Oct 10, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Water Environment & Reuse Foundation and Water Research Foundation Announce Integration into One Organization

The Boards of Directors for the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) and Water Research Foundation (WRF) have voted unanimously to integrate the two organizations into one research foundation. Bringing the two foundations together creates a stronger, broader, more interconnected research agenda that offers greater value to the water community.

Beginning on January 1, 2018, the new organization will be led by a single Board of Directors comprised of the directors from the two organizations with Co-Chairs Chuck Murray and Kevin Shafer and Co-CEOs Melissa Meeker and Rob Renner. The new organization will have approximately 1,200 subscribers, 2,300 research studies, and a $700M portfolio.

“The decision to integrate these two organizations is a great victory for the water community,” said Rob Renner, CEO of WRF. “The new organization will leverage resources and funding to solve the water sector’s research needs in new and exciting ways.”

“Harnessing the collective passion of our staffs, volunteers, and supporters to focus on research which meets the needs of all water professionals will provide an outstanding benefit for our subscribers,” further explained Melissa Meeker, WE&RF CEO. “We are looking forward to the challenge.”

The integration represents the evolution of water research issues, the overlap between water and wastewater, and efficiencies to be gained through a consolidated research program. The new organization will provide a unified source for One Water research and serve as a model for collaboration across the water industry.

Additional information is available at www.werf.org and www.waterrf.org.

The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), a 501c3 non-profit organization, funds research, pilot projects, and technology demonstrations that maximize the value of water, including wastewater, stormwater, and other water sources. WE&RF is recognized worldwide as a trusted source of innovation and peer-reviewed research in wastewater, water reuse, and resource recovery. www.werf.org

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is a not-for-profit research cooperative that advances the science of water to protect public health and the environment. Governed by utilities, WRF delivers scientifically sound research solutions and knowledge to serve our subscribers and stakeholders in all areas of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and reuse. WRF has funded and managed more than 1,500 research studies from asset management to treatment, utility finance to resource management, conveyance systems to water quality. For more information, go to www.WaterRF.org.