SOURCE WATER RESOURCES

• From Challenge & Prize Competition To Test Prototype: The Nitrogen Sensor That Could Change Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment

  More than one in five households in the United States depend on septic or onsite systems to treat their wastewater. These systems provide critical water quality infrastructure, but they usually are not designed to remove nitrogen to the point that sufficiently protects coastal marine ecosystems. As a result, septic systems are known to contribute to eutrophication (excess nutrients), hypoxia (low levels of oxygen), and harmful algal blooms in marine and estuarine waters.

• What Is A Purple Pipe?

  For the city of Beaverton, Oregon, the “Beaverton Purple Pipe” is a new water system that routes treated stormwater to irrigate green spaces like parks, school grounds and residential yards. This new program puts stormwater to use that could not otherwise be used, taking less water from the Tualatin River.

• EPA Researchers Explore Technology To Destroy PFAS

  Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS, are a large group of human-made organic compounds with properties that make many of them toxic and persistent in the environment. PFAS have been manufactured and used since the 1940s in items such as fire-fighting foams, adhesives, cosmetics, paper products, and stain and water repellants. Until now, researchers have been unable to destroy PFAS in a way that has potential for larger scale use. 

• Working Toward A More Sustainable Water Future For Tribal Nations

  Dating back to colonial times, Native Tribes in North America have often watched wide-ranging access to the land and water of their forefathers diminish over time. Although various policies and settlements have attempted to restore some of those opportunities, the bottom line is that many of today’s tribal territories do not enjoy the same water quality as adjacent states or communities. A new U.S. EPA action plan is designed to narrow that gap.

• How To Truly Eradicate PFAS From Our Drinking Water

  As so-called “forever chemicals” get more attention from regulators and the public at large, the pressure is on to eliminate these pervasive contaminants — forever.

• A New Perspective On Funding Nonpoint-Source-Pollution Solutions

  While municipal wastewater treatment facilities fight hard to keep waterways clean, other (“nonpoint”) sources contribute greatly to environmental pollution. But there is funding, and now guidance, available to help solve the problem.

• In 2022, Water Quality Gets The Attention It’s Due

  With the funding brought forth by the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed late last year, as well as aggressive policies and regulation to rid water supplies of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lead, 2022 shapes up as the year we finally address our industry’s most troubling and challenging contamination issues in a meaningful way.

• Water Security: The Biggest Challenge

  Fresh water is a vital resource for human life. However, population growth and enhanced living standards, together with the expansion of industrial and agricultural activities, are creating unprecedented demands on clean water supplies all over the world.

• Net-Positive Water Usage: Data Centers And Tech Companies Committing To Change

  Data center operators and many of the world’s largest tech companies are taking steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of water supplies by quantifying water usage, understanding how to assess associated service risks, and developing mitigation plans that will allow them to maintain the reliability of their operations – all while reducing overall water usage.

• Water Witchers: Why Innovation In Water Is Tough As Hell

  Satellites that can detect underground leaks, solar panels to pull water out of air in deserts, wastewater treatment plants in the bottom of high rise buildings that can churn out fertilizer… and hundreds (if not thousands!) of others.