TXST researchers honored by Texas American Waterworks Association (TAWWA) at Texas Water 2025 Conference

Researchers from the Texas State University Civil Engineering program received the Bob Derrington Reuse Award from the Texas American Water Works Association (TAWWA) at the 2025 Texas Water Conference in Houston, TX. Led by Keisuke Ikehata, Ph.D., Civil Engineering professor, the research team was honored for its advanced water purification system pilot program that is operated in collaboration with the City of San Marcos and Jacobs Solutions.  

Launched in 2023, the San Marcos Direct Potable Reuse Pilot program uses innovative technology to ensure treated wastewater is safe and aesthetically pleasing. The project gives opportunities for TXST student researchers to help operate the advanced water purification system and gain hands-on experience using technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and ozonation.  

Ikehata says that the award ceremony helped amplify the wastewater treatment efforts being conducted in Texas. 

"Receiving the Bob Derrington Reuse Award was especially meaningful because our research focuses on turning real wastewater into safe, high-quality, and great-tasting drinking water,” says Ikehata, one of the of the founding members of the TXST Civil Engineering program.

Texas Water is the joint annual conference of the Texas Section American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of Texas. To learn more about the Texas Water conference and awards, visit https://www.txwater.org/about.cfm