Kevin Westerling Articles
-
Powering Up: Perspective On America’s Infrastructure Plan
9/7/2021
Envisioning an America where every community has access to clean water and resources to live a quality life is pretty powerful — and it is enough inspiration to power a transformation that could make America’s future much stronger.
-
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.
-
How To Address Your (Water) Sensitivity
5/3/2021
As I monitor the daily flow (pardon the pun) of water-industry news, product launches, and initiatives for special coverage on Water Online and in Water Innovations, a basic investigative question is “Who is this intended for?” When the opportunity arose to interview Gemma Dunn, the integrated water management service line coordinator with GHD North America, about GHD’s new Water Sensitive Cities Index, I soon came to a new question: What city isn’t water sensitive?
-
Pride And Joy: Water Leadership Defined
3/8/2021
Despite overseeing our most precious resource, water professionals often go unnoticed, and hence unappreciated. To that end, it’s my pleasure to highlight the efforts, accomplishments, and insights of industry leaders such as Joy Eldredge, chair of the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association.
-
Sustainability In Times Of Stress — A 'Bottom Line' Endeavor
1/13/2021
What's your company’s “bottom line?” If “sustainable water management” is your first answer, you probably work in municipal water.
-
Fresh Perspective For The Water Workforce
11/10/2020
Nicole A. Blanco was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She learned early in life that she had a passion for engineering and science, which she eventually channeled into a career in water. Nicole was the first in her family to obtain a college degree, then proceeded to break down barriers in an industry sorely in need of — and yearning for — operational innovation and evolution. As you will surely find through the following Q&A, the water sector needs more like her, and we hope her story provides inspiration to both aspiring young professionals and future mentors.
-
Now More Than Ever, It’s Time To Embrace 'Smart Water'
9/16/2020
The digital revolution is well underway across business, industry, and culture, but water utilities have some catching up to do. Utilities are not necessarily known for trailblazing new ideas and technologies, but that’s not a criticism; far from it, in fact. Water providers often prefer the tried and true for a very sound reason — the lives of their customers depend on their success. However, the jury is no longer out on the advantages of going digital, and the time to flip the switch is now.
-
What Do You Know, Cisco? Insight On Smart Water And IoT
9/15/2020
Cisco Systems is one of the most recognizable company names in networking, likely known to most water and wastewater utility personnel, but their visibility and relevance in the water space — with the onset of digitalization and the Internet of Things (IoT) — has even more room to grow. Cisco's technologies and expertise position the company to take a leading role as ‘smart water' becomes the norm.
-
AWWA Lights The Way
7/15/2020
It’s been a helluva year, and we’re barely halfway through it.
-
Utilities Pass The Ultimate Test
5/12/2020
The water and wastewater industry proved its resilient and essential nature in the face of a world crisis.