Students from the WateResiliency Program participated in the AZ Water 98th Annual Conference & Exhibition held at the Phoenix Convention Center on April 15, 2025. Congratulations to Mervin Lim and Arianna Tariqi for earning 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, in the Annual Student Poster Competition!

Mervin, advised by Dr. Andrea Achilli, presented “Universal Pretreatment System to Achieve High Water Recovery from Concentrated Brine”, co-authored with Tenzin Phakdon, Andrea Achilli, and James Farrell.
Arianna, advised by Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom, presented “Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration: A Hybrid Approach for Brackish Water Desalination”, co-authored with Anthony Straub, Luis Cruzado, Kerri Hickenbottom, and Vicky Karanikola.

The 14th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse took place in Cape Town, South Africa, from March 16–19, 2025, bringing together global experts to discuss innovations in water reuse, urban water management, and resource recovery. Dr. Andrea Achilli, PI of the WateResiliency Program, presented on March 18 in the Potable Water Reuse (Indirect and Direct) session, sharing the team’s research on “Controlled Oxidation to Tailor the Selectivity and Extend the Life of Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membranes,” co-authored by Bianca Miguel de Souza Chaves and Mohammed Alhussaini.

Additionally, Dr. Amy Childress from the University of Southern California, a WateResiliency Program partner, presented on March 17 in the Desalination in Water Reuse session. Her talk, titled “Feasibility and Analysis of Seawater Augmentation at Coastal Potable Reuse Facilities,” highlighted innovative approaches to address water scarcity in coastal regions.

Students from the University of Arizona and the WateResiliency Program attended the 2025 AZ Water Research Symposium held in Phoenix on March 21st. Congratulations to Varinia Felix and Arianna Tariqi for their outstanding achievements - Varinia won 1st place and Arianna earned 2nd place in the Best Poster Awards. Both students are advised by Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom in the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering.

The 2025 WateReuse Symposium in Tampa, FL, gathered water reuse leaders from March 16–19 to discuss advancements in sustainable water management. On Tuesday, March 18, at 11 AM, the Water Reuse Consortium Panel featured Adam Smith (University of Southern California), Eric Marchand (University of Nevada-Reno), Amanda Wilson, and Luisa Ikner (University of Arizona). The panel explored innovative treatment technologies, workforce development, and strategies for expanding water reuse implementation. Their discussion highlighted the critical role of research and collaboration in securing a resilient water future.

On November 7 and 8, 2024, members of the Water Reuse Consortium, including the WateResiliency team from the University of Arizona (Dr. Andrea Achilli, Dr. Bianca Chaves, Dr. Luisa Ikner, and Dr. Wei Pan), participated in an insightful field trip to the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS, and the Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center (CSJFTC) near Hattiesburg, MS. This visit provided a unique opportunity to explore state-of-the-art research facilities and field testing sites focused on water reuse technologies and environmental innovation.

The team’s itinerary included tours of ERDC's Environmental Laboratory, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, and other cutting-edge facilities. Presentations by ERDC scientists covered topics such as aquatic toxicology, advanced water remediation technologies, and environmental operational portfolios. The second day at Camp Shelby highlighted the integration of water reuse systems in military operations, offering a practical view of ongoing research and its applications. The visit facilitated valuable discussions on collaborative research and strengthened partnerships among consortium members.

To learn more about ERDC’s innovative solutions and their role in addressing complex engineering and environmental challenges, visit ERDC’s official website by clicking "Read More".

The Interim Progress Report (IPR) meeting held on June 4th and 5th at the University of Arizona showcased the university's significant contributions to the Water Reuse Consortium and the progress achieved on this project. Day 1 featured presentations from principal investigators (PIs) detailing their advancements, which were virtually broadcast via Zoom, along with tours of the WEST Center and the Solar Site. Day 2 included lab tours on the UofA campus, a trip to Fort Huachuca, one-on-one meetings, and a highly successful student poster session. Participants gained valuable insights into the innovative research and development efforts underway at the University of Arizona.

The National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) and University of Arizona hosted a successful two-day workshop at the UA WEST Center to present the Water Treatment Technoeconomic Assessment Platform (WaterTAP). WaterTAP is an open-source, Python-based software package that supports the technoeconomic assessment of complete water treatment systems. The event took place on May 21st and 22nd and included hands-on training sessions and a comprehensive course on WaterTAP. Participants included representatives from the WEST Center, NAWI, and USARMY-CERL, all of whom actively engaged in the workshop's activities.

Dr. Walter Betancourt participated as a panelist in the BluePhage webinar titled "Wastewater becoming potable: Enhancing present innovation for a sustainable future." This event took place on April 24, 2024, and focused on innovative approaches to transforming wastewater into potable water, a crucial topic for sustainable water management.

During the webinar, Walter contributed his expertise on water resiliency, discussing current innovations and future directions in wastewater treatment. His insights emphasized the importance of sustainable practices and technological advancements in ensuring a resilient water supply. For those who missed the live event, the recorded video is available for viewing on YouTube.

Walter's participation underscores our commitment to advancing knowledge and practices in water sustainability, aligning with the goals of the UA WateResiliency and Water Reuse Consortium.

The 2024 AZ Water Association Research Symposium, themed "Advances in PFAS, Emerging Contaminants, and Reuse in Arizona," held on March 22, 2024, at Gateway Community College in Phoenix, showcased cutting-edge research in water treatment and reuse. The symposium featured presentations from leading experts on topics ranging from PFAS remediation to novel approaches in water reuse. Among the attendees, Varinia Felix was recognized for her outstanding contribution, winning a poster award for her research. This symposium served as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address water quality challenges and promote sustainable water management practices in Arizona.

The panel "Water Reuse Consortium: Research Findings," moderated by Dawn Morrison from USACE ERDC, featured presentations by leading experts in the field of water reuse. Amy Childress from the University of Southern California, Andrea Achilli from the University of Arizona, Eric Marchand from the University of Nevada-Reno, and Kathryn Gunderson from USACE ERDC-CERL presented the Water Reuse Consortium (https://waterreuseconsortium.com/) and shared their latest research findings and insights during the event held on March 13th, 2024, in Denver, Colorado, as part of the WateReuse Symposium. Each presenter offered valuable contributions to the discussion, covering a range of topics such as advanced treatment technologies, water quality monitoring, and sustainability practices in water reuse systems. The presentations highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between academia, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in advancing sustainable water reuse practices.

The Consortium will accelerate the integration of water reuse into military and municipal water supply portfolios to ensure the security, sustainability, and resilience of our nation’s water resources through research, education, communication, and technology transfer. The consortium aims to ensure uninterrupted water supplies, improve the detection and treatment of pathogens and emerging contaminants, and educate a workforce invested in forming partnerships to facilitate technology export that support global water security.

The Action 7.10 is led by the Water Reuse Consortium and USACE. The action aims to implement the DoD-Funded Water Reuse Consortium for Water Resiliency at Military and Municipal Facilities.

Located in one of the most arid portions of the country, Arizona’s food production systems are increasingly threatened by drying climate, and there is growing concern that this trend poses an existential threat to food production in Arizona. In response to this urgent issue, UArizona President Dr. Robert C. Robbins created the Presidential Advisory Commission on the Future of Agriculture & Food Production in a Drying Climate. The Commission was tasked with assessing critical threats to agriculture and food production, identifying the most promising solutions, and determining how UArizona can best impact the future. This report reflects the Commission’s study and information gathering through listening sessions and surveys of community members across the University and the state of Arizona.