Phase 1: Formation of Teams – 2013/2014 (COMPLETED)

In 2013, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted an international effort to solicit project teams. Engineering companies, research institutions, manufacturers, and others were encouraged to form partnerships to respond to the solicitation (RFP 2013-1800-1654 Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge) and address water and sewer needs in rural Alaska homes. Teams’ qualifications were evaluated and scored according to the criteria included in the solicitation. Up to six of the highest ranked teams received funding to develop written proposals that would meet specific performance targets relating to constructability, health benefits, affordability, and other operational considerations. The funding available was divided in six equal parts allowing all teams to receive the same amount of funds. Up to six of the highest ranked teams were selected to receive funding to develop written proposals that would meet specific performance targets relating to constructability, health benefits, affordability, and other operational considerations established in RFP. The funding available was divided in six equal parts allowing all teams to receive the same amount of funds.

Phase 2: Design Development and Presentation – 2014/2015 (COMPLETED)

Development of proposals took approximately eight months. Project teams presented their detailed proposals to the project Steering Committee in July 2015, both in writing and in a presentation. DEC and the Steering Committee evaluated and scored each proposal according to the performance targets established in RFP 2013-1800-1654. The three most promising proposals were selected to move on to the next phase. Teams were compensated after delivering both the written proposals and oral presentations.

Phase 3: Prototype Development and Pilot Testing – 2015/2019

Phase 3: Prototype Development & Pilot Testing – 2015/2019

In December 2015, DEC’s Village Safe Water Program announced the beginning of Phase 3 at a public event. You can view pictures of the event in our photo gallery; download the presentation slides Launching Phase 3 of the AWSC (2015-12-08); or download the Description of the Three Proposed Systems (2015-09-03).

The top-three proposals from Phase 2 would be developed into graywater reuse prototypes to be housed in a lab-setting environment. The prototypes were constructed in various locations: Team DOWL in Fairbanks, Team Summit in Tok and Team University of Alaska (UAA) at the Anchorage university campus. Technical specifications were provided for the construction, monitoring, and testing of prototypes.

For 9 consecutive months, water samples were collected pre- and post-treatment and sent to laboratories for analysis. Teams reported on system performance and design modifications regularly. In this phase, Teams were gradually reimbursed for expenses, up to a contractually established amount equal to all Teams. There was no human interaction i.e. skin contact with reused water during this laboratory testing phase.

In October 2017 and over the following winter months, DEC and the Steering Committee evaluated final deliverables: written reports, audiovisual materials, lab analysis data, and notes from prototype site visits. Although all three teams were anticipated to move on to the next phase, only UAA’s prototype was able to consistently demonstrate potential to produce recycled graywater of safe quality for human skin contact.

During the course of Phase 3, several related events of significant importance took place.

In April 2016, Teams and members of the Steering Committee participated in an all-day track dedicated to onsite water reuse at the AWWMA Conference in Anchorage. Teams were joined by Guy Carpenter from the WateReuse Association, Chad Seidel from the EPA funded DeRISK Center at the University of Colorado Boulder and representatives from “Dump The Bucket”— an effort led by the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation. Access a compilation of presentation slides from this session - 2016 AWWMA Water Reuse Session with AWSC.

In September 2016, DEC partnered with a number of U.S. agencies to host a conference on “Water Innovations for Healthy Arctic Homes” (WIHAH) in Anchorage. Federal sponsors included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Arctic Research Commission; U.S. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the U.S. Department of State; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Program. This circumpolar conference was identified as an official event in conjunction with the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, as an endorsed project of the Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group. The WIHAH conference brought together Alaskan, U.S., and international engineers, health experts, researchers, community members, policymakers, and innovators to discuss health benefits, challenges and innovations associated with making running water and sewer in remote northern communities safe, affordable and sustainable. This conference consisted of expert speaker and poster presentation sessions along with technical demonstrations of the three prototypes Teams were developing via The Challenge.

A day after WIHAH concluded (Sept 22, 2016), conference participants who were also residents of unserved communities (lacking indoor running water) took part in a focus group workshop about water and sewer in rural Alaska. The goal was to gather feedback on the water reuse prototypes that were in development via the Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge. Village residents discussed their views on innovative water and sewer technologies as well as their opinions and concerns about what type of technologies might work and might not work for them. Findings from this focus group were shared with Teams in order to inform the design modification for their prototypes and also with the Steering Committee for evaluation purposes.

In November 2017, the project coordinator and one Steering Committee member participated in a workshop for “Non-Potable Onsite Water Reuse Systems” hosted by various organizations in Los Angeles, California. As a result, DEC established contact with several water organizations that had implemented related water reuse efforts in the contiguous United States. DEC was invited to hold membership in the National Blue Ribbon Commission (NBRC) for Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems, a multi stakeholder group that facilitates research on water reuse. NBRC is rapidly advancing best management practices to support the use of onsite non-potable water systems within individual buildings or at the local scale. It is via this venue that contact was placed with Dr. Jay Garland, Division Director of Systems Exposure at EPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory in Cincinnati.

In April 2019, Dr. Garland met with representatives of the Water and Sewer Challenge in Alaska and became familiar with the needs of our rather unique water reuse project. Dr. Garland’s group and research partners are working on a series of Quantitative Model Risk Assessments (QMRA). Those studies will potentially inform Health Advisory Limits that will include Log Reduction Targets (LRT) for removal of pathogens (virus, protozoa and bacteria), as applicable to this particular water reuse project and more specifically to the water treatment train in Team UAA’s prototype.

Phase 4: Field System Development & Testing – 2021/2024

The prototype selected for testing in this phase was designed under the leadership of Dr. Aaron Dotson at the University of Alaska Anchorage (Team UAA). Funding for this phase has been secured through combined state and EPA funds. Team UAA will develop a field testing package that can be installed and tested in a residential setting such as a university dorm (townhouse style). Engineering plans will be reviewed and approved prior to construction. The field system will be closely monitored with residents providing feedback on operation and use. Health outcomes and user acceptance will also be assessed. At the conclusion of this phase, quantitative & qualitative data and reports of system performance will be evaluated by DEC and the Steering Committee.

Phase 4 will be divided into 2 sub‐phases. Phase 4A: Use of human‐produced graywater but no human skin contact with recycled graywater (water samples will tested for water quality); and Phase 4B: if the quality of water produced by the graywater reuse system consistently meets Health Advisory Guidelines, residents will be allowed to come into contact with the recycled water via the following fixtures: shower, clothes washer, and faucet at bathroom sink.

Given that Phase 4 will include human interaction with recycled water i.e. skin contact, federal grant conditions require project approval from EPA’s Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO) prior to any field system work. The HSRRO review process was initiated in summer 2019 but delayed due to staff changes at EPA, the pandemic COVID-19, and most recently the change in presidential administration. Following the availability of COVID-19 vaccination, there is potential that university dorms will reopen this coming fall (2021). If protocols are fully approved by the HSRRO, Team UAA could begin construction and execution of research protocols in August 2021.

Phase 5: Technology Refinement & System Deployment – 2025 and beyond

Additional funding may be used to address inadequacies or necessary improvements identified during Phase 4. Field testing may be expanded to additional residential units or other locations in Alaska. Development of a community cooperative model for ongoing maintenance will also be necessary before widespread deployment in rural communities.

These future phases have not yet been funded.