ch2m-hill

  1. From Warning To Reality: Lessons From The Latest OT Attacks On Water Utilities 8/27/2026

    On July 10, I published an article warning that water and wastewater utilities had become prime targets for state-sponsored cyber actors, describing how attackers exploit internet-exposed PLCs, how the IT/OT divide leaves organizations vulnerable, and why the sector needed to act before an incident forced their hand. Today, that scenario is no longer hypothetical.

  2. Advanced Water Treatment Strategies Help Data Centers Manage Cooling Water At Industrial Scale 8/25/2026
    Data centers are evolving into industrial-scale thermal-management facilities as artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), cloud platforms, and accelerated computing increase rack power density. Modern AI racks can exceed 50–120 kW per rack, creating substantially higher heat-rejection requirements than conventional enterprise infrastructure. ASHRAE's (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework identifies liquid cooling as an important architecture for these high-density environments.
  3. From Diagnosis To Decision: Four Pillars Of Actionable Pipeline Intelligence 8/20/2026

    Aging underground networks require actionable intelligence to prioritize maintenance. Combining flexible screening, accurate spatial positioning, and rapid data access helps utilities pinpoint critical defects, reduce operational disruptions, and optimize long-term capital improvement planning.

  4. Putting Pipelines On The Map: How Location Data Strengthens Modern Asset Management Programs 8/20/2026

    Incomplete pipeline records jeopardize modern utility management. Precise spatial mapping and elevation data protect underground infrastructure, reduce utility strikes during excavation, and enhance digital models to enable targeted, cost-effective infrastructure maintenance.

  5. How To Manage Warm-Season Biological Upsets In Wastewater Lagoons 8/20/2026

    The rate of biological activity in a treatment lagoon is largely a function of water temperature. Once the water rises above roughly 59 °F (15 °C), metabolic rates increase across the entire microbial and invertebrate community.

  6. Colorado River Water Conservation Efforts Get Only Halfway To A Solution 8/20/2026

    In August 2026 the nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both on the Colorado River, hit their lowest levels since they first began to be filled in 1936 and 1963, respectively. The federal government and the seven Colorado River basin states have been unable to reach an agreement about who should reduce water usage by how much to avoid catastrophic declines in lake levels.

  7. Sample Collection And Storage: Protecting Water Quality Results From The Start 8/18/2026

    Flawless analytical procedures mean little if samples are compromised before testing. Discover how proper container selection, representative collection techniques, and rigorous preservation protocols prevent pre-analysis error to ensure defensible, accurate water quality results.

  8. Reverse Osmosis Gets Smarter: New Technologies Target Energy Use And Membrane Fouling 8/18/2026

    Nearly 45–60% of a reverse osmosis (RO) plant's operating cost is linked to energy consumption, while membrane fouling can reduce productivity by 15–40% and increase cleaning costs by thousands of dollars annually. The newest generation of RO systems is therefore focused on reducing energy demand, extending membrane life, and using intelligent monitoring to predict fouling before performance declines.

  9. How To Check Colorimetric Accuracy And Troubleshoot Unexpected Results 8/17/2026

    Achieve defensible testing results by mastering analytical controls. Learn how strategic blank corrections, scheduled primary and secondary standard verifications, and systematic troubleshooting eliminate measurement errors and simplify regulatory compliance across everyday laboratory operations.

  10. When Water Test Results Don't Add Up 8/17/2026

    Undetected interferences in water analysis lead to reporting errors and costly compliance failures. Learn how to identify sample matrix disruptions using spike-and-recovery testing and apply practical lab techniques to ensure accurate, compliant data.