Kevin Westerling Articles
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World Water Day Meets Thanksgiving
3/20/2018
How does one observe World Water Day? The occasion certainly sounds important, but ask your typical treatment plant operator if he or she knows the World Water Day date (March 22nd), or even that it exists, and a shrug of the shoulders might be a common response. Perhaps the busy job of providing us the precious resource prohibits them from celebration — so let's celebrate them instead.
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Climate-Ready Or Not?
3/14/2018
There are many positive changes on the horizon for the water and wastewater industry — new ideas and technologies that should enable more efficient and reliable operations, better water quality, and cost savings — but the forecast for the future is not all sunshine. There are some storm clouds brewing, literally, and water system managers need to prepare for the impact of severe rains.
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Lessons From DC Water’s Rock Star, George Hawkins
1/31/2018
In just eight years at DC Water, which provides drinking water, sewage collection, and sewage treatment in Washington, D.C., serving more than 600,000 residents, George Hawkins transformed the utility from insular and guarded to open and innovative.
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U.S. Water Strategy: Think Locally, Act Globally
1/24/2018
A new plan has been created by the U.S. government to bring safe drinking water, sanitation services, sustainability, and resiliency to the world’s most water-stressed countries, with benefits for the U.S. as well.
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American Water: Defining Our Challenges, Devising Solutions
11/29/2017
As the lead troubleshooter and innovator for water systems serving communities across the U.S., American Water’s Dr. Benjamin Stanford is in position to effect more change than most in the water industry. What issues draw his attention, and how might they be fixed? This edition of our “Water Champions” series looks at the biggest of water challenges.
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Hopes And Fears For Our Water Legacy
11/10/2017
The world’s largest annual water quality event provides the setting for a public display of water affection — and anxiety.
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10 Water-Tech Winners From WEFTEC 2017
10/25/2017
For the second straight year, the Water Environment Federation Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) came to McCormick Place in Chicago, returning also to the city which launched WEFTEC 90 years ago. As always, it was a showcase of the latest technologies and ideas available in the water/wastewater industry, but each show also has its own "feel" that reflects the times.
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Calling Out The EPA On Water Issues
10/12/2017
Everyone must answer to someone — even the rule-makers themselves. While it may seem to water and wastewater utilities that the U.S. EPA is the end of the line, there is yet another government agency that holds the EPA's feet to the fire.
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The Fall Of Water Quality: Blame It On The Leaves
9/7/2017
As sweater weather approaches, it’s a good time to revisit a USGS report from last year highlighting the importance of leaf removal for keeping phosphorus and nitrogen out of urban stormwater.
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4 Steps For Controlling Water Loss At Small Utilities
8/29/2017
The bigger water utilities have the resources, but small utilities face many of the same problems — namely failing pipeline infrastructure and water loss. So what are the solutions and best practices within small utilities’ grasp? One small utility shared its successful approach to controlling water loss as guidance for those with similar struggles.