Water Quality Research Foundation

What Water Quality Research Foundation does

The Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established in 1952 and headquartered in Lisle, Illinois. It functions as the independent scientific research arm of the Water Quality Association (WQA), which represents more than 2,500 member companies in the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQRF sponsors and conducts academic and professional research on drinking water contaminants, with current emphasis on PFAS treatment technologies, point-of-use/point-of-entry (POU/POE) systems, and predictive modeling of U.S. drinking water quality concerns. Its research outputs feed into NSF/ANSI standards and EPA regulatory considerations.

WQRF's core offerings consist of sponsored scientific research studies and a portfolio of educational tools and resources. These include the Contaminant Occurrence Map (an interactive zip-code-level resource built on approximately 60 million data points over 10 years), a Softening Benefits Calculator, recorded webinars, a PFAS resource hub, an Educational Outreach Series developed with the University of Arizona, and shareable materials for industry and consumer audiences. Research is disseminated through the foundation's website, YouTube channel, webinars, the annual PFAS Symposium (held in conjunction with the WQA Convention & Exposition), peer-reviewed journals such as AWWA Water Science, and direct engagement with regulators.

WQRF is funded through donations, corporate sponsorships (Diamond, Platinum, Spring Program, and Education tiers), and industry fundraising campaigns. The Next Wave Campaign, launched in 2022 with a $5 million goal, has raised $4 million to date. The foundation collaborates with NSF International and a network of university researchers — including UBC, Colorado Boulder, UMass Amherst, Purdue, Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia Southern, Florida Polytechnic, and Desert Research Institute — and maintains operational partnerships with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and government entities such as the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Name

Water Quality Research Foundation

Legal name

Water Quality Research Foundation

Website

https://wqrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Water Quality Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1952 that sponsors independent scientific research on drinking water contaminants, PFAS, and treatment technologies for the Water Quality Association's 2,500+ member companies, regulators, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality Research and Education

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF), Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH)

Keywords

• Water quality research
• Drinking water treatment
• PFAS contamination research
• Non-profit research foundation
• Point-of-use water treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: WQRF is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on donations and fundraising to fund its research programs. The Next Wave Campaign is an industry-wide fundraising initiative launched in 2022.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (including Diamond, Platinum, Spring Program, and Education sponsors) provide financial support to enable educational events, conduct scientific research, and build outreach programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WQRF sponsors and conducts independent scientific research on drinking water quality, focusing on PFAS, emerging contaminants, and point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment technologies. It also develops interactive educational tools, including the Contaminant Occurrence Map (built on ~60 million data points) and the Softening Benefits Calculator, and disseminates findings through webinars, symposia, and educational resources for industry, regulators, and the public.

Product overview

The Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization established in 1952, not a commercial product company. WQRF's offerings consist of sponsored scientific research studies on water quality contaminants and treatment technologies, along with educational tools and resources. The core offering is research funding and conduct, supplemented by interactive tools (Contaminant Occurrence Map, Softening Benefits Calculator), educational content (PFAS resources, webinars, outreach series), and shareable materials. These resources serve industry professionals, policymakers, regulators, and the general public rather than representing a traditional product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contaminant Occurrence Map An interactive online map providing drinking water quality data by location (zip code), developed from 10 years of data collection encompassing nearly 60 million data points; intended for consumers and water treatment specialists seeking location-specific water quality information.
• Softening Benefits Calculator Online calculator tool that allows users to calculate the benefits of water softening solutions; intended for consumers, water treatment professionals, and industry stakeholders evaluating water softening options.
• Water Quality Research Studies Sponsored scientific research studies on water quality, including PFAS removal, emerging contaminants, point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment systems, and predictive modeling of drinking water emergencies; intended for the water treatment industry, regulators, policymakers, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reverse osmosis membranes and activated carbon filters demonstrated average PFAS removal efficiencies greater than 90%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NSF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026NSF co-sponsors PFAS surrogate research with WQRF, contributing essential funding and technical expertise. As a leading certification body for drinking water treatment technologies and developer of NSF/ANSI standards (42, 53, 55, 58), NSF's engagement is essential for translating research findings into industry standards.
• University of British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Madjid Mohseni, PhD, is conducting research validating surrogate parameters that can reliably predict PFAS breakthrough in water treatment technologies.
• University of Colorado BouldercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Riley Mulhern, Assistant Professor, is leading research to determine the most effective PFAS treatments for high-risk homes in collaboration with private well users affected by groundwater contamination.
• University of Massachusetts AmherstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrs. Emily Kumpel, David Reckhow, and John Tobiason are conducting sustainability comparison research of centralized drinking water treatment to POU/POE treatment for Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zhi (George) Zhou, Associate Professor, conducted research on emerging contaminant removal and microbial growth in membrane filtration and activated carbon point-of-use devices. His 2018 WQRF Grant Award funded research into efficient mitigation of emerging water contaminants.
• Corona Environmental ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted national drinking water contaminant occurrence study and is developing Phase 2 predictive modeling of U.S. drinking water emergencies to highlight contaminants most likely to cause violations or impact public health.
• University of ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on POU/POE database project for Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and educational outreach development with Dr. Kelly Reynolds as Department Chair and Director of ESRAC.
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-SuperiorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Marcia Silva and Dr. Sakib Mahmud funded for Phase 1 emerging contaminants research to study consumer awareness and health behavior motivation regarding water treatment decisions.
• Georgia Southern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with University of Arizona on POU/POE database project to review use for compliance nationwide and share lessons learned.
• Water Quality Association (WQA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWQRF was formed in 1952 to serve on behalf of WQA as a universally recognized, independent research organization. WQA represents more than 2,500 member companies around the globe.
• Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with WQRF used independent testing to verify that counterfeit water filters were dangerous. Data has been presented to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on water softener optimization research that identified chloride discharge reduction opportunities from water softener systems.
• Desert Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Monica Arienzo, Associate Research Professor, conducts research on water quality, geogenic metals, emerging contaminants, and microplastic contamination of surface waters.
• Florida Polytechnic UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jun Kim, Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering, focuses on advanced water treatment processes for residential drinking water, seawater desalination, and municipal wastewater.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• WaterAid: International non-profit focused on clean water access, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income countries. Adjacent to WQRF's clean-water mission but with a development/aid rather than treatment-research orientation.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Association: Large international non-profit representing drinking water utilities and professionals, which publishes AWWA Water Science and develops standards. Comparable as a broader water-industry association with significant research dissemination, though much larger and utility-focused rather than treatment-focused.
• NSF International: Global public health and safety organization that develops NSF/ANSI drinking water treatment standards and runs certification testing. Comparable as a partner and adjacent authority shaping the same drinking water standards and PFAS testing market WQRF serves.

Regional players

• Water Research Australia: Australia's water industry collaborative research organization, funding drinking water, wastewater, and reuse research. Comparable mission and non-profit research model in a different geography.
• UK Water Industry Research: U.K.-based collaborative research organization funded by water companies that commissions applied water research. Comparable non-profit research model, but serves the U.K./Ireland market rather than the U.S.

Direct peers

• Water Research Foundation: U.S. non-profit research organization that funds scientific research for the water utility industry on drinking water, wastewater, and reuse. Highly comparable as a similarly structured non-profit research foundation supporting water quality science.
• Water Environment Federation: Non-profit technical and educational organization that funds and disseminates water quality research, with strong focus on wastewater, water reuse, and emerging contaminants — a close analog to WQRF in mission and non-profit research model.
• National Water Research Institute: Independent U.S. non-profit that conducts and sponsors drinking water and recycled water research, often in partnership with utilities and regulators. Directly comparable as an independent water research foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMBBm0VKd_aQLaHtgneKzKQ
• Xx.com/WQRFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/wqfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/water-quality-research-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Water Quality Research Foundation