Water Trends, Now And Then
By Kevin Westerling,
@KevinOnWater
Even though the latest edition of Water Innovations looks forward into 2024, I’d like to use this space to look back on trends within the water and wastewater industry in 2023. We’ve just begun 2024 — and we’re still in the thick of 2023’s issues, since they didn’t get resolved with the turning of the calendar. Furthermore, recent challenges inform future trends, as policy and technologies are devised and improved to confront the most pressing needs of the day.
So, let’s look back for a minute before delving into the “Top 10 Trends for 2024.”
To do so, I’ll rely on Water Online’s trusted readership and their most-clicked articles throughout 2023, a list we compile annually and share via our newsletter. You can find those results here, sorted by areas of interest, as I’ll do for this overview.
First up is source water and drinking water treatment, and it’s no surprise that articles on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were the most popular. In fact, the top three articles of the year discussed methods for treating these so-called (but not really) “forever chemicals.” PFAS are sure to be heavily researched in 2024 as well, as proposed rules regarding maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) get finalized — which is why they also show up as a top trend for this year.
Moving to (or through) distribution systems, the most accessed articles had to do with asset management and condition assessment — the top three of which focused on “future-proofing” your distribution system, predicting issues through pressure data, and various digital strategies for mitigating leaks. What’s next for drinking water conveyance? We see a trend toward plastic pipes, covered by NSF here.
The interest surrounding wastewater collection systems revolved around two main themes: pump station failures (those pesky “flushable” wipes!) and combating inflow and infiltration that often contribute to combined sewer overflows. Instead of all that wastewater transport, discover why decentralized/onsite wastewater treatment systems are trending for 2024.
There was no such consistency to be found in the area of wastewater treatment, which indicates that there isn’t a single dominant concern but rather ongoing research into best practices and systems for efficacy and efficiency. While that will remain true, there’s a new frontier in wastewater treatment that involves a previously mentioned trend; read about the need and methodology for treating PFAS in wastewater.
Finally, under the umbrella of utility management, Water Online’s top stories of 2023 were largely focused on consumer engagement, public perception, and customer service, which are closely tied, in this digital age, to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The continuing evolution of smart meters, examined here, goes beyond revenue collection and into the realm of customer relations, or, you might say, relationship-building. As we go ever more digital, however, there is a concern over customers’ personal information and cybersecurity — a trend covered on by Petra Trevino, customer service manager for the City of San Angelo Water Utility, who shares “The Key To Restoring Customer Trust After A Data Breach”.
Petra joins a host of other Water Innovations authors who look to the future by discussing current trends, but 2023’s stories and challenges live on and provide valuable lessons and context. As is often said, the past is merely prologue.