Resiliency Resources

  1. Applying Two Flood Models To Cross-Check And Improve Each Other — And Maybe Saving A Downstream Village In The Process 5/1/2026

    Getting a second opinion is a time-tested piece of wisdom. During a recent project for a municipal water supply utility, we found that this advice also applies to modeling the effects storms have on the municipality’s reservoirs and dams, and the potential flooding impacts downstream of the dams.

  2. 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.
  3. Heavy Rain On Snow Is Testing Aging Dams Across Michigan And Wisconsin — This Is The Future In A Warming World 4/22/2026
    For much of Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as northern Illinois, 2026 has been the wettest March and April on record. The region’s aging water infrastructure was never designed for the volume of water it is facing. That’s a troubling sign for the future, with flooding becoming more common as global temperatures rise.
  4. The Industry Has Money, Technology, And Urgency — So Why Is Nothing Moving Faster? (7 Takeaways From The Water Week 2026 Press Conference) 4/20/2026

    The water industry faces a critical disconnect between available federal funding and project execution. As workforce shortages and regulatory risks accelerate, stakeholders must bridge the communication gap to ensure long-term resilience and infrastructure stability. Hear from Water Online's publisher, Travis Kennedy, about these topics and more that were discussed at Water Week 2026.

  5. A Smarter Path For Small Wastewater Systems 4/7/2026

    Small wastewater facilities face rising risks from aging infrastructure and tightening standards. Rather than pursuing costly total replacements, communities can utilize targeted engineering and process optimization to manage flow variability, reduce energy costs, and ensure long-term affordability.

  6. Winter's Alarmingly Low Snowpack Offers A Glimpse Of The Changing Rhythm Of Water In The Western U.S. 4/1/2026
    The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most important number in western water management, considered a strong proxy for how much water the mountains are holding in reserve. But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.
  7. Keeping Water Safe In A Connected World 3/13/2026
    Water utilities were never designed to sit on the front line of geopolitics or organized cybercrime.
  8. Beyond The SCADA Alarm: Building A Predictive Framework For Water Quality Operations 3/12/2026

    Transitioning from reactive SCADA alarms to predictive water quality frameworks improves operational resilience. By unifying data and automating reporting, utilities can identify emerging risks early, ensuring continuous compliance and more efficient resource management across complex treatment processes.

  9. Cybersecurity Best Practices For Private Utilities 3/11/2026

    Digital connectivity in decentralized water systems creates new vulnerabilities for private utilities. Protecting critical infrastructure requires proactive "cyber hygiene," including network segmentation and rigorous access controls, to ensure operational uptime and prevent unauthorized system interference.

  10. Alaska's Glacial Lakes Are Expanding, Increasing The Risk Of Destructive Outburst Floods 3/10/2026
    After nearly 15 straight years of ever-larger and more damaging floods in Alaska’s capital city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is discussing an ambitious and expensive solution: create a permanent drain from the lake that would prevent it from reaching outburst stage. The initial cost estimates for the project range from US$613 million to $1 billion.