The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) have recently worked together to develop the WATERiD project (WATER Infrastructure Database), an online record of information to help bring attention to failing water infrastructures and aid planning and funding.
WATERiD is the work of a team of Virginia Tech graduate students working with more than 80 utilities across North America and around the world to fulfill the vision of Dr. Sunil Sinha. Sinha is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Award recipient in the area of sustainable water infrastructure management systems and a NASTT Student Chapter faculty advisor.
The database serves as a platform for direct sharing and distribution of relevant water infrastructure information and is designed to act as a gateway that connects stakeholders to various water infrastructure sources online. WATERiD has been developed with the assistance of funding and oversight from the EPA and WERF.
Some of the features of the WATERiD database:
? A library of industry resources such as journal papers, conference papers, research reports, etc.
? Primary information (direct from utility experience) about condition assessment and renewal engineering technologies? cost and performance including original case studies detailing real world applications.
? A directory of condition assessment and renewal engineering technology profiles that are navigable by technology classes (or keyword searchable) that document their technical envelope, availability, industry standards, specifications, cost drivers and performance history.
? A directory of models and tools that pertain to the use of condition assessment and renewal engineering technologies.
? A directory for use by utility personnel only, consisting of utility contacts searchable by experience with particular condition assessment and renewal engineering technologies.
? Forums for public discussion.
