The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) is to develop advanced alternative water production, treatment, and reuse technologies that contribute to long-term water resilience for Department of War (DoW) installations. Research should focus on facility- and base-scale systems (capable of 10,000 to 100,000+ gallons per day). The specific objective is to develop modular water generation technologies that minimize reagent supply chain dependencies and integrate seamlessly with installation energy constraints.
Proposers must explicitly state how the proposed effort builds on previous research and addresses key data gaps. Research and development activities at laboratory-, bench-, or field-scale will be considered. Work does not necessarily have to culminate in a field-scale effort.
Successful research will provide robust, scalable technologies that enable efficient treatment of alternative water sources. This will decrease long-term lifecycle costs associated with water transport and brine disposal and significantly enhance overall mission assurance and installation resilience.
While commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) water systems exist, they often require high continuous energy from commercial grids or complex supply-chain reagents that fail under islanded conditions. Furthermore, locations in arid or semi-arid regions often sit above deep, highly mineralized, or brackish aquifers. Current desalination systems struggle with low recovery rates and high-volume brine disposal in these inland locations. Additionally, reclaimed wastewater or stormwater often carries chemicals of concern that standard commercial reuse filtration cannot safely or reliably treat. There is a critical need for alternative water production and treatment technologies scaled for fixed infrastructure that can operate efficiently within these unique operational and environmental constraints.
The cost and time to meet the requirements of this SON are at the discretion of the proposer. Two options are available:
Standard Proposals: These proposals describe a complete research effort. The proposer should incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. SERDP projects normally run from two to five years in length and vary considerably in cost consistent with the scope of the effort. It is expected that most proposals will fall into this category.
Limited Scope Proposals: Proposers with innovative approaches to the SON that entail high technical risk or have minimal supporting data may submit a Limited Scope Proposal for funding up to $350,000 and approximately one year in duration. Such proposals may be eligible for follow-on funding if they result in a successful initial project. The objective of these proposals should be to acquire the data necessary to demonstrate proof-of-concept or reduction of risk that will lead to development of a future Standard Proposal. Proposers should submit Limited Scope Proposals in accordance with the SERDP Core Solicitation instructions and deadlines.
Anthony Danko, Ph.D., P.E.
SERDP & ESTCP Program Manager
Environmental Restoration
