Utility and University Partnerships for Small and Mid-Size Utilities: A Relationship Worth Pursuing

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the university and utility partnership (UUP) between the University of Kansas and the City of Lawrence, Kansas Municipal Services and Operations Department (MSO). This presentation is meant to contribute to WEF’s promotion of these partnerships, with a new emphasis on how smaller utilities can participate. Because smaller utilities typically do not have research and innovation groups, the university-utility partnership can bring much needed expertise to small and mid-size utilities to spur innovation. This City of Lawrence-KU partnership has a history back to the 1970s, when Dr. Ross McKinney was pioneering complete mix activated sludge systems. The partnership continues most recently with Dr. Belinda Sturm, who has operated microalgae, aerobic granular sludge, and deammonification pilots at City facilities. Currently, the staff, faculty, and students have cultivated several unique collaborations including opportunities for Master’s students’ dissertation projects, PhD research material, capital project involvement, operator training classes for the water and wastewater operators and project engineers, and other various collaborations. These partnerships are discussed to show critical controls and success factors that have aided in making this partnership beneficial for both entities.