Preparing for UCMR 6: Understanding Occurrence of Trifluoroacetic Acid and Emerging Ultrashort-Chain PFAS

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is offering a grant opportunity titled “Preparing for UCMR 6: Understanding Occurrence of Trifluoroacetic Acid and Emerging Ultrashort-Chain PFAS.” This initiative seeks to enhance the understanding of these compounds in U.S. drinking water systems. The deadline for applications is 3:00 pm (GMT-07:00) on 3 November 2026. This grant aims to investigate the occurrence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and other ultrashort-chain organofluorine compounds as outlined in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). The research will focus on characterizing these compounds in U.S. drinking water systems and evaluating changes across existing treatment processes. The project also seeks to develop communication protocols to assist utilities in reporting findings. The grant offers financial support of up to $200,000. This funding is intended to cover research activities related to the characterization and evaluation of TFA and ultrashort-chain PFAS in drinking water systems. Eligible applicants are organizations based in the United States. Individual applications are not accepted. Applicants must have the capacity to conduct research in line with the project’s objectives. This grant is crucial for advancing the understanding of emerging contaminants in drinking water, specifically TFA and ultrashort-chain PFAS. The findings will support utilities in improving water treatment processes and communication strategies, ultimately safeguarding public health. For detailed instructions, refer to the official guidelines and application video provided by WRF. What is the application deadline? The deadline for applications is 3 November 2026, at 3:00 pm (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time. What is the maximum funding amount available? The grant offers up to $200,000 for eligible research projects. Who can apply for this grant? Only organizations based in the United States are eligible to apply. What are the main objectives of the research? The research aims to characterize the occurrence of TFA and ultrashort-chain PFAS and evaluate treatment processes in U.S. drinking water systems. Where can I find the application guidelines? Application guidelines can be downloaded from the WRF website under the “Guidelines and Forms” section. Eligible organizations are encouraged to review the official guidelines and prepare their proposals in accordance with the provided instructions. For further details and to access necessary forms, visit the Water Research Foundation’s official grant page.