1. Innovative Technology Partnerships
DoD and EPA
Collaborating to Develop “Next Generation” Solutions
Ardra Morgan
EPA, Office of Research and Development

2. Army NetZero Initiative
Net Zero Installations
 A Net Zero ENERGY Installation produces
as much energy on site as it uses over the
course of a year.
 A Net Zero WATER Installation limits the
consumption of freshwater resources and
returns water back to the same watershed so
not to deplete regional groundwater and
surface water resources in quantity or quality.
 A Net Zero WASTE Installation reduces,
reuses, and recovers waste streams,
converting them to resource values with zero
solid waste to landfill.
 A Net Zero INSTALLATION applies an
integrated management approach to energy,
water, and waste to capture and
commercialize the resource value and/or
enhance the ecological productivity of land,
water, and air.

3. Net Zero Installations

4. Net Zero Water Program
A Net Zero WATER Installation limits
the consumption of freshwater
resources and returns water back to
the same watershed so not to deplete
regional groundwater and surface
water resources in quantity or quality.
Overarching Goals:




Reduce freshwater demand through water efficiency & conservation
Access/develop alternate water sources to offset freshwater demand
Develop water-efficient green infrastructure
Implement low-impact development to manage stormwater

5. EPA Mission
Protect Human Health and the Environment
Regulatory Agenda
PROGRAM OFFICES
Scientific Foundation
OFFICE OF
RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
(e.g., Air, Water, Pesticides/Toxics)
Policies,
Regulations
Congressional
Deadlines
Implementation, Execution
REGIONS
National Decisions
Taking Action on
climate change &
improve air quality
Primary
Interface with States
Implementation
Protect America’s
Waters
Clean up
Communities
& Advance
Sustainable Dev
Agency Strategic Goals
Ensure Safety of
Chemicals &
Prevent Pollution
Enforce
Environmental
Laws

6. Sustainability
Economic
Prosperity
Water is utilized
by industry
including
agriculture
economic
value
is created for
society
Some water
is recovered
and recycled
labor is utilized
in industry
Water and pollution
returns to the
environment
ENVIRONMENT
Public
Health
Water is utilized
by society

7. National Water Challenges
National
Water Challenges are the
Military’s Water Challenges
EPA/ORD Research
Applied to Military
Communities as Test Beds
Nutrient Reduction Strategies
Watershed Protection & Restoration
Legacy & Emerging Contaminants
Managing Aging/Failing Water
Infrastructure
Sustainable Solutions for
Waterborne Chemical & Microbial
Contaminants
Next Generation/Sustainable Water
Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure to Manage
Stormwater Runoff
Systems Approach to Watershed
Protection
Next Generation Water Treatment
Technologies
Climate Impacts
Integrated Systems Approach
*Climate is a stressor considered
across the research program

8. Partnerships to Promote Technology
 Army (MOU signed Nov 28, 2011):
• to promote development and demonstration of new
technologies for use on installations striving towards
Net Zero water, waste, energy
 DoD (MOU signed Feb 7, 2012):
• to advance innovative research and demonstrate
cutting-edge technology solutions in support goals for
increased resource efficiency, balanced resource use,
and greater resource resiliency on military bases

9. Army/EPA Project:
Water Reuse
Project Objective:
Reduce potable water use through a demonstration and assessment of new and emerging, energy
efficient, decentralized waste water treatment and reuse technologies and online monitoring systems.
Anticipated Results/Impact:
EPA: Demonstrate new and emerging decentralized treatment technologies and evaluate their
performance including cost effectiveness
Army: Reduce the total amount of potable water used on post by recycling wastewater
Broader Population: More informed decisions regarding adoption of decentralized treatment
technologies and approaches at other installations and municipalities.

10. Army/EPA Project:
Demand-Side Outreach and Intervention
Project Objective:
Explore the effectiveness of education and awareness campaigns on changing behaviors and
reducing water consumption for Soldiers, family members, and civilians on Fort Riley through a
social marketing campaign, innovation competition, outreach programs, and outcome assessment
Anticipated Results/Impact:
EPA: Explores the social aspects of water conservation and demonstration/ implementation of
innovative water monitoring technologies
Army: Reduce the total amount of potable water used on post by targeting specific populations and
key behaviors to create and foster long-term change
Broader Population: Effective campaign strategies and associated technologies applicable to other
military installations and communities across the country

11. Army/EPA Project:
Vehicle Decontamination
Project Objective:
To produce data on inactivation of biological agents in “real world” wash water using portable treatment units.
The Ft. Riley wash racks provide a unique opportunity to accomplish this objective since they produce a
reliable supply of dirty water that is generated from washing of military vehicles.
Anticipated Results/Impact:
EPA: Evaluate decontamination tools/methods to determine their strengths and weaknesses
Army: Information regarding the containment, control, and disposal of large volumes of
wastewater following an event involving toxic industrial chemicals or materials, nuclear,
biological or chemical warfare agents
Broader Population: Information regarding tested and reliable tools/approaches to determine the
extent of a water-related CBRN incident

12. EPA-DoD Net Zero Partnership
 Jointly funded a Environmental Security Technology
Certification Program (ESTCP) solicitation for decentralized
water reuse technologies
 Awards anticipated March 2014
 Technology certification could occur at Fort Riley and link to
water reuse technology project

13. Next Steps
 Applying Net Zero Water, Waste, and Energy at the
community level
 EPA Sponsored NetZero Communities Workshop February
25 & 26, 2014 in Research Triangle Park, NC
 Objectives
• Share lessons learned
• Identify top challenges facing communities in reducing their environmental
footprint in waste, water and energy
• Identify common themes and cross-cutting issues
• Discuss the integration of solid Waste reduction, Water and Energy saving
strategies