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Water Resiliency
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May 4, 2026
Bianca Chaves Receives Quentin Mees Research Award at AZ Water 2026
Bianca Chaves, Water Resiliency Program Coordinator and Research Scientist at the University of Arizona’s WEST Center, received the Quentin Mees Research Award at the AZ Water Association’s 99th Annual Conference & Exhibition, held April 28–30, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center. The award recognized the publication “Extending the Life of Water Reuse Reverse Osmosis Membranes Using Chlorination,” co-authored with Mohammed Alhussaini, Varinia Felix, Luke Presson, Walter Betancourt, Kerri Hickenbottom, and Andrea Achilli. The Quentin Mees Award highlights outstanding research contributions that advance the water industry and promote innovative solutions in water treatment and reuse. The paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119897
AZ Water plays a key role in advancing water research and practice. Chaves’ recognition reflects both the impact of her team’s work and the continued leadership of the WEST Center in developing practical, high-impact solutions for water sustainability.
Apr 28, 2026
Arianna Tariqi Awarded ARCS Foundation Scholarship
We are proud to share that Arianna Quinn Tariqi, a member of the Water Resiliency Program working in Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom’s research group, has been awarded the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation – Phoenix Chapter Scholarship for the 2026–2027 academic year. Arianna attended the scholarship dinner alongside fellow graduate students from the University of Arizona College of Engineering, where she engaged with ARCS donors and awardees, presented her research during a poster session, and shared an overview of her work with the audience. We congratulate Arianna on this well-deserved recognition and are grateful for her contributions to the Water Resiliency Program—congratulations, Arianna!
Apr 27, 2026
Congratulations to Reema Shinh and Hercílio Zimila for their achievements at the UofA College of Engineering
Reema Shinh, a member of the Water Resiliency Program and advised by Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom, was recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Teaching Assistant award. Hercílio Zimila, also a member of the Water Resiliency Program and advised by Dr. Eduardo Sáez, received the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student award, in recognition of their exceptional academic achievements and contributions to the University, College, and the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering.
Congratulations!
Apr 17, 2026
Shared Water Film Screening Highlights Water Resiliency and Security
The University of Arizona hosted the Shared Water film screening, convening researchers, students, and community members to explore water resiliency and security in the Southwest.
The event featured Flowing Forward: Shared Water, followed by a panel discussion led by Andrea Achilli (Deputy Director, WEST Center). Panelists included Emmy-winning filmmaker Dan Druhora; Sharon Megdal (Director, Water Resources Research Center); Scott Schladweiler (Deputy Director, Tucson Water); Kerri Hickenbottom (Associate Professor, Chemical & Environmental Engineering); and Thomas Kunkel (Executive Vice President, Kyl Center for Water Policy).
The discussion highlighted the importance of water reuse, policy innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to address increasing water scarcity across Arizona and the Southwest. The event provided a valuable platform for dialogue and underscored the critical role of research, partnerships, and community engagement in advancing a more resilient water future.
Apr 15, 2026
WRRC 2026 Annual Conference Explores Water for Tech, Mining, and Energy
The Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) 2026 Annual Conference, Water for Tech, Mining & Energy: Pathways to Arizona’s Future, at the University of Arizona highlighted the growing connections between water, energy, mining, and the increasing demand from data centers in the region.
Members of the Water Resiliency Program—including Andrea Achilli, Varinia Felix, Abdullah Aleidan, Tenzin Phakdon, Reema Shinh, Mervin Lim, Kerri Hickenbottom, and Bianca Chaves—participated in the event and enjoyed engaging discussions on advancing water sustainability and resilience.
More about the Water Resources Research Center (University of Arizona): https://wrrc.arizona.edu/
Mar 26, 2026
NAWI Workshop – Advancing Water Treatment Science
On March 26, 2026, Andrea Achilli, Mervin Lim, and Bianca Chaves attended the NAWI workshop titled “Advancing Water Treatment Science to Support Regional Water and Energy Management,” held in Tempe, Arizona.
The workshop brought together leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss advancements in desalination, water reuse, and the energy-water nexus, as well as their implications for regional water supply and energy demand. The program featured plenary presentations from leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, along with panel discussions from experts across the field.
A key highlight of the event was the discussion of the Water treatment Technoeconomic Assessment Platform (WaterTAP), an open-source Python-based software package developed by NAWI that supports the technoeconomic assessment of full water treatment trains. The WEST Center previously hosted a WaterTAP workshop in May 2024, reflecting its ongoing engagement with NAWI as a stakeholder in advancing water treatment innovation. Read more about the WaterTAP tool below.
Mar 6, 2026
WEST PhD Students Recognized at EPAZ Annual Conference
Congratulations to PhD students Abdullah Aleidan and Simran Singh, who received top honors at the Student Poster Competition during the 21st Annual Conference of the Environmental Professionals of Arizona (EPAZ), held on March 4–5, 2026. Competing among graduate students from institutions across the region, Simran Singh was awarded 1st place, and Abdullah Aleidan earned 3rd place for their research presentations.
Their posters showcased innovative research related to water and environmental resilience, reflecting the strong contributions of the WEST Center & WateResiliency Program to advancing water treatment and sustainability solutions. Abdullah is supervised by Dr. Andrea Achilli, and Simran is supervised by Dr. Luisa Ikner, both Principal Investigators in the Water Resiliency Program. The recognition highlights the high quality of student research and mentorship within the program and reinforces the Center’s commitment to training the next generation of environmental engineers and scientists.
Conference details are available at the EPAZ website.
Feb 4, 2026
Mervin Lim Publishes Article on Reclaiming Brine Water to Boost Supplies
We’re excited to share Mervin XuYang Lim's article for The Conversation U.S. about how reclaiming water from brine can help expand water supplies and reduce environmental harm.
In the piece, Mervin explains how brine presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By recovering clean water and valuable chemicals from these waste streams, we are exploring ways to increase reuse while minimizing environmental impacts. Click "Read More" to read the full article.
After the publication of the article above, KJZZ approached Mervin for an interview with summary of the aired section available online titled “Tucson project looks to capture waste from wastewater and make it a usable water source” on https://www.kjzz.org/education/2026-02-27/tucson-project-looks-to-capture-waste-from-wastewater-and-make-it-a-usable-water-source.
Let’s rethink how we manage brine and move toward more resilient, circular water systems.
Feb 2, 2026
ASU Professor Sergi Garcia-Segura Visits UA and Explores the STREAM System at the WEST Center
Sergi Garcia-Segura, Assistant Professor from Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, visited the University of Arizona on February 2, 2026, as a CHEE seminar speaker hosted by Dr. Andrea Achilli. During his visit, Sergi met with several faculty members across the department and toured key research facilities, including the Solar Site and the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center. His visit provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on emerging technologies in water treatment, electrochemistry, and resource recovery, strengthening collaboration between ASU and UA researchers working in sustainable water solutions.
A highlight of the visit was Sergi’s tour of the WEST Center, where he met members of the U.S. Army–funded research team and learned more about ongoing projects, especially the STREAM system (Separation, Treatment, Recovery, via Electrochemistry and Membranes). Led by PIs Dr. Andrea Achilli and Dr. James Farrell, STREAM is an electrified universal pretreatment approach designed to recover water and valuable resources from concentrate brines. The visit fostered technical discussions around electrochemical processes, membrane integration, and the future of resilient water treatment systems. Pictured during the visit are Dr. Tenzin Phakdon, Dr. Kerri Hickenbottom, Dr. Sergi Garcia-Segura, Dr. Andrea Achilli, PhD student Mervin Lim, and Dr. Bianca Chaves.
Nov 20, 2025
WateResiliency Members Present Research at DESAL 2025 in Florida
WaterResiliency members Drs. Andrea Achilli and Bianca Chaves, along with PhD student Mervin Lim, participated in the 7th International Conference on Desalination Science and Technology (DESAL 2025), held from November 16–19, 2025, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The conference provided an excellent platform for scientific exchange and collaboration among researchers and practitioners in water treatment and reuse.
Their presentations highlight the Water Resiliency Program’s commitment to advancing water treatment technologies, enhancing water reuse systems, and supporting resilient and sustainable water supplies. The program is conducted in partnership with the Water Reuse Consortium and supported by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). DESAL 2025 offered valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, and discussion of innovations in membrane technologies and water reuse strategies, reinforcing the program’s mission to develop sustainable water solutions for communities facing growing water challenges.
Nov 1, 2025
New Publication Sheds Light on Public Perceptions of Advanced Water Purification
A new peer-reviewed study led by co-PI Amanda Wilson (Thrust 6) and involving multiple PIs from the Water Resiliency Program explores how communities in the arid U.S. Southwest perceive advanced water purification — a technology increasingly considered for potable reuse. The research, published in Science of the Total Environment, examined both survey and interview data to characterize public risk perceptions and acceptance of advanced purified water compared with current tap water. Strikingly, only 36 % of survey respondents currently use their tap water for drinking, yet 42 % said they would be open to drinking advanced purified water, suggesting potential receptivity to new water resilience strategies despite lingering concerns about safety and trust.
The mixed-methods study highlights key factors that influence acceptance, including the importance of transparent communication, third-party testing, and community engagement to build trust in water utilities and treatment technologies. These insights are particularly relevant as utilities consider implementing advanced water purification to address long-term water scarcity in rapidly growing urban regions. Several Water Resiliency Program investigators contributed to this collaborative work, underscoring the program’s commitment to both cutting-edge research and community-focused approaches to water sustainability.
Oct 9, 2025
UA Scientists Part of $38M Water Research Effort to Shape Arizona’s Water Future
Researchers at the University of Arizona are playing a central role in a new $38 million research project aimed at developing innovative solutions to the state’s long-term water challenges. As part of the coverage, WEST Center members were interviewed by the Tucson Sentinel, sharing insights on ongoing efforts related to advanced water treatment, water reuse, and long-term sustainability across the Southwest.
The project brings together researchers, community partners, and federal agencies to develop practical, science-based strategies that strengthen regional water resiliency. This recognition highlights the importance of collaborative research in preparing Arizona for increasing water demands and climate-driven challenges.
Read the full Tucson Sentinel article by clicking “Read more.”
