In early September 2021, WEST Center researchers were awarded grants from federal agencies to 1) evaluate water quality for direct potable reuse and 2) assess viability and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater across the U.S.

In a September 2021 article, Arizona Republic writer Ian James describes how reclaimed water in action is supporting river life in the Southwest. Technologies to improve water quality and purification efficiencies are a major focus of WEST Center research.

Installed in WEST in August 2021, two new digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) instruments will provide rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 and variants in wastewater, essential to monitoring community health.

As students return to the University of Arizona amid a surge of COVID-19 cases, UArizona plans to use wastewater testing - led by WEST Center - to again help control outbreaks. Read and watch the full story produced by KOLD News 13.

A doctoral candidate working at WEST Center, Zachary Binger focuses on optimization of membrane systems, developing computer models to increase water recovery and reduce energy consumption.

Demonstrating the valuable cooperation of engineers and microbiologists at WEST Center, a new publication out of UArizona WEST looks at membrane distillation’s effectiveness as a barrier to Coronavirus and Bacteriophage.

For the fifth year in a row, the University of Arizona has earned the top spot in the U.S. for its work in the field of water resources. UArizona is again ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 globally in water resources in ShanghaiRanking's 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. Read the full story by Nick Prevenas in UA News.

Arriving from Pakistan in February 2021, Sabir Nawaz performed molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance genes during his six months at WEST Center.

During the Spring 2021 semester, UArizona's WEST Center welcomed Dr. Joan Rose as a visiting professor. In a special public talk, premiering on May 5 at 4 PM, Dr. Rose offers a look into her career from earning her PhD at the University of Arizona to her significant contributions to the understanding of water microbiology and its use in monitoring water quality to improve public health. The talk will continue to be available on YouTube after May 5th.

WEST Director, Dr. Ian Pepper, was among 6 University of Arizona faculty members confirmed as Regents Professors by the Arizona Board of Regents on April 15, 2021. The designation of Regents Professor is an honored position reserved for faculty scholars of exceptional ability who have achieved national or international distinction. Congratulations to Dr. Pepper!