From the Editor

1. Report: EPA Knowingly Greenlit Use Of PFAS Chemicals In Fracking Operations 7/21/2021

   Internal U.S. EPA documents released by a physician-led public protection group show that the agency knowingly allowed for the use of chemicals that could degrade into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by hydraulic fracturing operations.

2. With Olympic Source Water Smelling “Like A Toilet,” Tokyo Demonstrates Global Wastewater Issues 7/20/2021

   As the world shifts its attention toward Japan, site of the upcoming Olympic Games, the host city is grappling with an ongoing source-water issue that could impact athletes expected to participate in an event set for Tokyo Bay.

3. UN Identifies Drought As “Next Pandemic” 7/8/2021

   As the world continues on the road to recovery from the global COVID-19 crisis, its preeminent international relations body already sees the next pandemic on the horizon: source water scarcity.

4. The Shape Of Water, Starring AWWA’s Tracy Mehan 7/6/2021

   If water-industry superstars were celebrated like entertainers, an introduction to G. Tracy Mehan III wouldn’t be necessary. But water, as industry veterans know, doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves … until services are threatened. At that point, as all along, we turn to our water leaders for answers.

5. Public Revelation Of Bay Area Utility Hack Latest In Growing Trend For Drinking Water Systems 7/1/2021

   In the latest shocking breach of critical drinking water infrastructure in the U.S., a hacker was able to access a Bay Area drinking water system’s digital network and attempted to alter effluent quality.

6. Biden’s $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Package Includes Major Water Provisions 6/30/2021

   The framework for an eight-year, $1.2 trillion infrastructure package agreed upon by President Joe Biden and bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate would pave the way for major investment into the country’s water systems.

7. EPA Delays Lead and Copper Rule Revision Again, More Changes Likely 6/28/2021

   After yet another delay on expected updates to the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LRC), drinking water systems across the country have been given a little more time to figure out how to comply with the new version, while consumers are forced to wait for any potential stricter limits to take effect.

8. Non-Flushable Wipes Fall Under Increased Mislabeling Scrutiny 6/23/2021

   Despite the fact that they are often mislabeled as “flushable,” disposable wipes that are used in households and then flushed into wastewater systems are a surprisingly large headache for buried infrastructure and the professionals who maintain it.

9. Pressure Mounts For National PFAS Standards In Drinking Water 6/22/2021

   Recent regulatory developments at the federal level appear to suggest that one of the country’s most notorious drinking water contaminants will soon fall under new scrutiny.

10. Gulf Of Mexico’s 'Dead Zone' Reaching Size Of Connecticut 6/16/2021

    Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released a shocking prediction for the size of a toxic algal bloom in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, typically a peak season for the growth of this source water scourge.