The Water Environment Research Foundation and the WateReuse Research Foundation announced the merger of their organizations.

The new not-for-profit group, called the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, brings together a rich portfolio of research in water, wastewater, and stormwater, valued at more than $200 million. The merger strengthens the industry movement toward One Water, which realizes the true value of all water, wastewater, and stormwater.

“Bringing these two organizations together allows us to leverage our expertise to pursue an integrated approach to critical research in water,” said WE&RF Board Co-Chair, Kevin Shafer, executive director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. “We are now the largest one-stop-shop for research in resource recovery and reuse.”

Since it was established in 1989, the Water Environment Research Foundation has been internationally recognized as a leader in research related to wastewater and stormwater. Established in 1993, the WateReuse Research Foundation has led the world in producing applied research in water reuse.

The new Water Environment & Reuse Foundation will continue to focus on research in resource recovery and reuse, which provides the science for next generation technology and innovation to meet the growing demand for clean water.

The new organization is supported by more than 200 utilities, businesses, industrial and commercial enterprises, educational institutions, and government agencies. The water agencies combined, represent more than 50 million residential and small business water consumers across the country.