Articles by Pete Antoniewicz

1. Working Toward A More Sustainable Water Future For Tribal Nations 1/18/2022

   Dating back to colonial times, Native Tribes in North America have often watched wide-ranging access to the land and water of their forefathers diminish over time. Although various policies and settlements have attempted to restore some of those opportunities, the bottom line is that many of today’s tribal territories do not enjoy the same water quality as adjacent states or communities. A new U.S. EPA action plan is designed to narrow that gap.

2. A New Perspective On Funding Nonpoint-Source-Pollution Solutions 1/12/2022

   While municipal wastewater treatment facilities fight hard to keep waterways clean, other (“nonpoint”) sources contribute greatly to environmental pollution. But there is funding, and now guidance, available to help solve the problem.

3. It’s Time To Do Something About Small-System Water Loss 1/6/2022

   The topic of non-revenue water (NRW) loss often evokes comparisons to the familiar adage about the weather — “it is a matter about which a great deal is said, but very little done.” But such comparisons might soon become obsolete if a no-cost webinar series sponsored by the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) and targeted toward smaller water utilities (<10,000 customers) has anything to do with it. Here’s why.

4. A Water-Treatment Report Card: How Are We Doing? 12/22/2021

   Faced by ever-changing challenges of water scarcity, source-water quality, regulated discharges, aging infrastructure, economics, and social equality, water- and wastewater-treatment professionals are constantly forced to re-evaluate their efforts and optimize their approaches.

5. Is It Time To Reinforce Confidence In Your Tap Water Quality? 10/14/2021

   For years, backlash over perceived quality, consumer confidence, and drinking preferences between bottled water vs. tap water has set community water systems back on their heels a bit when it came to water-consumption patterns. Now, new research shows that although consumer preferences are still split, changes in behavior resulting from the COVID pandemic have created new chances for water suppliers to regain some ground. Here’s how.

6. Achieving Better Balance In The Water-Energy-Climate Nexus 10/4/2021

   Trying to balance urban population growth against water scarcity, energy consumption, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) can feel like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, a recent report quantifying that delicate balance offers new perspective on solutions for water professionals.

7. What The Industry Is Saying About The EPA Contaminant Candidate List 5 9/28/2021

   It is assumed that most individuals involved in the advocacy, treatment, and regulation of drinking water in the U.S. have similar opinions on the importance of delivering clean, safe drinking water. But determining how regulatory steps regarding daily practices at water treatment plants (WTPs) should evolve tends to reveal some differences in opinion. Here are some recent industry reactions to the proposed Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL 5).

8. Balancing The Costs Of Water For Utilities And Customers 9/7/2021

   The cost of municipal water management, including infrastructure renewal, relies on revenue from ratepayers, but affordability of services is a prime concern as well. A recent report from Black & Veatch looks at large cities and recent trends regarding this delicate balance.

9. Next-Generation Solutions To Stormwater And Personnel Challenges 7/12/2021

   In an industry beleaguered by workforce retirements, costly consent decrees, and climate-induced heavy rainfall events, fresh perspectives and ingenuity are high-profile needs. Fortunately, the U.S. EPA’s  Campus RainWorks Challenge is designed to deliver exactly those benefits from the next generation of stormwater specialists. Here’s how current utilities, municipal planners, and consulting-engineer practices all stand to benefit.

10. Promoting Natural Solutions For Urban Stormwater Management 7/8/2021

    As a continuation of its efforts to help municipalities reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff, the U.S. EPA has announced the publication of the last in its series of 12 ‘Barrier Buster’ fact sheets on low-impact development (LID) for urban stormwater management. Here is an overview of how addressing a key gating factor — state and local development codes — can streamline efforts to resolve a wide range of urban stormwater challenges.