water and wastewater treatment plants. Center engineers and environmental scientists utilizing microbial, chemical, and mathematic approaches will work collaboratively in coordination with center industry representatives to perform this research. WET's industrial, need-focused research program aims to enhance scientific understanding and help address potentially significant health and environmental problems. The challenges addressed and potential benefits derived from the work of the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC impact several industries including: the Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products Industries; the Oil and Natural Gas Industry; Pesticide and other Chemicals Industry; entities that treat wastewater and drinking water; and companies that create and service technologies for the removal of contaminants from water. Students and faculty will experience state of the art research projects of value to both industry and the community. Many member companies have overseas installations, and students will be exposed to regulatory, technological, social and cultural aspects of different countries, enhancing their global experiences. In addition, every effort will be made to engage and involve minority students, as well as students and teachers from local K-12 schools, in part through existing programs at the center's institutions. The Center will further enhance the ongoing efforts at the three institutions of integrating research into classroom teaching. Read More >

1361815

I/UCRC: Water and Environmental Technology Center

In Phase II operation, the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC intends to minimize any adverse effects of emerging contaminants (EC) on human health and/or the environment. The research challenges in this area include the need for more scientific information about levels, fate, transport, ecological and health impacts of ECs in the environment, the need for improved detection and monitoring capabilities, and for new cost-effective treatment technologies and optimization of existing operations at both water and wastewater treatment plants. Center engineers and environmental scientists utilizing microbial, chemical, and mathematic approaches will work collaboratively in coordination with center industry representatives to perform this research. WET's industrial, need-focused research program aims to enhance scientific understanding and help address potentially significant health and environmental problems. The challenges addressed and potential benefits derived from the work of the Water and Environmental Technology (WET) I/UCRC impact several industries including: the Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products Industries; the Oil and Natural Gas Industry; Pesticide and other Chemicals Industry; entities that treat wastewater and drinking water; and companies that create and service technologies for the removal of contaminants from water. Students and faculty will experience state of the art research projects of value to both industry and the community. Many member companies have overseas installations, and students will be exposed to regulatory, technological, social and cultural aspects of different countries, enhancing their global experiences. In addition, every effort will be made to engage and involve minority students, as well as students and teachers from local K-12 schools, in part through existing programs at the center's institutions. The Center will further enhance the ongoing efforts at the three institutions of integrating research into classroom teaching. Read More >

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the Center author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center

Center Overview

Universities

Center Personnel

Research Focus

Awards

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