The Water Resources Research Institute and Environmental Labs

Established in 1973, the mission of Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) is to provide the District of Columbia with interdisciplinary research support to identify DC water resources problems and contribute to their solution. What's it all about? It's about conducting state-of-the-art research on the utility, viability and sustainability of water and water systems in the mid Atlantic region and especially for the residents of the District of Columbia. Particular attention is given to water consumption and utilization for recreation and environmental concerns.

Areas of focus include drinking water source protection, stormwater management and planning, water safety, and watershed stewardship. The Institute coordinates, facilitates, and disseminates water resources-related research projects through seed grants to faculty members from the consortium of universities in the greater DC Metro. The Institute supports collaborative training and research that engages not only faculty members and students, but also a broad array of stakeholders to address regional water issues in a holistic way.

Located at the Van Ness Campus, the Environmental Quality Lab was constructed to help DC residents have a convenient way of testing water for lead and other impurities and to be an unbiased monitor of surface, ground, and municipal water quality in D.C., helping to protect water resources and human health. The lab has state-of-the-art equipment that can be applied to the analysis of chemical and biological water quality parameters in water and wastewater. Learn more about the lab here. The lab also provides the capacity to measure the existing environmental conditions and identify alternative solutions to address environmental problems. Learn more here.

For more information, contact Sebhat Tefara.