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- Using Plants to Sustain Military Ranges
- Sonar Key to Detecting Underwater UXO
- Monitoring and Mapping Coral Reefs
- EPA-Approved Protocol for Range Characterization
- Robotic Laser Coating Removal System
- MetalMapper
- Understanding cis-DCE and VC Biodegradation
- Eliminating Cr from Medium Caliber Gun Barrels
- Predicting Responses to Landscape Changes
- Applying Statistics and Modeling to UXO Discrimination
- Composites with Low HAP Compounds
- Perchlorate-Free Flares Undergo Qualification Testing
- Recovering Energy from Landfill Gas
- Modeling Underwater UXO Mobility in Reef Environments
- Understanding the Behavioral Ecology of Cetaceans
- Forecasting the Effects of Stressors on At-Risk Species
- Advanced Signal Processing for UXO Discrimination
- Reducing Emissions for Jet Engines of the Future
- Assessing Vapor Intrusion at Chlorinated Solvent Sites
- Passive Sampling of Contaminated Sediments
- Leveraging Advanced Sensor Data to Clean Up UXO
- Source Zone Architecture Key to DNAPL Remediation
- Biopolymers Maintain Training Berms, Prevent Contamination
- Rare-Earth Corrosion Protection Mechanisms
- Cold Spray Technology for Aircraft Component Repair
- Ecological Research Supports Training at Camp Lejeune
- Loss of Permafrost – Impact on DoD Lands in Alaska
- Converting Solar Energy to Electricity and Heat
- ASETSDefense Workshop on Sustainable Surface Engineering
- Forward Operating Bases: Water and Waste Management
- Evaluating Matrix Diffusion Effects on Groundwater
- ES&T Features In Situ Sediment Remediation
- Erosion Resistant Coating Improves Engine Efficiency
- Optimizing Boiler Efficiency Through Combustion Control
- Climate Change Adaptation: Enhanced Decision Making
- Adapting Energy-Efficient Heat Pumps for Cold Climates
- Workshop on Sustainable Surface Engineering Advances
- Ecological Forestry & DoD’s Carbon Footprint
- Munitions Classification in the Hands of Production Firms
- Intelligent and Energy-Efficient LED Street Lighting
- ESTCP Partners with EPA on Watershed Management
- White House Energy Security Blueprint References ESTCP
- Success Classifying Munitions in Wooded Areas
- Evaluating Technology Performance at DNAPL Sites
- ‘Flyer’ Improves OB/OD Air Emissions Measurement
- Identifying Research Needs for Underwater Munitions
- Success Classifying Small Munitions at Camp Butner
- Managing Military Lands in the Southwest
- Partnering to Advance Munitions Classification
- ‘Flyer’ Improves OB/OD Air Emissions Measurement - Preview
- Sonar Identifies Underwater Munitions in Gulf Study
- Protective Coating Improves Jet Engine Fuel Efficiency
- Assessing Pacific Island Watershed Health
- New Insights Into Tracking Contaminants in Bedrock
- ClimaStat Technology Improves HVAC Efficiency
- Innovative Plating Process for Beryllium Alternatives
Forward Operating Bases: Water and Waste Management

SERDP researchers are developing innovative technologies to improve water and waste management for sustainably maintaining forward operating bases (FOBs) around the world. FOBs have been vital in supporting the expeditionary and campaign capabilities of the U.S. military, but supplying materials to build and sustain them has been costly both in dollars spent and lives lost. New technologies that reduce the impact of FOBs on the environment and improve the conditions in which military personnel live, will also improve safety and reduce logistics costs by minimizing the amount of material that is needed to support a FOB.
Forward operating bases provide a secure forward position to support tactical operations for the Department of Defense (DoD). They vary greatly from an austere, platoon-sized base supporting a few dozen troops on the tactical edge to division-sized enduring bases occupied by ten thousand or more personnel. The structure of a FOB is dependent on size, mission, anticipated duration, type of unit supported, area of operations, and the sophistication of host‐nation infrastructure. Often, FOBs are used for extended periods and must meet basic needs, including water supply, fuel for base and operational requirements, and waste treatment and removal, on a daily basis. To ensure the sustainability of FOBs, it is critical to reduce energy and water consumption, while still meeting mission requirements and protecting human health and the environment.
Wastewater Treatment
Water is critical to the success of overseas contingency operations. It is used for drinking, food preparation, laundering, and centralized hygiene. Measures used to handle wastewater differ according to FOB population, contractor services, and location. As a general rule, the smaller and more austere the FOB, the more primitive the methods employed for managing wastewater. As FOBs mature and take on a more enduring role, rudimentary systems give way to chemical latrines, storage and septic tanks, and ultimately to conventional treatment systems.
SERDP researchers are pursuing innovative approaches for on-site, sustainable wastewater treatment at FOBs. They are investigating novel technologies, such as microbial fuel cells and membrane bioreactors with the integration of forward osmosis and low-energy reverse osmosis technologies, as a basis for deployable and easy-to-use on-site, wastewater treatment systems that minimize energy usage or produce energy. The goal of the research is to treat both graywater and blackwater at scales suitable for FOBs supporting 500 or more personnel, and to potentially generate water for potable or nonpotable reuse.
Solid Waste Management
FOBs generate large amounts of solid waste from kitchens, packaging, latrines, and soldiers’ personal items. As with wastewater treatment, large base camps tend to have better defined waste management systems because of manpower, location, space, and funding. Conversely, smaller deployed camps lack the resources to effectively manage their solid waste. Methods commonly employed include contracting with local foreign nationals to haul waste away, using rudimentary landfills or dump sites, and burning waste in open pits or piles. These methods are resource intensive and inefficient. Burning waste and leaving waste unmanaged at dump sites also introduces potential hazards to human health.
The objective of the SERDP waste to energy program is to develop technologies that can be packaged into a compact and efficient battalion-scale system deployable in a single standard shipping container. Researchers are investigating multiple gasification approaches to produce syngas using mixed waste streams with minimal segregating or preprocessing. The syngas can feed directly into existing generators and supplement the existing diesel fuel supply to offset some of the requirement for transporting fuel in, as well as improve the management of solid waste.
Related Resources
Wastewater Treatment Projects
- A Self-Sustaining Solar-Bio-Nano-Based Wastewater Treatment System for Forward Operating Bases – Michigan State University
- Energy Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems for Forward Operating Bases Based on Microbial Fuel Cells and Microbial Desalination Cells – Pennsylvania State University
- Robust Membranes for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment by Forward Osmosis in FOBs – Yale University
- Novel Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment System for Energy Generation at Forward Operating Bases – U.S. Army ERDC-CERL
- A Fully Integrated Membrane Bioreactor System for Wastewater Treatment in Remote Applications – University of Nevada, Reno
- Membrane Bioreactor/Ultra Low Energy Reverse Osmosis Membrane Process for Forward Operating Base Wastewater Reuse – GE Global Research
- Wastewater Treatment Using Microbial Fuel Cells with Peroxide Production – Arizona State University
Solid Waste Management Projects
- Thermal Catalytic Syngas Cleanup for High-Efficiency Waste-to-Energy Converters – University of North Dakota
- Rotary Kiln Gasification of Solid Wastes for Base Camps – U.S. Army ERDC-CERL
- Shredded Waste Downdraft Gasifier for Overseas Contingency Operations Waste-to-Energy Conversion – Infoscitex Corporation
- Investigating Efficient Tar Management for Deployable Waste-to-Energy Systems – Lockheed Martin
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