As the new year began, a visiting scholar from Israel joined forces with UA WEST Center faculty to investigate using metagenomic approaches to examine the virome in recycled waters.  Researchers expect the BARD-funded study will help to ensure the safe and sustainable use of these waters in arid-region agriculture.

During a four-day training held at WEST Center (Jan. 7-10, 2020), chemical engineering students and professionals from across the country compared and contrasted the use of conventional membrane processes (ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis) to emerging membrane processes (membrane distillation) to purify water.

Dr. Ian Pepper, the newly appointed Deputy Director at UA WEST Center, traveled to Manchester England in November 2019 to attend and present at the 24th European Biosolids and Organic Resources Conference.  The conference is the premier event of its kind in Europe.

The WEST Center Annual Industry Meeting and Research Symposium, held Nov. 17-18, 2019, saw University of Arizona water and energy research take center stage with research updates, poster presentations, and networking opportunities for faculty, staff, students and industry attendees.

UA WEST Center connected with the international community during the 2019 International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress in Dubai, Oct. 20-24.  WEST is also collaborating with the IDA as host of it's Fellowship Program this fall.

In one Arizona city, direct potable reuse (DPR) has become a reality.  In September 2019, the Advanced Water Treatment Plant at the Scottsdale Water campus became the state’s first — and one of only three in the nation — permanent water treatment facility permitted to treat recycled water for potable water uses.

WEST Center, along with Tucson Water and Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Dept, launched a program this fall to showcase water treatment technology and educate the public about critical water issues.

In Summer 2019, two undergraduate interns from Diné College worked with WEST researchers as part of a unique Indige-FEWSS (Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty) program experience.

During the Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Diego (Sept. 8-11, 2019), A new National Water Reuse Action Plan was announced.  Over a thousand water and wastewater professionals gathered to learn from each other, share information, and make connections around issues of water reuse.  WEST was there!

University of Arizona (UA) WEST members and students were well-represented at the Arizona WateReuse Symposium this July, 2019.