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EPA Launches Initiative to Strengthen Support for Water Systems, Maximize Impact to Ensure Clean, Sa

Published On 3/4/2026

The EPA launched the RealWaterTA initiative on March 4, 2026. It's a "back-to-basics" approach to strengthen support for drinking water and wastewater systems, focusing on public health, compliance, and real-world results through best-practice services like engineering and financial management.

Published On 3/4/2026

EPA, DOJ, and Washington settled with over 100 parties for a $668M, 10-year cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site in Seattle. The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (Boeing, Seattle, King County) will perform the work, which involves dredging and capping.

Published On 2/28/2026

EPA added PFHxS‑Na to the Toxics Release Inventory, requiring facilities to track and report its use or release starting in 2026. With a 100‑lb threshold, the move expands PFAS transparency to 206 chemicals and strengthens community access to pollution information.

Published On 2/27/2026

EPA is defending its 10‑year mandate to replace all lead service lines, citing legal authority, feasibility, and the failure of corrosion control. Full replacement, including private‑side pipes, is deemed essential to protect public health and eliminate lead risks.

Published On 2/20/2026

PA is now leading the federal response to the Potomac Interceptor collapse, which spilled over 240 million gallons of sewage into the river. The agency is coordinating repairs, oversight, and cleanup with DC Water to protect public health and regional water supplies.

Published On 2/20/2026

NTP’s fluoride findings stem from high‑fluoride groundwater, not controlled U.S. fluoridation levels. Cotruvo argues misinterpretation is driving policy backlash, stressing that evidence doesn’t show risks at ~0.7 mg/L and that U.S. studies are still needed.

Published On 2/20/2026

A new PNAS paper claims PFAS‑tainted drinking water harms infants, but it lacks exposure data and relies on assumptions about groundwater flow. Critics argue the study overstates risk, ignores real‑world PFAS levels, and shouldn’t guide policy without stronger evidence.

Published On 2/20/2026

A study of 20 water kiosks found some RO‑treated vending machines dispensed water with lead above health guidelines due to corrosion of “lead‑free” brass parts. While PFAS and microbes were removed, weak regulation leaves kiosk water less protected than tap water.

Published On 2/13/2026

PFAS are persistent “forever chemicals” found in water, soil, and air, linked to cancer and immune, developmental, and hormonal harm. EPA’s new rules set strict limits, require monitoring, and drive costly treatment upgrades as utilities work to remove and manage PFAS contamination.

Drilling Up From the Depths

Published On 3/10/2026

Crews tunneled 260 feet below Lake Ontario to build Toronto’s new Ashbridges Bay outfall. Southland Mole used compact Brokk demolition robots to safely drill upward to 50 risers, keeping workers out of danger during six months of intense overhead excavation.

Published On 3/10/2026

Holiday Pines WRF in St. Lucie County earned a 2024 DEP Operations Excellence Award for its strong process control, dedicated operators, and recent expansion to 0.6 mgd. The team’s tight lab work, cross‑training, and SCADA oversight ensure high‑quality reclaimed water.

Published On 2/28/2026

Microbial electrochemical technologies can recover energy and nutrients from wastewater, generating electricity and fertilizer while improving sanitation. Researchers say METs could support circular water systems and expand treatment access, though regulatory and engineering hurdles remain.

Published On 2/28/2026

Environmental groups are suing New York City over its plan to chlorinate combined sewer overflows into Flushing Creek, arguing the approach is ineffective and introduces new chemical risks. They seek a full Environmental Impact Statement and evaluation of alternatives that reduce sewage volume rather than mask pollution.

Published On 2/20/2026

Modern wastewater streams overwhelm old headworks, making advanced inlet screening essential. New adaptive, low‑maintenance screens and source‑point auger systems cut clogs, protect downstream assets, reduce labor, and boost resilience during peak wet‑weather flows.

Published On 2/20/2026

PFAS‑driven land‑application bans in New England are straining biosolids management as landfill and incineration options shrink. NEBRA warns of looming capacity shortfalls, rising costs, and urges regional planning, better policy, and exploration of new technologies.

Maintaining Flow in the Frozen North

Published On 3/10/2026

Nunavut’s Rankin Inlet rebuilt its failing 1970s utilidor despite Arctic cold, permafrost, and extreme logistics. Dillon Consulting upgraded pumps, insulation, and manholes, preventing contamination and boosting capacity for reliable water and sewer service.

Published On 2/28/2026

Green Team Building Services, led by James Terry, specializes in South Florida's water/wastewater systems where private issues affect public networks. They provide cleaning, inspection, and repair to diagnose and resolve private-side problems (like grease clogs) that impact municipal assets downstream.

Listening for Water Losses

Published On 2/22/2026

Castle Rock Water loses over 160 million gallons a year, so the utility piloted hydrant.AI acoustic sensors to detect leaks early. The AI “listens” for anomalies, helping shift from reactive repairs to proactive fixes and protecting scarce Colorado water supplies.

Published On 2/20/2026

Water utilities face rising NRW due to aging systems and climate stress. IoT enables real‑time leak detection, accurate metering, pressure control, and predictive maintenance, but high costs, technical limits, and workforce challenges slow adoption.

Published On 2/20/2026

U.S. utilities lose trillions of gallons and billions in revenue to NRW. Aging systems, funding gaps, and staffing shortages worsen leaks. Digital tools, maintenance, audits, and partnerships help utilities cut losses, improve efficiency, and protect customers.

Published On 2/20/2026

Produced water volumes are soaring, driving a fast‑growing treatment market. Water scarcity, strict regulations, rising disposal costs, and ESG pressure are pushing industries toward reuse. New AI‑driven and advanced treatment technologies are accelerating large‑scale adoption.

Published On 2/28/2026

The JD Power 2026 Utility Digital Experience Study reveals a split: high-satisfaction mobile apps (654) are missing from 28% of utilities. Overall satisfaction rose to 616, but customers still struggle to find pricing and rebate information.

Published On 3/10/2026

Sewer systems are central to flood prevention, and drain technicians play a critical role by inspecting, maintaining, repairing, and upgrading stormwater infrastructure. Their work keeps pipes clear, boosts system resilience, and prevents sewage overflows during heavy rain.

Published On 3/10/2026

St. Francis Public Schools earned MMSD’s Green Luminary Award after transforming three campuses with native plants, rain gardens, and bioswales. The upgrades manage 280,000 gallons of stormwater, reduce runoff to Lake Michigan, and create outdoor learning habitats.

Inspired by Stormwater

Published On 2/28/2026

Gaithersburg, MD, launched an art contest during the pandemic where residents painted storm drains. This G-PARC initiative teaches diverse community members about stormwater management, pollution's impact on the Chesapeake Bay, fosters engagement, and is a recognized best practice.

Don't Accept Injury Risk

Published On 3/10/2026

Line‑of‑fire behaviors cause most workplace injuries. In 2023, 5,283 U.S. workers died from traumatic incidents, with far more lost to occupational disease. OSHA’s Fatal Four—falls, electrocution, struck‑by, and caught‑in/between—remain leading killers. Complacency, shortcuts, and ignored hazards drive preventable risks.

Published On 3/10/2026

Gulf states rely on more than 400 desalination plants for most of their drinking water, but the 2026 Iran–U.S.–Israel conflict has brought missile and drone strikes dangerously close to key facilities. Damage to plants in the UAE and Kuwait highlights how war threatens water security

Published On 3/10/2026

Chrome tanning loses large amounts of reusable chromium, which conventional precipitation turns into hazardous sludge. A modular recovery system using segregated streams, pretreatment, and regenerable silica‑gel adsorption captures Cr³⁺ for reuse, cutting waste and costs.

Published On 3/10/2026

Agentic AI offers water utilities specialized “co‑pilot” agents for data, modeling, coding, and orchestration, but operators overwhelmingly prefer human‑in‑the‑loop control. Focused AI teams can enhance leak detection, planning, customer service, and training without replacing operators.

Published On 2/28/2026

U.S. utilities lose 2.7 trillion gallons and $6.4B annually to non‑revenue water. Aging infrastructure, limited staff, and inconsistent auditing worsen losses. Utilities are adopting digital tools, maintenance, standards, and partnerships to cut leaks and improve efficiency.

Published On 2/28/2026

Energy now accounts for up to 40% of utility OPEX, pushing water and wastewater systems toward digital optimization. New analysis projects $135.5B in digital energy‑saving tools by 2030, with the biggest gains from pump optimization, aeration control, and load shifting.

Looking for Life Member Photos

Published On 10/20/2017

Looking for Life Member Photos

Published On 2/28/2026

The Water Council’s 2026 Tech Challenge seeks AI‑native water innovations at TRL 3+, offering up to $10K, expert feedback, and partnership opportunities. Global applicants must show AI‑driven advances in sensing, treatment, movement, recovery, or management of water systems.

Published On 2/20/2026

Boulder’s annual Children’s Water Festival brings 800–1,000 fourth and fifth graders together for hands‑on water education. With 20+ interactive sessions, STEM assemblies, and community volunteers, the event teaches kids where their water comes from and how they can help protect it.

Published On 2/7/2026

Mars once had abundant water, but Hubble and MAVEN data show it escaped to space as hydrogen and deuterium leaked from a turbulent, rapidly changing atmosphere. By tracking these escape rates, scientists reconstructed Mars’ wet past and gained insights that also help predict how Earth‑like planets evolve.

Murder in the Aeration

Published On 7/30/2025

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-aeration-john-seldon/1144866808

FW&PCOA Program Catalog

Program Catalog

Published On 5/21/2020

This is a news item publicizing online training offered by the association.

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