Advancing the way we treat and use water and resources NAWI is a 5-year, $110M research program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Water Resources Control Board, and numerous industry and academic partners. NAWI is headquartered at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). It was co-founded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
NAWI is a 5-year, $110M research program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Water Resources Control Board, and numerous industry and academic partners. NAWI is headquartered at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). It was co-founded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
NAWI aims to secure an affordable, energy-efficient, and resilient water supply for the U.S. economy by integrating decentralized, fit-for-purpose desalination and reuse into existing infrastructure systems. In particular, NAWI is working to develop a portfolio of technologies that enables 90% of nontraditional water sources to be treatable at a levelized cost comparable to today’s marginal water supplies within 10 years. Key non-traditional water sources include industrial, municipal, and onsite wastewater reuse, brackish groundwater and surface water sources, and seawater desalination.
NAWI furthers the affordability, energy efficiency, and reliability of non-traditional waters by identifying innovation gaps, funding high-impact technology and tool development research, facilitating networking and knowledge sharing across the water community, and educating stakeholders.
Why NAWI?
Water and energy are inextricably linked and we need both to sustain human societies. However, freshwater is typically used once and thrown away. Energy is not often used in a water-smart way. This is where NAWI comes in. NAWI is designed to greatly improve desalination technologies so that water can be continuously used and returned to where it is needed. Water that was once thrown away can become clean, safe, and affordable.
We believe that 20th century water infrastructure can be made more resilient and efficient with the addition of smaller-scale distributed treatment that enables a larger amount of local water reuse. When many people think of water treatment and desalination, they often think of ocean water and large treatment plants by the sea. However, NAWI is championing the development of smaller, more nimble and deployable treatment systems that could treat a wider range of impaired water sources and enable facilities and communities to use and reuse their water over and over again.