SDWA has carried and is carrying out research projects in the field of real options analysis in systems design. Real options can be used to value flexibilities in designs of complex systems. Research at SDWA aims at developing real options methodologies and applying it to case studies.  

SDWA is developing projects to address water-energy related questions. The current focus is on combining enlarging rainwater storage capacity & reducing peak discharge, in-situ water treatment by bioremediation, and energy recovery by using temperature differences in aquifers.