SUBJECT: Approval of payment for the 2024/2025 Membership Dues to the Water Research Foundation.
RECOMMENDATION: (SUMMARY) City Council to approve a motion to pay the 2024/2025 Membership Dues to the Water Research Foundation in the amount of $460,966.28.
SPECIFIC EXPLANTION: The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is a member-supported, international non-profit 501 (c)3 organization formed in 1966, that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse and storm water collection, treatment and supply systems - all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.
The WRF (1) provides the water community with access to an expanded collection of water research, (2) leverages funding more successfully, (3) shares a greater knowledge base, and (4) more effectively communicates new results and research needs with federal and state regulations.
PURPOSES: The City of Houston, along with other member utilities, asks the Water Research Foundation to solicit research proposals to identify the best available technology, such as granular activated carbon, membrane technology, ion exchange and alternates disinfectants for the removal of contaminants which have been identified as candidates for regulation or which are being proposed for regulation. The foundation also adopts projects that deal with the study of new technologies which could help treatment plants to operate more efficiently and economically or for research which could evaluate the risks and/or costs benefits associated with regulating certain contaminants.
The program is international in scope and the results will benefit all water utilities, including the City of Houston and its customers. The primary benefit that they offer to the City of Houston, and to all utility subscribers, is participation in the centralized research program that is directed by and conducted on behalf of the drinking water community.
As a result of the program, the drinking water community has realized savings of millions of dollars annually. The Foundation has demonstrated the value of an industry-sponsored research program that benefits the drinking water community and the customer.
BENEFITS: As a member of the Water Research Foundation, the City of Houston will receive research on today's most complex challenges. With the long list of proposed regulations now facing the water industry in the short term, this membership will continue to play a vital role in ensuring that the City of Houston is ready to meet these regulations in an efficient and timely manner.
DUES: The annual subscription cost is calculated based on the Total Water Produced Per Year, Average Daily Flow, and the Populations Served.
This Project was described and briefed to the Service Delivery Committee on December 12, 2024.
Houston Public Works recommends that City Council approves a motion to pay WRF the invoiced amount of $460,966.28.
FISCAL NOTE: Funding for this item is included in the FY2025 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
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Randall V. Macchi
Director, Houston Public Works
Estimated Spending Authority
|
Department
|
FY2025
|
Out Years
|
TOTAL
|
|
Houston Public Works
|
$460,966.28
|
$0.00
|
$460,966.28
|