WATER INNOVATIONS CURRENT ISSUE
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A new study linking certain groundwater sources to higher Parkinson’s risk underscores a broader question for the water sector: how environmental exposures in drinking water may influence long-term health.
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Currently, water infrastructure is outdated and fragile, prone to breakages and leaks. Reactive approaches to water infrastructure are only implemented after an incident and are more expensive than simple maintenance fixes. Geotechnical Internet of Things (IoT) devices enable water and wastewater industry professionals to identify and address issues before they escalate into catastrophic events.
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Water utilities were never designed to sit on the front line of geopolitics or organized cybercrime.
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Aeration control strategies often remain conservative and static. Blowers operate continuously, oxygen levels are maintained near maximum, and airflow rates are rarely adjusted in response to real-time biological demand. The result is widespread over-aeration — a condition that does not improve treatment performance but significantly increases operating costs.
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Water and wastewater utilities are under pressure. Aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, and a retiring workforce are just a few of the challenges they face. Where do utilities turn for solutions? While technology solutions and new tools take center stage, a critical piece is often overlooked: the people.
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Traditional gravity sewers rely on large-diameter mains, deep trenches, and often multiple lift stations — elements that carry significant capital and restoration costs, particularly in rural or rugged terrain. To improve cost efficiency and sustainability, many municipalities are adopting decentralized collection systems such as Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) systems, Septic Tank Effluent Gravity (STEG) systems, and liquid-only sewers.
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The growing demand for water across a variety of sectors combined with the increasingly understood complexity of emerging contaminants is creating a dynamic marketplace for filtration media. The goal of selecting the right filtration media is not to meet minimum standards but to achieve the right balance of performance, durability, and operational simplicity to ensure long-term compliance and cost-effective operation.
WASTEWATER
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Sustainable Wastewater Solutions For Today's Challenges3/13/2026
Traditional gravity sewers rely on large-diameter mains, deep trenches, and often multiple lift stations — elements that carry significant capital and restoration costs, particularly in rural or rugged terrain. To improve cost efficiency and sustainability, many municipalities are adopting decentralized collection systems such as Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) systems, Septic Tank Effluent Gravity (STEG) systems, and liquid-only sewers.
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Rethinking Aeration: Demand-Based DO Control And Energy Optimization3/13/2026
Aeration control strategies often remain conservative and static. Blowers operate continuously, oxygen levels are maintained near maximum, and airflow rates are rarely adjusted in response to real-time biological demand. The result is widespread over-aeration — a condition that does not improve treatment performance but significantly increases operating costs.
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National Wastewater Surveillance System Funding Appears Secure For 20262/23/2026
The U.S. National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2020, appears to have averted a funding crisis when U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, into law on Feb. 3, 2026.
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Liquid-Only Sewers: A New Approach To Decentralized Wastewater Collection1/14/2026Traditional sewer systems, while effective, often require significant capital investment, invasive implementation measures, and complex maintenance. As a result, innovative decentralized wastewater solutions are necessary to address the needs of communities or commercial areas in need of wastewater service. One such solution is the liquid-only sewer (LOS) system.
UTILITY MANAGEMENT
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How Water Utilities Can Foster Change — And Prioritize People3/13/2026
Water and wastewater utilities are under pressure. Aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, and a retiring workforce are just a few of the challenges they face. Where do utilities turn for solutions? While technology solutions and new tools take center stage, a critical piece is often overlooked: the people.
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2026 Predictions: The Next Frontier Of Water Starts Now1/15/2026Emerging trends signal a new era of agility, ethics, and resilience for water professionals.
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From Data To Decisions: AI's New Role In Water Management10/30/2025Engineers are turning to AI to cut weeks of work into hours and sharpen critical decisions.
INFRASTRUCTURE
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Geotechnical IoT Shifts Water Infrastructure From Reactive To Predictive3/13/2026
Currently, water infrastructure is outdated and fragile, prone to breakages and leaks. Reactive approaches to water infrastructure are only implemented after an incident and are more expensive than simple maintenance fixes. Geotechnical Internet of Things (IoT) devices enable water and wastewater industry professionals to identify and address issues before they escalate into catastrophic events.
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Making Unplanned Downtime A Myth: Why Water Utilities Should Move From Time-Based To Condition-Based Maintenance1/13/2026Many utilities still default to time-based maintenance, servicing equipment by the calendar or hours of operation of the equipment. It’s simple, but it often creates two expensive outcomes: over-maintenance and surprise failures. A smarter path is condition-based maintenance.
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The Hidden Costs Of Legacy Operational Technology10/30/2025
Water and wastewater utilities can get stuck in a cycle of upgrading their legacy operational technology systems. Here’s how to break that cycle.
SOURCE WATER
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Filtration Media For Municipal, Industrial, And Landscape Water Treatment: Legacy And Novel Technologies3/13/2026
The growing demand for water across a variety of sectors combined with the increasingly understood complexity of emerging contaminants is creating a dynamic marketplace for filtration media. The goal of selecting the right filtration media is not to meet minimum standards but to achieve the right balance of performance, durability, and operational simplicity to ensure long-term compliance and cost-effective operation.
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What Is Bathymetric Modeling? And How Can It Protect Ecosystems While Saving Resources?1/14/2026
Bathymetric modeling maps underwater terrain. It also helps guide planning, prevent hazards, and build climate-resilient infrastructure.
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Common Misconceptions Are Keeping Lakes "Sick"9/5/2025
Long-held misconceptions about lake management fuel the intensity and recurrence of harmful algal blooms.
DRINKING WATER
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Setting Global Standards: Inside North America's Only Full-Scale UV Disinfection Validation Facility1/15/2026Portland's industry-leading facility reaches 100 reactor validations in 23 years.
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3 Nanotech Breakthroughs Revolutionizing Water Purification Worldwide10/30/2025From graphene membranes to metal nanoparticles, nanotechnology is reshaping water purification with faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient solutions.
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A Comprehensive Guide To Phosphate Feed System Design For Drinking Water Applications9/5/2025
Phosphate dosing systems are critical for corrosion control, and increasingly important under the mandate of Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
FUNDING AND REVENUE
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Public-Private Water Partnerships: Proactive Strategies For Industrial Water Challenges10/30/2025One of the most pressing challenges facing utilities today is how to effectively respond to surging industrial demands while managing costs and maintaining established levels of service to existing customers. Thanks to new funding sources and drivers such as AI, the landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Industries such as data centers and semiconductors are consuming massive volumes of water to support cooling and manufacturing — and creating equally daunting challenges on the wastewater front.
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How To Set Realistic Targets To Reduce Non-Revenue Water5/2/2025
Data-gathering is key to goal-setting, and is achievable in 5 steps.
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Modern Solutions For Aging Water Systems: AMI And Beyond1/7/2025
Lessons from two communities on the benefits of advanced metering infrastructure.
MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL
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Keeping Water Safe In A Connected World3/13/2026
Water utilities were never designed to sit on the front line of geopolitics or organized cybercrime.
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Why Haven't Field Tests For Lead In Water Gone Mainstream?1/15/2026Given the maturation of sensor technology, the scientific and operational hurdles to portable lead analysis are somewhat surprising — but surmountable.
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How To Strengthen Your Flow Monitoring Strategy … Before The Next Overflow10/30/2025
Strategic flow monitoring helps wastewater utilities curb overflows, cut costs, and safeguard public health by turning accurate data into proactive action.
REUSE
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How Santa Monica Became A Sustainable Water Leader7/3/2025Lessons in urban water management through water conservation, capture, and reuse.
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How Water Reuse Projects Are Addressing Water Scarcity In The West — And Beyond3/6/2025As water scarcity becomes a stark reality around the globe, more municipalities, water utilities, and industrial enterprises are exploring water reuse projects and adopting regulations to support them. Fundamentally, water reuse can help drought-proof regions and diversify water supply portfolios with recycled water.
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How Capturing Rain Can Contribute To Environmental Safety1/7/2025There are many ways to capture stormwater — whether as a homeowner, business, or municipality — and even more benefits.
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Pioneering Recycling Program Quenches California's Thirst For Agricultural Water10/31/2024With its innovative Harvest Water program, the Sacramento Area Sewer District supports Central Valley growers, thereby supporting the nation.
FROM THE EDITOR
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When Drinking Water Raises Bigger Questions About Brain Health And Environmental Risk3/13/2026
A new study linking certain groundwater sources to higher Parkinson’s risk underscores a broader question for the water sector: how environmental exposures in drinking water may influence long-term health.
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Down And Dirty With Digital: How AI Enhances Water Infrastructure Fieldwork1/14/2026
Fieldwork is at the heart of infrastructure expansion and rehabilitation, as utilities, engineers, and contractors collaborate to build the systems and structures that treat and move water. The opportunity is great, but so are the challenges. Which is why new, digitally-enhanced tools are needed.
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When Chemistry Meets Water Innovation10/30/2025
Nobel-winning molecular materials are poised to reinvent purification, desalination, and reuse.
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Securing Smart Water9/5/2025
The digital transformation of utilities is necessary and inevitable but also innately vulnerable to bad actors. It's time to discuss prioritizing cybersecurity.
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A New Power Paradigm For Wastewater Utilities?7/3/2025
Renewable energy is great for the environment. Are power purchase agreements great for wastewater treatment operations?