Charting The Course: Q&A With Calgon Carbon's Technical Director, Dr. Angela Rodriguez

Water utilities today must navigate an increasingly complex landscape shaped by stricter PFAS limits, evolving disinfection byproduct regulations, aging infrastructure, and sustainability goals. Dr. Angela Rodriguez, Technical Director of Drinking Water Solutions and Innovative Carbon Technologies at Calgon Carbon, outlines how utilities can prepare and adapt. She emphasizes the value of flexible equipment designs capable of accommodating multiple media types, reducing long-term O&M costs, and supporting future regulatory shifts. Granular activated carbon (GAC), especially when paired with reactivation services, offers utilities a sustainable, cost-effective solution that minimizes waste, reduces CO₂ emissions, and extends media life. Dr. Rodriguez also highlights innovations like AquaKnight vessel systems and FILTRASORB GAC, which not only remove PFAS but also reduce DBPs, chlorine demand, and aesthetic issues like taste and odor. Through training, technical support, and close collaboration, Calgon Carbon equips utilities with the knowledge and tools to stay ahead of emerging challenges—balancing compliance, sustainability, and operational resilience in a shifting regulatory environment.