Application Deadline:
26th October 2026
About Organisation
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is a research-focused organisation that supports scientific and practical advances in water quality, wastewater treatment, and water management. Through research funding and collaboration, WRF helps utilities and the wider water sector address complex technical and operational challenges. Its work supports the development of evidence-based solutions that can improve treatment performance, efficiency, and resilience. The organisation funds research relevant to real-world utility operations, including biological nutrient removal and process control. For researchers seeking water research grants, wastewater research grants, or environmental research funding, WRF provides opportunities focused on practical innovation and improved water treatment outcomes.
About the Grant
The WRF Adaptive BNR Control Grant 2026 offers up to $300,000 for research into adaptive control frameworks for biological nutrient removal (BNR) in full-scale wastewater treatment facilities. The project will investigate why aeration and process control strategies can fail under changing real-world conditions and develop practical, non-proprietary approaches for improving BNR performance. Research will address control failure modes, data and instrumentation requirements, adaptive control frameworks, and benchmarking across wastewater facilities. Applicants must provide additional resources equivalent to at least 33% of the WRF award through cost share or eligible in-kind contributions. The anticipated project duration is 24 months.
Who can Apply?
The opportunity is open to U.S. based and non-U.S based entities, including educational institutions, research organisations, governmental agencies, consultants, for-profit entities, and other eligible organisations with appropriate research capabilities. Applicants should demonstrate expertise in wastewater treatment, biological nutrient removal, process control, data analysis, and full-scale utility operations. Proposed projects should address the practical challenges of adaptive BNR control and include appropriate research methods, facilities, and technical expertise. Applicants must also provide additional resources equivalent to at least 33% of the WRF award. Researchers who are late on ongoing WRF-sponsored studies without an approved no-cost extension cannot be named as proposal participants.
How to Apply?
Applicants should prepare a research proposal addressing adaptive control challenges in full-scale biological nutrient removal systems. The proposal should explain the research objectives, control failure modes, data and instrumentation requirements, adaptive framework development, facility benchmarking, and methods for comparing biological capacity with actual BNR performance. Applicants should also provide a realistic 24-month project schedule and incorporate the required contribution of at least 33% of the requested WRF funding into the proposed budget and research plan.>
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the WRF Adaptive BNR Control Grant 2026 is 26 October 2026. Applicants should complete their research proposal, budget, contribution plan, and supporting materials before the stated deadline.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
