WATER INNOVATIONS CURRENT ISSUE

• Building A Better Water Workforce Starts With People, Not Positions

  A discovery at ACE26 offers practical ideas for attracting, developing, and retaining the next generation of water professionals.
• The Resilient Utility: Why AI Is The New Social Safety Net For Water

  For vulnerable communities, the cost of infrastructure fragility is not just financial; it is existential. By shifting our focus from "smart water" to "resilient water," we can use AI to build a social safety net that protects both our infrastructure and the communities that depend on it.
• Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP): The Invisible Driver Of Biofouling In Water Systems

  A growing body of scientific evidence points to transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) as one of the most important, but frequently overlooked, drivers of biofouling in water systems. Understanding TEP may provide a new perspective on why biofilms develop so rapidly, why some treatment systems foul despite acceptable microbial counts, and why conventional control strategies often struggle to deliver lasting results.
• Brackish Water Desalination: A Strategic Imperative For Sustainable Water Stewardship Across The American Water Landscape

  As droughts intensify, groundwater depletes, and climate extremes worsen, many water-stressed regions are increasingly turning to brackish groundwater desalination, for both potable use and industrial applications where water quality demands are less stringent. Hence, brackish water reserves are emerging fast as a strategic priority, ensuring a supplement for long-term national water security.
• Microbial And Disinfection Byproducts Regulations: Paving The Way For Efficient Compliance

  Given the ongoing regulatory activity in the water industry, it’s hard to imagine another major drinking water rule on the horizon. But the U.S. EPA is planning revisions to the microbial and disinfection byproducts (MDBP) regulations.

• SWAN Corner: From Compliance To Resilience — Practical Lessons In OT Recovery For Water Utilities

  Water and wastewater utilities have become attractive targets for cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors. CISA has repeatedly warned that drinking water and wastewater systems are vulnerable because they often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices. The question is no longer whether your utility will face a cyber incident, but when — and whether you will be ready.

• Why Smart Valves Are About To Redefine Water Infrastructure

  For years, water metering followed a predictable path: manual reads, AMR, AMI, more visibility, more data. But utilities are now entering a different operational reality. Visibility alone no longer protects infrastructure.