The Water Research Foundation’s Research Priority Program supports scientific research into critical water industry challenges. One of its current funding opportunities, “Alternative Approaches to Water Shutoffs for Nonpayment of Bills,” focuses on identifying viable solutions that maintain service while addressing arrears. The funder, WRF, is a respected nonprofit that partners with utilities, researchers, and stakeholders across the United States to advance water sector innovation through applied research.
This grant opportunity seeks to evaluate multiple dimensions of non-shutoff strategies and their effectiveness in both safeguarding water service continuity and preserving utility financial sustainability. Key project objectives include cataloguing alternative methods to service shutoffs for non-payment, assessing how different billing practices impact customer behavior, and analyzing penalties such as late fees or reconnection charges. The program also aims to understand how various strategies affect customer participation in assistance programs, with a focus on variability across income levels and utility sizes.
In addition to economic behavior analysis, the grant also calls for exploration of third-party resources in mitigating late payments and preventing shutoffs. Applicants are expected to develop case studies highlighting real-world implementations of alternative shutoff practices by utilities, including the obstacles faced and lessons learned. These case studies should emphasize innovative approaches and provide evidence for potential replication.
The program is open to proposals submitted by interested research teams via WRF's online portal. Detailed submission instructions, including proposal templates, budget forms, and required assurances, are accessible through linked documentation on the grant webpage. The application deadline is November 20, 2025, at 3:00 PM Mountain Time. Potential participants listed on the opportunity page include City of Minneapolis, Newport News Waterworks, and WSSC Water.
Proposals will be evaluated based on relevance to research objectives, potential for practical application, quality of methodology, and demonstration of stakeholder engagement. The contact for this RFP is Sydney Samples, who can provide further guidance as needed. The funding amount for this research initiative is up to $200,000.
This program appears to recur annually, as noted in alignment with WRF's standard research cycles, which suggests that similar opportunities may be released in following years with updated scopes or topics. Applicants should monitor WRF communications for updates on future funding rounds and volunteering opportunities for participating utilities.
Include case studies and evaluate financial/customer impacts clearly.
