Kevin Westerling Articles

  1. D.C. Circuit Upholds EPA's Hazardous Substance Designation For PFOA, PFOS 8/24/2026

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently rejected industry challenges to the EPA's designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, leaving the agency's April 2024 rule fully intact. While the case centered on the EPA's authority to make the designation, its practical significance for water utilities is simpler: the liability concerns that have accompanied the rule since its adoption remain unresolved.

  2. What State Hard Water Rankings Reveal About Utility Operations 8/11/2026

    Water hardness is not regulated as a drinking water contaminant and is generally not considered a public health concern, yet it remains one of the most visible aspects of water quality for customers and one of the most misunderstood.

  3. Water System Attacks Prompt Call For Stronger Cybersecurity Standards 8/6/2026

    Recent cyberattacks targeting more than 30 Minnesota community water systems have renewed scrutiny of cybersecurity preparedness across the water sector and intensified calls for stronger federal oversight and standards.

  4. Beyond Compliance: The Utilities Setting A New Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Standard 7/17/2026

    Every year, drinking water utilities across the U.S. publish Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), the federally required reports designed to inform customers about the quality of their drinking water. While utilities have generally succeeded in meeting regulatory requirements, communicating that information in a clear, accessible, and engaging way has proven more challenging.

  5. Building A Better Water Workforce Starts With People, Not Positions 7/10/2026
    A discovery at ACE26 offers practical ideas for attracting, developing, and retaining the next generation of water professionals.
  6. An Attendee's Guide To ACE26 6/12/2026
    What to expect, where to focus, and how to get the most from AWWA’s flagship water event.
  7. World Cup 2026: A Stress Test For U.S. Water Utilities 6/10/2026
    As the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the U.S. this summer, most attention will be on transportation, security, and stadium readiness. But the bigger strain will be less visible: water and wastewater systems.
  8. Turning AMI Data Into Better Customer Service 5/18/2026

    For decades, the relationship between a water utility and its customers was simple. As water flows, the bills go out, and sometimes complaints come back. Customers had little visibility into how much water they were actually using on a day-to-day basis, and utilities had limited tools to give them any. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has long since changed that equation. 

  9. Water Infrastructure Has A New Bottleneck — And It's Not Money 5/1/2026
    Billions have been approved, but millions remain idle. The EPA's new report on earmarks sheds light on the logjam.
  10. What Is The Future Of Source Water Protection? 4/28/2026
    Water utility managers and municipal leaders have long struggled amid the convergence of several threats to public water supplies. During a recent Water Online Live event, I sat with a panel of industry experts to examine the transition from reactive crisis management to a proactive, adaptive resilience framework.