News

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.

In a recently-published study, UA researchers – including several from WEST Center – used new technology to demonstrate a highly sensitive and field-applicable method for detecting viruses in water.

Working with UA faculty Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom, staff and students at WEST Center explore waste stream minimization and energy use efficiency through two inventive projects. 

A visit to WEST Center by DRI's Dr. Maureen McCarthy sparked discussion around the application potentials of water/energy technologies in dispersed settlements, and possibilities for cross-institutional collaboration.