07-25-2016 BPU RPT 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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wni =R t v t ai,v i i WON PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum DATE: JULY 25, 2016 ITEM NO: 4 SUBJECT: THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE'S PROPOSAL FOR RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES' WATER INNOVATIONS GRANT TO FUND RESEARCH FOR ELECTRO-OXI DATIVE ROUTE TOWARDS NITRATE REMOVAL FROM DRINKING WATER RESOURCES USING ACTIVATED CARBON AS ELECTROACTIVE SUBSTRATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 ISSUE: The issue for Board of Public Utilities' consideration is to approve a Water Innovations Grant for the University of California, Riverside, in the amount of $50,000, to fund research for Electro- oxidative Route towards Nitrate Removal from Drinking Water Resources using Activated Carbon as Electroactive Substrate. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend to the City Council approve the University of California, Riverside's request for a Water Innovations Grant in the amount of $50,000, to be paid in three installments funded in Fiscal Year 2016 -17, to research Electro- oxidative Route towards Nitrate Removal from Drinking Water Resources using Activated Carbon as Electroactive Substrate. BACKGROUND: One of Riverside Public Utilities' (RPU) programs funded through the Water Conservation Fund is the Water Innovations Grant (WIG) Program. This program was created in 2012 and was developed for funding of research, development and demonstration programs with water related projects. It is available to public or private post- secondary educational institutions within the city limits of Riverside to advance science and /or technology. Applicants would propose an original innovative solution to a significant water issue, provide a clear potential benefit to California water ratepayers, and target one or more of the following categories: • Landscape water use efficiency • Indoor water use efficiency • Industrial process efficiency • Water reclamation and re- use • Water -use related environmental research • Strategic water research Participation in the WIG Program is restricted to institutions of higher learning whose primary activities fall within City limits. RPU has awarded grant funds to the University of California, Riverside (UCR) over the past decade to help look for new ways to advance science and technology in energy - related fields. Through its Energy Innovations Grant Program, funding was awarded to UCR for their various projects ranging from: the Control of NOx (nitrogen oxides), SOx (sulfur oxides) and Particulate Matter in Biological Filters to the