Kevin Westerling Articles

61. 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.

62. 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.

63. AWWA Lights The Way 7/15/2020

    It’s been a helluva year, and we’re barely halfway through it.

64. 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.

65. Water Events Adjust For COVID-19 4/13/2020

    As the world continues to fight the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19, it's no surprise — and indeed vital for the cause — to see events and gatherings of all types get postponed or canceled. The water/wastewater industry is adhering to our collective social-distancing duty by calling off, rescheduling, or reformatting the following conferences, expositions, and meetings.

66. Artificial Intelligence Predicts – And Saves – Your Water Future 3/24/2020

    The digital transformation of water and wastewater utilities may be early-stage, but it is making tremendous impact where applied, and most organizations already have the data at their disposal to improve their local water conditions.

67. West World: Lessons In Future-Focused Utility Management 3/17/2020

    California always seems on the precipice, for better or worse. It can symbolize hope and prosperity — from the fortune seekers of the gold rush to today’s would-be Hollywood stars, it’s the place where a brighter future awaits (or, at least, where the sun always shines). Or, it can portend certain doom — a state on fire, both literally and figuratively, where (over)population and natural disasters eventually coalesce into catastrophe.

68. Rights Of Nature: What's In A Name? 3/9/2020

    Lake Erie was recently denied "human" rights, but the Rights of Nature movement still has potential.

69. 2020 Vision For Water: Better Days Ahead 1/21/2020

    The past year was another trying one for the water industry. With the long tail of the Flint lead crisis carrying into 2019 (and 2020, with Lead and Copper Rule revisions still pending), even more contamination headlines were made with the discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — dubbed “forever chemicals” — in various hotspots across the nation. It even spawned a big-budget movie at year’s end. But 2020, I trust, will be different.

70. EPA Reveals The Key To Clean Water 11/1/2019

    Water and wastewater treatment plant operators may not always love regulators, but they should love what the U.S. EPA water chief had to say about them. Speaking at the “BusinessH20 Water Innovation Summit” in September, the EPA’s assistant administrator for water, Dave Ross, referred to those who clean our country’s drinking water and wastewater as “silent, everyday unsung heroes.” While not as celebrated as others who dedicate themselves to public service, such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers, they are every bit as essential — if not more so.