Source Water Contamination Resources

  1. EPA Finalizes Risk On 1,4-Dioxane: What Water Utilities Must Know 1/14/2025

    The U.S. EPA recently finalized its revised unreasonable risk determination for 1,4-dioxane under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), concluding that it poses an unreasonable risk to human health, necessitating regulatory action to mitigate these risks. The announcement marks several changes in position on 1,4-dioxane and how water authorities are expected to respond.

  2. How To Keep E-Waste Out Of The Water Cycle 1/13/2025
    Remote wastewater services are available to monitor e-waste contamination in the global water supply. This article explains the problem, details its scope and threat, and presents devices for the monitoring of e-waste in water.
  3. Goodbye Forever After: From Simulations Come Real Promise For PFAS Solutions 1/7/2025
    Chemical simulations powered by artificial intelligence — and a trifecta of companies — may be the beginning of the end for "forever chemicals."
  4. How To Detect More Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria In Our Waterways 12/30/2024
    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in waterways presents a critical threat. If commonly used antibiotics are deemed useless, decades of progress in human medicine and agriculture could be undermined. But AMR is not just a human health issue. It also contributes to a decline in water quality and is exacerbated by water pollution, particularly from sources such as sewage and agricultural runoff.
  5. We Developed A Way To Use Light To Dismantle PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' — Long-Lasting Environmental Pollutants 12/16/2024
    Conventional water treatment methods can remove PFAS from water, but these processes merely concentrate the contaminants instead of destroying them. However, a new photocatalytic system has been developed that directly targets and dismantles the molecular structure of PFAS, holding the potential for complete mineralization.
  6. Warmer Winters Are Fueling A Growth In Algal Blooms Across The Great Lakes 12/16/2024

    While commonly associated with the summer, algal blooms can also persist into the fall. As of late October 2024, blooms were still present along the southern shores of Lake Erie. Some blooms can even become toxic, which are harmful to people and even pets.

  7. Using Spectral Flow Cytometry To Combat Harmful Algal Blooms In Drinking Water 12/3/2024

    EPA researchers are developing new methods to evaluate the treatment of algae and cyanobacteria in drinking water systems. Through this research, scientists are optimizing the use of chemicals to reduce the presence of these organisms and protect the water ecology.

  8. England's Water Companies Now Have To Release Live Sewage Spill Data — Here's Why More Transparency Is The Key To Cleaner Rivers 11/25/2024
    For the first time, anyone in England can now access real-time information of where combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are discharging untreated wastewater into our waterways.
  9. PFAS Unpacked: Experts Answer Questions On EPA Rules, Funding, Treatment, And More 11/7/2024
    With the U.S. EPA's PFAS rules now in place, utilities are finding themselves with a growing number of questions regarding how to treat these chemicals, the potential costs, and much more. For answers, Water Online's chief editor, Kevin Westerling, hosted an Ask Me Anything session featuring Ken Sansone, Senior Partner at SL Environmental Law Group; Kyle Thompson, National PFAS Lead at Carollo Engineers; and Lauren Weinrich, Principal Scientist at American Water.
  10. Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Remedy To Freshwater Scarcity? 11/5/2024
    Groundwater levels and pollution, owing to the rising industrialization rate, have increased drastically across the world. To address these issues, many government policies and stringent regulatory norms for industries have been structured, leading to growing prospects for the industrial wastewater treatment market.