By Doug Scott U.S. water and sewer utilities will see some weakening in their financial profiles over the next several months, effectively reversing a trend of steadily declining leverage in recent years as utilities limited the rate of debt growth and posted robust operating margins. Part of the reason forRead More
By Doug Scott U.S. water and sewer utilities will see some weakening in their financial profiles over the next several months, effectively reversing a trend of steadily declining leverage in recent years as utilities limited the rate of debt growth and posted robust operating margins. Part of the reason forRead More
By Bastien Simeon The pressure to invest in water infrastructure is steadily increasing due to aging assets, more stringent standards, climate change and urbanization, while the global crisis has left many governments and municipalities over-indebted. They are therefore looking to push more responsibility for financing water assets onto the utilities,Read More
When a severe winter storm encroached the state of Texas in February 2021, many residents were left without power, heat and water. As temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, Texas entered a state of emergency and its water infrastructure was compromised. However, the City of Jacksonville, Texas quickly restored water service forRead More
By Andy Yang Numerous industries across the globe are beginning to recognize asset management as a critical and core function of their business operations. Some industries, such as those in oil and gas or nuclear, were early adopters of asset management due to the reliability and productivity it offers. ButRead More
Syrinix has announced it is expanding its distributor network to 11 with California-based D&H Water Systems. The announcement marks the company’s first partnership in the state, enhancing water and wastewater monitoring capabilities in a region severely impacted by unprecedented drought conditions. “At Syrinix, we strive to work with groups thatRead More
By Ken Alessi & Shukri Elmazi The very nature of a pipe burst is that it is unexpected. Crews jump into action and solve the problem as quickly as possible to mitigate damage. Like any emergency, the speed of resolution is often more important than the cost. Utilities are preparedRead More
The City of Santa Monica, California, has taken a significant step toward a self-reliant water future as expansions to the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and restorations to the Olympic Well Field break ground. The key water infrastructure improvements are a component of the city’s goal of becoming water self-sufficientRead More
Water industry veteran Greg Baird is joining water analytics company BlueConduit as its executive director of national lead service line inventory and replacement, the company announced recently. BlueConduit says Baird’s leadership will combine water infrastructure asset management, artificial intelligence modeling and water infrastructure finance to help communities remove lead pipes.Read More
EPA should recognize all drinking water and wastewater systems as eligible recipients of funding under the agency’s new Water Workforce Infrastructure Development Grant Program, four water sector associations wrote in a letter earlier in January. The letter, which was signed by AWWA, NACWA, and WEF, in addition to AWMA, came soonRead More
In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) to establish nationwide monitoring for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium in drinking water. The agency said the action is essential to addressing the public health and environmental risks of PFASRead More
In December, the City of Camarillo, Calif., announced the start-up and commissioning of its North Pleasant Valley (NPV) Groundwater Desalter Plant, moving the city closer to a more self-reliant, affordable potable water future. For nearly two decades, groundwater quality in the northern portion of the Pleasant Valley Groundwater Basin inRead More
By Ken Alessi & Shukri Elmazi The very nature of a pipe burst is that it is unexpected. Crews jump into action and solve the problem as quickly as possible to mitigate damage. Like any emergency, the speed of resolution is often more important than the cost. Utilities are preparedRead More
CDM Smith this week announced the launch of Trinnex, a wholly-owned subsidiary and digital solutions company created specifically to help utilities and infrastructure owners embark on their digital journeys. According to CDM Smith, the company will be focused on developing innovative technology tools and products and helping its clients achieveRead More
NACWA and other water sector organizations sent a letter last week to the Biden Administration regarding implementation of the Buy America, Build America (BABA) requirements that were signed into law as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The letter builds upon concerns the sector raised while IIJA was moving through Congress. While waterRead More
NACWA held a virtual meeting Jan. 6 with U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox and other senior EPA Office of Water staff to discuss implementation issues and distribution of funds from the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The meeting follows a letter that NACWA sentRead More
By Jonathon Meyer The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) revisions that are currently under consideration are anticipated to have far-reaching implications on the capital and operating costs of cities, towns and agencies with lead service lines (LSLs). The full replacement of LSLs will be anRead More
Santa Monica takes landmark step toward water self-sufficiency 
Water industry veteran, WF&M contributor Greg Baird joins BlueConduit 
Water sector groups urge action on new water workforce program 
EPA announces nationwide PFAS monitoring effort 
California city doubles local potable water supply 
