The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) has partnered with the Iowa Water Environment Association, Iowa Rural Water Association, and Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program (IWWERP) in an innovative statewide wastewater optimization program. The program will generate performance data, reflective of midwestern conditions and climate, for new wastewater treatment technologies that seek approval in Iowa. The partnership aims to reduce levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and yield energy savings at Iowa’s wastewater treatment facilities.
The IWWERP Tech Park, located at the City of Iowa City Water Resource Recovery Facility, features a $1.5M, state-of-the-art, revolving algal biofilm research facility. The Tech Park also features space for sidestream treatment research and development to augment wastewater lagoon performance in small cities.
The IWWERP Biomass and Microalgae Composition Lab complements full-service laboratories for water chemistry, microbiology, algae biomass, and biogas characterizations and a wide range of instruments and detectors.
The research program seeks to accelerate solutions for rural Iowa communities where municipal wastewater treatment costs stifle local economic vitality. IWWERP also serves large municipal water resource recovery facilities to leverage organic waste streams from Iowa’s industrial and agricultural supply chains to capture nutrients, grow biobased chemicals and specialty products, and generate renewable natural gas.
This partnership among the IWWERP and wastewater treatment technology and bioscience companies in Iowa takes advantage of unique expertise, knowledge, resources, and infrastructure to expand Iowa’s economy while protecting and improving Iowa’s natural environment. For more information, contact Adam Schnieders of Iowa DNR.
