Virginia Tech
CAWRI members and Virginia Tech researchers gathered at the 2025 meeting.

Virginia Tech Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation (CAWRI)

Accelerating applied water innovation through university-utility-industry partnership

CAWRI connects Virginia Tech researchers, utilities, and technology partners to test, demonstrate, and scale practical solutions for wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and water infrastructure innovation.

Join CAWRI Propose a Project

What is CAWRI?

An applied water innovation hub

The Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation (CAWRI) is a Virginia Tech platform for industry-funded and utility-informed applied water research, built to move promising ideas from laboratory insight to field demonstration.

Why it matters

Utilities and companies need practical ways to validate technologies with real wastewater, operational constraints, and credible university analysis.

Who should engage

Utilities, engineering firms, technology vendors, public agencies, research collaborators, and foundations working on water infrastructure.

What to do next

Join the center, propose a sponsored project, visit a pilot site, or contact the director to discuss a collaboration.

Members and partners

A practical bridge between research and implementation

Arlington County logo Arlington County Prince William County logo Prince William County WSSC Water logo WSSC Water AlexRenew Enterprises logo AlexRenew Enterprises Loudoun Water logo Loudoun Water Upper Occoquan Service Authority logo Upper Occoquan Service Authority Hampton Roads Sanitation District logo Hampton Roads Sanitation District

How people use CAWRI

Four pathways for engagement

Test a technology

Use real wastewater, pilot infrastructure, and independent analysis to evaluate readiness for full-scale application.

See pilot capability

Shape the research agenda

Bring operational pain points to a utility and industry group that helps prioritize projects with near-term value.

Membership benefits

Collaborate with VT researchers

Connect faculty expertise in water treatment, biosolids, digital systems, resource recovery, and bioproducts.

Meet the faculty

Translate results

Turn pilot data, analytical reports, and case studies into decisions that utilities and companies can act on.

Review impact

About CAWRI

Built for applied water research that can survive real-world conditions

CAWRI provides a platform for industry-funded projects focused on applied water research and strengthens collaboration between Virginia Tech and the water and wastewater industry. The center brings campus research capacity together with utility-scale challenges, regulatory urgency, and field-ready demonstration needs.

The center serves utility leaders, technology providers, engineering consultants, state and federal agencies, and research collaborators who need credible validation under realistic treatment conditions.

Research and innovation areas

Focused areas for practical water infrastructure progress

Granular biomass viewed in a treatment process.

Process intensification

Compact biological systems, aerobic granulation, selectors, biofilm processes, and integrated approaches that improve treatment performance while reducing footprint and energy demand.

Researcher with advanced nutrient removal pilot equipment.

Advanced nutrient removal

Partial denitrification-anammox, mainstream and sidestream nitrogen removal, low-carbon strategies, and nutrient recovery for municipal and industrial wastewater.

AI-powered wastewater management interface over a treatment facility.

AI and digital wastewater systems

Data-driven monitoring, process modeling, decision support, and digital workflows that help operators interpret complex pilot and full-scale treatment data.

CAWRI team members reviewing biosolids resource recovery pilot equipment.

Biosolids and resource recovery

Thermal hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion, dewaterability, odor control, PFAS treatment, recalcitrant nitrogen control, and value recovery from solids streams.

Virginia Tech researcher working on biodegradable bioplastics.

Bioproducts from waste

Food waste conversion, PHA bioplastics, hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater treatment, fermentation, and circular bioeconomy applications.

CAWRI team members reviewing pilot equipment at a wastewater treatment facility.

Pilot demonstrations

Field studies with utilities and partners that convert lab insight into pilot data, operator experience, and defensible next steps.

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Facilities content

Industry and utility membership

Members and partners

CAWRI is organized around a focused group of utility members and regional partners who help shape applied research priorities, pilot demonstrations, and technology transfer.

Shape the research agenda

Participate in the Industry Advisory Board, help identify practical water and wastewater research needs, and take part in selecting and reviewing CAWRI-funded projects.

Collaborate with Virginia Tech

Work with faculty and project investigators on research ideas, project proposals, strategic planning, pilot studies, and opportunities for additional sponsored work.

Access results early

Receive early access to membership-sponsored research results, including reports, papers, theses, dissertations, interim updates, annual reports, and notices of publications or intellectual-property activity.

Connect with talent and peers

Attend CAWRI meetings, interact with students for research and recruiting, explore internship connections, and collaborate with other utility and industry members.

Members

Arlington County Prince William County WSSC Water AlexRenew Enterprises Loudoun Water

Partners

Upper Occoquan Service Authority Hampton Roads Sanitation District
Start a membership inquiry

Selected projects

  1. Li Y. and Wang Z.W. (2024) Effects of coagulant and polymer dosing for recalcitrant dissolved organic nitrogen and orthophosphate control during dewatering of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment-enhanced anaerobic digester sludge. Submitted to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Nov 1, 2024
  2. Li Y. and Wang Z.W. (2024) Effects of the maximum feed rates on the startup, steady-state, and dewatering performance of Arlington County pilot-scale thermal hydrolysis pretreatment-enhanced mesophilic anaerobic digesters. Submitted to Arlington Water Pollution Control Bureau, July 1, 2024
  3. Roy P. and Wang Z.W. (2024) Kenaf addition for intensification in a municipal wastewater secondary process. Submitted to Upper Occoquan Service Authority, March 31, 2024
  4. Li Y. and Wang Z.W. (2023) Digestibility, Dewaterability, and Drying Property Evaluation for Morris Forman Biosolids Processing Solution. Submitted to Stantec and Louisville MSD, June 1, 2023
  5. Luo H. and Wang J.W. (2022) Effects of primary sludge blending and aluminum addition on anaerobic digestion of alum-laden waste activated sludge. Submitted to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Nov 1
  6. Luo H. and Wang Z.W. (2022) Effect of solids retention times on the performance of thermal hydrolysis pretreated mesophilic anaerobic digestion system. Submitted to Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plant, Sep 3
  7. Wang J.F., An Z.H., Wang Z.W. (2022) Effects of NRCY and its location change on the start-up of physical and biological selection pressure driven sludge densification for biological nitrogen removal in plug-flow bioreactors fed with real domestic wastewater. Submitted to Upper Occoquan Service Authority, Oct 10
  8. Wang J.F., Sun Y.W., Khunjar W., Wang Z.W. (2022) An integration of EBPR, endogenous denitrification, and partial nitrification/denitrification/anammox (PANDA) for cost-effective nutrient removal. Submitted to Water Research Foundation (WRF 5117), Aug 20
  9. Pace G., Sun Y.W., Wang J.F., Khunjar W., Carroll J., and Wang Z.W. (2022) NCPCP Primary and Secondary Infrastructure Reinvestment and Optimization – MBBR PANDA/PdNA Benchtop-Scale Pilot. Submitted to Noman Cole Jr. Pollution Control Plant, Fairfax County, Jan 19
  10. Xia K., Wang Z.W., Sharaf H., and Williams M. (2021) The benefits and pitfalls of using biosolids and treated wastewater for apple production – a literature review. Submitted to Alexandria Renew Enterprises, Nov 25
  11. Luo H. and Wang Z.W. (2020) Turning phosphorus pollution from digested dairy manure into a marketable product by using fungi, Submitted to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Mar 15
  12. Luo H., Zhang D., and Wang Z.W. (2020) Identification of the Source, Cause, and Solution of the Biosolids Odor Emission in Western Branch Water Resource Recovery Facility, Submitted to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Mar 4
  13. Zhang D. and Wang Z.W. (2020) Effect of temperature-phased anaerobic digestion and thermal hydrolysis pretreatment on the process intensification of anaerobic digestion, Submitted to Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plant and and Alexandria Renew Enterprises, Jan 10.
  14. Zhang D. and Wang Z.W. (2018) Effect of cerium chloride addition on sludge dewatering through centrifugation, Submitted to Upper Occoquan Service Authority, Mar 1.
  15. Zhang D. and Wang Z.W. (2017) Anaerobic Digestion and Sludge Dewatering Studies for Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plant, Submitted to Arlington County, Aug 4.

Publication

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Awards

Awards and recognition

Year 2026

  1. Xueyao Zhang, recipient of Virginia Tech’s 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award in the “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” category (Only one selected per year across the entire University).
  2. Xueyao Zhang, recipient of the 2026 CAPEES-Elsevier Thesis/Dissertation Award.
  3. Zhiwu Wang, recipient of the 2026 CAPEES-Starlight Innovation Award.

Year 2025

  1. Virginia Tech’s Effluential Hokies team made of Cyrus Li, Yitao Li, Zhangtong Liao, Xueyao Zhang, and Mingxi Wang from Dr. Zhiwu Wang’s lab along with Francis Robinson and Will Dawson from Dr. Amy Prudent’s lab won the 2nd place award in the Wastewater Category with their exceptional project focused on the Chincoteague WWTP Improvements in Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) International Student Design Competition at Chicago on Sep 28, 2025. $1,000 was awarded. The Effluential Hokies team was coached by Dr. John Novak and Dr. Yewei Sun.
  2. Wang Z.W. 2025 Saied and Parynaz Mostaghimi Excellence in Applied Research Award ($5,000).
  3. Li, C. 2025 ASABE AIM Poster Competition Winner ($250).
  4. Chen, S.Y. Recipient of a $1,115 2025 Pratt Fellowship.
  5. Liao, Z.T. 2025 CAPEES Virtual Student Poster Competition (winner). Awarded by the Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science.
  6. Li, C. 2025 VWEA Sonny Roden Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship. Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association ($3,000).
  7. Virginia Tech’s Effluential Hokies team made of Cyrus Li, Yitao Li, Zhangtong Liao, Xueyao Zhang, and Mingxi Wang from Dr. Zhiwu Wang’s lab along with Francis Robinson and Will Dawson from Dr. Amy Prudent’s lab won the 1st-place victory in the Wastewater Category with their exceptional project focused on the Chincoteague WWTP Improvements at the VWEA Student Design Competition. $1,500 award and another $6,000 travel fund were awarded for the team to go to Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) International Student Design Competition this October in Chicago. The Effluential Hokies team was coached by Dr. John Novak.
  8. Li Y. Recipient of a $9,818 research grant from the Competitive Grants Program of Virginia Water Resources Research Center for a research proposal titled “Breaking the Forever PFAS Cycle: Recycle Stream Treatment to Reduce PFAS Loading to Water Resource Recovery Facility Influent and Biosolids” prepared by him.

Year 2024

  1. Li, Y., Roy, P., Li, C., Liao, Z., & Wang, M. 2024 AWWA Student Water Challenge (2nd place). Awarded by the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  2. Li, Y. 2024 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 2nd place winner). Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  3. Roy, P. 2024 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Water 3rd place winner). Awarded Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  4. Li, C. 2024 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 3rd place winner). Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  5. Li, Y. 2024 VWEA Sonny Roden Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship. Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association.
  6. Li, Y. 2024 CAPEES Virtual Student Poster Competition (winner). Awarded by the Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science.
  7. Zhang, X. 2024 CAPEES Virtual Student Poster Competition (winner). Awarded by the Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science.

Year 2023

  1. Li, Y., Roy, P., etc. 2023 AWWA Student Water Challenge (1st place). Awarded by the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  2. Li, Y. 2023 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 2nd place winner). Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  3. Roy, P. 2023 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Water 2nd place winner). Awarded Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  4. Haque, M.S. 2023 Pratt Fellowship.
  5. Ugwu, C. 2023 Pratt Fellowship.

Year 2022

  1. Batarseh, F., Yardimci, M.O., Suzuki, R., Sikder, M.N.K., Wang, Z.W., & Mao, W. (2022). Realtime Management of Wastewater Treatment Plants Using AI. 2022 Intelligent Water Systems Challenge, 1st place.
  2. Zhang, X., Wang J.F., etc. 2022 AWWA Student Water Challenge (1st place). Awarded by the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  3. Zhang, X.Y. 2022 VWEA Sonny Roden Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship. Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association.
  4. Zhang, X.Y. 2022 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Water 1st place winner). Awarded Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  5. Luo, H. 2022 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 1st place winner). Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.

Year 2021

  1. Luo, H. 2021 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 1st place winner). Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  2. Iboleon, R. (2021). 2nd place in CSAWWA’s annual virtual poster competition.
  3. An, Z. (2021). NSF Internship Complementary Award for research on continuous flow aerobic granulation at Upper Occoquan Service Authority.
  4. Zhang, X. 2021. Recipient of the Edna Bailey Sussman Internship Award.
  5. Iboleon R. 2021. Recipient of the Edna Bailey Sussman Internship Award.

Year 2019

  1. Kent, T. R. 2019. Mechanistic Understanding of the NOB Suppression by Free Ammonia Inhibition in Continuous Flow Aerobic Granulation Bioreactors. Master’s thesis, Virginia Tech. Awarded the AEESP Master’s Thesis Award, 2019
  2. Sun, Y. 2019 Grizzard Fellowship Award.
  3. Sun, Y. 2019 WaterJAM YP/Student “Fresh Ideas” Poster Contest (Wastewater 1st place winner). Virginia Water Environment Association and Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association.
  4. Sun, Y. 2019 VWEA Sonny Roden Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship. Awarded by the Virginia Water Environment Association.
  5. An, Z. 2019. Recipient of the Edna Bailey Sussman Internship Award.

Year 2017

  1. Lin, J. 2017 Recipient of the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) scholarship.
  2. Zhang D. 2017. Recipient of the Edna Bailey Sussman Internship Award.
  3. Sun Y. 2017 Recipient of the AEESP 2017 Conference Student Travel Award, sponsored by Hydromantis.

News and events

Restart the news stream with recent highlights

Virginia Tech Effluential Hokies students holding the VWEA Student Design Competition trophy.

Virginia Tech’s Effluential Hokies win VWEA wastewater student design competition, advance to WEFTEC 2026

Read the update
Student design competition team at WEFTEC 2025.

Team wins 2nd place in WEF International Student Design Competition

Read the update
Drew Wang at applied research award recognition.

Drew Wang honored with Excellence in Applied Research Award

Read the update
Virginia Tech team at VWEA student design competition.

Team wins 1st place in VWEA Student Design Competition wastewater category

Read the update
Virginia Tech land grant research event.

Virginia’s land-grant universities conduct critical research for the next generation

Read the update

Archive plan

Move old 2021 CAWRI posts into an archive page or hidden category so the public news page reads as current.

Contact and join CAWRI

Start with a short conversation about the problem you need solved

For membership, sponsored projects, pilot-site visits, and research collaboration, contact Zhiwu (Drew) Wang or send a brief project inquiry.

Zhiwu (Drew) Wang
Director, VT-CAWRI
Human & Agricultural Biosciences Building 1, Room 302A
1230 Washington St. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061
wzw@vt.edu
(571) 271-1757