University of Arizona's WEST Center

WEST Center facilitates innovative research and technology development to ensure sustainable water supplies that protects and promotes environmental and human health. Critical to WEST’s success is the partnership between the University of Arizona, the private sector, utilities, and the community at large.

Features of the WEST Center:

State-of-the-art facility for new water and energy technology evaluation
Provides world class expertise in:
- Environmental microbiology & environmental engineering
- Technology development for reduced energy use in water treatment
- In line real-time sensors for water treatment technologies
A leading center in emerging chemical and microbial contaminants
Community monitoring of infectious agents for pandemic prevention and prediction
Co-located with Wastewater Reclamation Facility allows for direct access to online variable water qualities for flow-through experiments

News

Study aims to understand incidence and mobility of PFAS in soils

Sept. 21, 2023

Organizations across the country are participating in the National Collaborative PFAS Project. The study, coordinated by WEST Center, is analyzing a variety of soil and water samples from the U.S. to learn how land application of biosolids impacts PFAS in the environment.

Aegis Consortium funds research aimed at reducing the threat of future pandemics

Sept. 20, 2023

In fall 2023, the Aegis Consortium awarded seed funding to eight projects, one led by WEST Center's Drs. Bright and Gerba. Projects align with the UArizona Health Sciences center’s mission to create a pandemic-free future.

Water running through outstretched hands

Experts Engage With Community Leaders on Water Security

Sept. 18, 2023

This summer, Pima County community leaders gathered with University of Arizona researchers for an interactive conversation addressing one of the Southwestern United States’ most urgent topics: water.

UArizona President Robert Robbins interviewing WRRC Director Sharon Megdal

Understanding our Water Future

Aug. 28, 2023

In an interview with UArizona President Robbins, Sharon Megdal of the Water Resources Research Center spoke about the significant water issues facing Arizona and how we might address them, including strategies being developed by WEST Center researchers.

Pima County and WEST partner to create workforce training program

Aug. 9, 2023

Pima County RWRD and the University of Arizona WEST Center have partnered with the US Army to create a grant funded, workforce development program. The program will train transitioning military personnel and existing utility employees for critical jobs focused on instrumentation, SCADA technology, and more.

Andrea Achilli, water reuse principal investigator, in WEST Center water research lab.

UArizona and partners form consortium to address Southwest water concerns

July 13, 2023

As traditional sources of water run low, concern around Arizona's water supply is growing. A team of researchers, including WEST Center's Drs. Achilli and Hickenbottom, is working to address the problem by advancing water reuse techniques.

Water+Energy Nexus

Innovative Technology

WET Center at WEST

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