Research Area: Nutrients

Our Objective

WE&RF will identify, assess, and make recommendations to improve sustainable wastewater nutrient removal and recovery technologies. WE&RF will provide information to help agencies meet receiving water body requirements and other wastewater treatment goals, such as climate change, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. The research will inform regulatory decision making, and help practitioners comply with increasingly high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus removal, with a focus on improving plant performance.

Nutrients Update & Nutrient Modeling Toolbox Videos

Latest News

Water Environment & Reuse Foundation Awards Contract to Develop Scientifically Sound Nutrient Goals

WE&RF recently awarded a contract to LimnoTech to develop scientifically sound nutrient goals.

Understanding the Impacts of Low-Energy and Low-Carbon Nitrogen Removal Technologies on Bio-P and Nutrient Recovery Processes (NTRY13R16)

WE&RF has awarded a contract to Northwestern University to study design and operational impacts of incorporating enhanced biological phosphorus removal (Bio-P) or other phosphorus recovery techniques with a low-energy, low-carbon nitrogen removal process at WRRFs.

Q&A: What’s the Future of Advanced Nutrient Removal Processes?

New technologies in nutrient removal and recovery are among major advances that can improve efficiency and save energy in wastewater treatment.

Resiliency Newsletter

Learn more about the latest research updates, innovations, and opportunities to participate in WE&RF's Resiliency research.

HRSD Press Event Video - WE&RF Recognized by EPA

Recently, WE&RF was recognized by EPA Region 3 for receiving two grants that will help better understand the many challenges communities are facing in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Awards were announced at Chesapeake Elizabeth Plant, one of HRSD's many treatment plants located throughout Southeast Virginia.

Products & Tools

Sustainability Evaluation of Nutrient Removal Technologies Using Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (NUTR5R14f)

This research evaluates and compares the environmental impacts associated with different levels of wastewater treatment technologies that have been specifically designed for various degrees of nutrient removal and for removal of potential contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method.

Nutrient Management Volume III: Development of Nutrient Permitting Frameworks (NUTR1R06z)

This report discusses nutrient discharge permitting and the variety of potential approaches to establishing effluent limits for nitrogen and phosphorus.

Nutrient Speciation and Refractory Compounds in Water Quality Models (NUTR1R06aa)

Highlights why nutrient speciation and refractory compounds must be considered in water quality modeling in order to provide the most accurate portrayal of current and future conditions when nutrient management activities are undertaken.

TIRR1R15 Fact Sheets

Four supplemental fact sheets for the TIRR1R15 report.

State of Knowledge and Workshop Report: Intensification of Resource Recovery (IR2) Forum (TIRR1R15)

Provides an independent literature review and state of knowledge of the technologies presented at the August 2015 Intensification and Resource Recovery (IR2) Forum.