Kevin Westerling Articles

61. 10 Technologies And Breakthroughs From ACE16 7/14/2016

    This year's Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE16), held by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) from June 19 to 22, was the first following the tragedy of Flint — a time when the drinking water industry is under intense scrutiny.

62. TSCA Modernization: A Dose Of Common Sense 7/11/2016

    After 40 years, the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has finally been updated, much to the delight of most — but certainly not all.

63. A Game Plan For Water Technology Innovation 6/23/2016

    The Milken Innovation Center at the Jerusalem Institute has mapped out best practices for water industry innovation and a framework for converting ideas into action.

64. Take 5: Movies About Water 6/13/2016

    Last month, I attended a municipal open house that was held just a few miles from the Water Online offices. The scene, like that of a movie, triggered thoughts of Hollywood's take on water issues. Just how many movies have featured water as the central theme? I came up with five.

65. Superpower Of Water Research Takes Flight 6/3/2016

    While two longstanding water research groups are discontinued, from them a bigger and better organization emerges. Get to know the changing face of water research through this Q&A with Melissa Meeker, CEO of the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation.

66. “Taxpayers’ Best Friend” Looks Into Water Technologies 5/10/2016

    The Government Accountability Office recently assessed technologies that can potentially save the U.S. from water stress, focusing on distribution efficiency and the treatment of nontraditional sources. We provide a snapshot of GAO’s findings, including technology pros and cons, “readiness” rates, and levels of adoption.

67. New President, New Vision For Water 5/9/2016

    In the midst of this U.S. presidential race, a thought about Ronald Reagan (apolitical, I promise): Known as the “Great Communicator,” it’s certainly no coincidence that Reagan was an actor before becoming president; and honed communication skills, especially in times of trouble, are vital to effective leadership.

68. The Bible On Effective Utility Management 4/28/2016

    The U.S. EPA and multiple water groups recently gathered during Water Week 2016 in Washington, D.C. to announce updates to an essential guide for effective utility management (EUM). If utilities aren't already familiar with this document, they need to be. 

69. The Future Of Industrial Water Reuse 4/25/2016

    A market expert shines a light on the bright spots and trouble spots for industrial water reuse, revealing who should consider the practice and why.

70. Raising Water Rates: What Message Works Best? 4/5/2016

    I sympathize with water and wastewater utilities. Tasked with more responsibility than ever, too often they aren’t supported with the necessary financial resources. To draw a baseball analogy, apropos for this time of year, it's like trying to win the World Series with minimal payroll (capital improvement funds) and old, broken-down players (infrastructure).