Planning: CRISES: Collaborative Research and Education Center for Transformative Water Solutions

在美国，提供安全可靠的水通常被认为是理所当然的。美国和全球的供水服务正面临越来越大的压力，许多最脆弱和服务不足的人群无法获得服务。总体而言，基础设施老化、水务部门劳动力萎缩、城市化程度提高以及降雨模式的变化都增加了供水服务的压力。安全饮用水短缺的风险迅速增加，与水有关的疾病的流行率上升，洪灾增加，废水处理不足。适当的应对需要跨学科的专家团队与社区和政府机构合作，共同创新适当的解决方案。该项目最初专注于美国东南部五个相关的水挑战，它们是其他地区情况的缩影：缺水、水质、基础设施老化、洪水和气候变化。应对所有五个挑战的方法以环境正义为基础，旨在确保所有社区都能公平可靠地获得安全和负担得起的水，同时考虑到雨水管理和减轻洪水。该项目为一个致力于促进公平公正的供水服务的研究中心奠定了基础，从而提供了一个有弹性的未来。该项目与多个参与者合作，建立了一个共同的愿景，建立一个中心，满足研究、教育和培训需求，以应对水资源部门的迫切需求。合作者包括地方和州政府机构、公用事业管理者、社区组织、行业和学术机构。通过研讨会、焦点小组和访谈，协作者讨论价值和体验、服务挑战和不足，并确定数据和员工需求。这一过程导致了对当前水服务供应、未来愿景以及实现这一目标的步骤的全面了解。该研究项目通过加强共享和协作的区域网络来建设区域能力，并创建可翻译并扩展到其他区域的创新解决方案。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Within the United States, the provision of safe and reliable water is often taken for granted. Water services in the U.S. and globally are under increasing strain and are failing many of the most vulnerable and underserved populations. Together, aging infrastructure, a shrinking water-sector workforce, increasing urbanization, and changing rainfall patterns increase stress on water services. There are rapidly increasing risks of safe drinking water shortages, a higher prevalence of water-related diseases, increased flooding, and the inadequate treatment of wastewater. An adequate response requires interdisciplinary teams of experts to collaborate with communities and government agencies to innovate appropriate solutions together. The project is initially focused on five related water challenges in the Southeast U.S. that epitomize situations elsewhere: water scarcity, water quality, aging infrastructure, flooding, and climate change. The approach to all five challenges is grounded in environmental justice with a vision to ensure all communities have equitable and reliable access to safe and affordable water with considerations in stormwater management and flood mitigation.This project establishes the foundation of a research center that works to advance equitable and just water services, thus providing for a resilient future. In partnership with multiple actors, this project creates a shared vision for a center that addresses research, education, and training needs to respond to the urgent demands in the water sector. Collaborators include local and state government agencies, utility managers, community-based organizations, industry, and academic institutions. Through workshops, focus groups, and interviews, collaborators discuss values and experiences, service challenges and shortcomings, and identify data and workforce needs. This process leads to a holistic understanding of current water services provision, future visions, and the steps to get there. The research project builds regional capacity through strengthened regional networks for sharing and collaborating and creating innovative solutions that can be translated and scaled to other regions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.