Free Sample Testing Opportunity for Power Plant Utilities
Achieve Project Factsheet
Project Team:
University of Illinois, The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Hanson Inc., and City Water, Light and Power, Springfield, IL
Project Goals for Sample Collection:
Development and demonstration of analytical methods to characterize coal combustion residual (CCR) groundwater and CCR wastewater effluents, highlighting their utility in assessing environmental impact and facilitating resource recovery (e.g. critical minerals).
Below are some basic questions that organizations may have before engaging in a partnership with the project team. Please click on each question to see the answer.
How Will Participation Benefit the Utilities Organizations?
Participation in this project will provide your organization with valuable data on the composition and potential environmental impacts of CCRs from your operations. Please note that all utilities participating in this project will receive an anonymous identifier. Additionally, you will gain insight into emerging analytical methods for assessing CCR effluents and the potential for resource recovery, such as rare earth elements and valuable metals. This collaboration can enhance your organization’s sustainability efforts, improve environmental management practices, and align with regulatory compliance standards. Furthermore, involvement in cutting-edge research can strengthen your organization’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship and innovation.
What Type of Data will be Generated from These Samples?
A comprehensive suite of elements that could impact the environment, power generation operations (e.g., boron, alkali elements, and strontium), as well as those with potential for resource recovery (e.g., lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements).
How Will the Data be Handled?
Each participating site will be assigned an anonymous identifier. The data generated will be used for project reporting to the Department of Energy, for publication in scientific journals, and shared with utilities that agree to provide sample materials.
Site-specific data will remain confidential, and no information that could directly identify a participating utility will be released without explicit written permission.
What are We Requesting from Utilities?
Our team is requesting access to utility process waters, coal ash pond groundwater and other wastewater, and coal ash landfill leachates for method development and validation purposes. We would like permission for our sampling team to access these sites at your facility to collect the necessary samples from September 2025 to September 2026. A single sampling of two gallons from each site at some point during this timeframe will be sufficient for our purposes. If direct access is not feasible, would your organization be willing to coordinate with our sampling team to obtain these samples on our behalf?
Are There Any Special Sampling Requirements?
If your organization is amenable to allowing a third-party sample, they will abide with any requirements that you have. A detailed sampling plan has been created and can be shared with your organization. Coordination of site sampling will be performed by EPRI and Hanson, Inc.