Comprehensive Analysis of Water Quality in Urban U.S.

Request for Proposals - Comprehensive Analysis of Water Quality in Urban U.S. Sponsor: Adam Draper Objective We are looking for research teams to carry out an independent study of tap water in major U.S. cities (or on leading university campuses). While water authorities regularly publish data, many people worry that these reports miss certain contaminants or downplay potential health risks. Your project should collect water samples, measure things like microplastics, fluoride, and other chemicals or biological markers, and then build a simple health-based score for each site. The goal is to offer a clearer, honest picture of what “safe water” really means for city residents or students. Rationale Having reliable access to clean drinking water is a basic public health need. Even though water suppliers do routine testing, questions remain about small particles and trace chemicals that might not show up in standard reports. By funding a fresh, side-by-side analysis of tap water from different locations, we hope to uncover any gaps in what’s currently shared—and show where people’s health could be affected. These findings will help set straightforward benchmarks for “healthy water,” so local officials, communities, and consumers can make better-informed decisions. Funding $50,000–$100,000 in ResearchCoin (RSC) is available to support this initial iteration, which may include data collection, laboratory analysis, reporting, and personnel costs. Disclaimers and Open Science Commitment Preregistration: All selected applicants must preregister their study protocol on ResearchHub to be considered for funding. Open-Access Data Sharing: By participating, applicants agree to share all data generated through this research in an open-access repository. This ensures transparency and facilitates the scientific community's engagement with the findings. Preprint: Researchers are encouraged to publish a preprint of their findings on ResearchHub. Progress Updates: Researchers are encouraged to share regular updates (e.g. monthly) and will receive ResearchCoin tips for updates shared. Questions For questions, please contact Tyler Diorio (tyler@researchhub.com).