CH2M Hill

On the heels of potentially the most widespread cyberattack by a nation state on U.S. water systems in history, DEF CON Franklin and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) have launched the Water Watch Center (WWC).

Recent FBI and EPA warnings about cyberattacks on internet-connected operational technology at U.S. water utilities underscore a broader risk: adversaries systematically hunt for any internet-facing asset an operator has not fully secured.

According to latest research by Growth Market Reports, the global industrial water treatment chemicals market size reached USD 16.4 billion in 2024, reflecting robust demand across a spectrum of industrial sectors.

Rice is the most-eaten food on the planet, and its discarded outer husk results in some 300 billion pounds of waste per year. FIU chemistry researcher Islam Ibrahim Hussein says the inedible castoffs could be the key to cleaner water.

Inspired by naturally-occurring mats and balls of seaweed, researchers have created highly-porous, superadhesive meshes that are capable of capturing both large and small microplastic particles – a longstanding challenge in the field. The mesh can clean microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater and is made from sustainable and widely available biopolymers.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become an increasingly common threat to lakes, rivers and coastal waters across the United States, endangering drinking water supplies, aquatic ecosystems, public health and local economies. Now, researchers at Florida Atlantic University are developing an innovative technology that could help stop these blooms before they spread.