CFAs: Embedding O/M Considerations into the Design Process Project

Deadline: 26-Oct-26

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is inviting applicants to propose research projects that develop standardized guidelines for incorporating operations and maintenance (O&M) considerations into the design of municipal water and wastewater facilities. The project aims to address recurring design challenges that can make facilities difficult or expensive to operate and maintain. By integrating O&M considerations earlier in the engineering design process, the research will support safer, more maintainable, and operationally efficient water and wastewater facilities.

About the Research Project

Operations and maintenance considerations are often incorporated inconsistently during the engineering design of municipal water and wastewater capital projects. Design decisions that overlook O&M requirements can create facilities that: - Are difficult or costly to maintain. - Create safety risks for utility personnel. - Require inefficient workarounds. - Experience increased downtime. - Have higher lifecycle costs. - Contribute to reduced service levels. Embedding O&M considerations into the design process can help utilities avoid these challenges and ensure that facilities are designed for effective operation and maintenance from the beginning. How Much Funding Is Available? Applicants may request up to $250,000 in WRF funding for the proposed research project. Applicants are also required to provide a contribution of at least 33% of the project award.

Acceptable forms of contribution include:

- Cost share. - Applicant in-kind contributions. - Third-party in-kind support. Contributions must comply with applicable federal cost-sharing or matching requirements. Why Are O&M Considerations Important? The project recognizes that the long-term costs of operating and maintaining a municipal facility can be substantially greater than its initial capital investment. Design shortcomings can increase maintenance expenses, create operational inefficiencies, and affect the reliability of water and wastewater services over the facility’s service life. Integrating O&M requirements during the design phase can help utilities develop facilities that are safer, easier to maintain, and more efficient to operate. What Will the Research Address? The research is intended to develop standardized design guidance addressing recurring issues that affect operations and maintenance.

Key areas include:

- Standardization of spare parts and consumables. - Support for condition-based maintenance. - Support for predictive maintenance. - Maintain-in-place strategies. - Evaluation of O&M impacts during facility design. - Translation of operational experience into practical design provisions. The project will help bridge the gap between engineering design practices and the operational realities faced by municipal water and wastewater utilities. Research Approach The selected research project is expected to synthesize existing knowledge, practices, and operational experience.

The research will:

- Review existing knowledge and industry practices. - Identify recurring design issues affecting O&M. - Translate operational experience into actionable design provisions. - Develop practical frameworks for evaluating O&M impacts during design. - Establish standardized guidance that can be applied to future municipal water and wastewater projects. The goal is to create practical resources that can be used by professionals during the engineering design process. Standardized Design Guidance A major objective of the project is to develop guidance that helps design teams consider long-term O&M requirements before facilities are constructed. The guidance should address design decisions that affect: - Maintenance accessibility. - Spare parts and consumables. - Maintenance strategies. - Facility reliability. - Operational efficiency. - Worker safety. - Long-term lifecycle costs. By making O&M considerations part of the design process, utilities can better anticipate operational needs and reduce avoidable maintenance challenges. Condition-Based and Predictive Maintenance The research will consider how facility design can support modern maintenance approaches, including condition-based and predictive maintenance. These approaches can help utilities make maintenance decisions based on the condition and performance of equipment rather than relying solely on fixed schedules. The resulting design guidance is expected to help engineers account for these maintenance strategies when developing municipal water and wastewater facilities. Maintain-in-Place Strategies The project will also examine maintain-in-place strategies as an important component of facility design. Designing facilities with maintenance activities in mind can help reduce disruptions and make it easier for utility personnel to service equipment and infrastructure while maintaining operations. Expected Deliverables The research project will produce several resources designed to share findings with the water research and utility community.

Expected deliverables include:

- A comprehensive research report. - Case studies demonstrating relevant practices and design considerations. - Webcasts to disseminate research findings. - Conference presentations to share results with industry professionals. These deliverables will help translate the research findings into practical information for municipal water and wastewater professionals. Who Can Benefit From the Research? The resulting guidance is intended to support professionals involved in the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of municipal water and wastewater facilities. Potential users of the research may include: - Municipal water utilities. - Wastewater utilities. - Engineering and design professionals. - Operations and maintenance professionals. - Utility managers. - Other professionals involved in water and wastewater capital projects. How to Prepare a Strong Research Proposal Applicants should present a clear rese