About the WET Center
Water is one of our planet's most vital resources, yet it is becoming increasingly limited both nationally and globally. Many communities and industries now face the challenge of using source waters with quality below the desired standards. This problem is magnified by the growing threat of Emerging Contaminants of Concern (ECCs)—chemicals, micro/nano-plastics, biological agents, and other substances that are increasingly found in the environment but are not yet widely regulated. These contaminants may pose a potential or real risk to both human health and the environment, with regulations expected to be more stringent in the near future.
As the cost of clean water rises and discharge standards become more stringent, industries are seeking advanced, cost-effective methods to treat and reuse wastewater. Droughts and growing water stress, especially in southwest U.S., are further driving the need for water reuse, which requires advanced treatment processes. Some regions are even using treated wastewater for groundwater replenishment, demanding very high purification standards. Additionally, population growth and tightening regulations on contaminants such as ECCs including antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and micro/nano-plastics will significantly increase the need for effective wastewater treatment technologies. These challenges make sustainable management of both water quantity and quality more critical than ever.
Sustainable Water Treatment and Environmental Protection
Mission
The WET Center is dedicated to addressing water quality and environmental challenges through the development of innovative technologies and methods to detect, understand, mitigate, and control emerging contaminants of concern (ECCs) and other traditional pollutants. Through advanced research and collaboration, efforts focus on improving detection capabilities, advancing treatment technologies, and optimizing water management strategies for wastewater and drinking water systems.
Vision
The WET Center envisions a future in which the adverse effects of ECCs and other contaminants on human health and the environment are minimized. Through the development of innovative solutions that address both the sources and consequences of water contamination, the WET Center strives to support the safe and sustainable use of water resources by communities and industries, now and in the future.
Why it Matters
With the growing strain on water supplies globally, sustainable solutions are more important than ever. As both industries and communities adapt to strict regulations and growing concerns over contaminants like ECCs and micro/nano-plastics, the need for advanced treatment methods will continue to rise. The WET Center is leading the way in developing cost-effective, scientifically driven technologies that address these challenges, helping to safeguard our most precious resource.
The WET Center employs collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches integrating microbial, chemical, physical, hydrologic, and mathematical methods to generate critical scientific insights into water quality and environmental challenges. Research efforts focus on improving detection methods, understanding contaminant fate and transport, assessing ecological and human health impacts, preventing pollution, and advancing cost-effective treatment technologies. These efforts also aim to optimize existing wastewater and drinking water treatment operations, ensuring safe and sustainable water resources for future generations.