WIP Editorial

  1. Is The State Revolving Fund In Jeopardy? 3/31/2025
    For decades, the State Revolving Fund (SRF) has served as a crucial financial backbone for water infrastructure projects across the U.S., providing low-interest loans to states and municipalities to maintain and improve drinking water and wastewater systems. However, recent executive actions from the Trump administration have raised concerns that even long-standing and widely supported programs like the SRF could face fundamental changes, or even outright repeal.
  2. Who Should Own Your Water? The Public vs. Private Utility Debate 3/24/2025
    For decades, policymakers, industry experts, and communities have debated whether water utilities should be publicly or privately owned. Proponents of private water management argue that market-driven efficiencies can lead to better service and infrastructure investment, while advocates for public utilities emphasize the need for affordability, transparency, and public accountability.
  3. Double Belts, Double Suspenders: How El Paso Is Implementing Direct Potable Reuse 3/12/2025
    The city of El Paso, TX, has always known that water is precious. After its public utility, El Paso Water, previously piloted a direct potable reuse (DPR) plant to turn agricultural irrigation wastewater into drinking water, the city is now ready to begin construction of a full-scale, 10-MGD DPR facility.
  4. New Research Could Extend Membrane Life And Lower Desalination Costs 3/6/2025
    As water-scarce regions clamor for answers, developments in membrane anti-scaling bring desalination closer to viability.
  5. Cybersecurity For The Win: How Water Utilities Can Embrace Digital Technology 3/6/2025

    Water and wastewater system operators are known to be a careful lot. Tightly regulated by the U.S. EPA and state agencies — and committed to public health — they cannot afford mistakes. This often results in "tried-and-true" methodologies winning out over innovative solutions, but the incredible upside offered by digital technologies has encouraged a wave of cyber adoption. Almost cruelly, it comes with cyber threats.

  6. Demystifying Data as a Service (DaaS) 2/12/2025

    Like other “as a service” offerings, the idea of data as a service (DaaS) is to take the burden of ownership off the customer. But for many water industry professionals, it can be confusing how that works and where the value lies. To get a better understanding, it helps to break down exactly what this service tends to entail and what problems it aims to solve.

  7. Lead And Copper Rules: Where Are We Now? 2/6/2025

    It’s been several months since the U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) went into effect on Oct. 16, 2024. However, just days prior, on Oct. 8, the EPA approved yet another update, the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). While water utilities knew this was coming, it still introduces a realm of confusion and uncertainty.

  8. Silica Fouling In Reverse Osmosis Systems: Prevention And Treatment 1/29/2025
    The control of silica fouling in reverse osmosis systems is crucial for maintaining system performance efficiency and longevity. It prevents costly downtime and membrane damage. This article provides practical knowledge on silica scaling in RO systems, its challenges, and effective control strategies.
  9. What Should Water Utilities Take Away From The L.A. Wildfires? 1/22/2025

    As Los Angeles struggles with one of the worst wildfires in history, all eyes are on the region’s (and, arguably, the nation’s) water infrastructure. Should California’s water infrastructure have been better prepared to handle the unprecedented demand? Water utilities nationwide are wondering what the turn of events means for them.

  10. What Water Utilities Need To Know About The Challenges Of Water Affordability 1/17/2025

    A report from the U.S. EPA last month reveals the severity of water affordability challenges in the U.S., estimating that between 12.1 million and 19.2 million households lack access to affordable water services. The report outlines the causes, impact, and possible solutions for America's water affordability problems.