Articles by: Contributing Author

By Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi After a wet start to the year, drought headlines in California have largely faded. However, drought conditions now appear to be intensifying in several western states (e.g., Colorado, Utah, among others), as well as on the East Coast in the Carolinas.Read More

By Jason Mumm The numbers that guide affordability policies in the water sector have been with us for decades. They are 2 percent of the median household income for wastewater, 2.5 percent for drinking water, and 4.5 percent combined; most practitioners have treated them asRead More

By Denise Schmidt The United States is approaching a water infrastructure funding cliff just as a key financing tool is being weakened. State Revolving Funds (SRFs) are one of the most effective infrastructure financing tools in the United States. The revolving nature of SRFs enabledRead More

How Digital Subsurface Insight Can Reshape Water Resilience By Dr. Thomas Krom Today, we are seeing what I call a perfect storm facing water managers. A myriad of challenges are complicating the ability to supply sufficient, affordable water. Changing weather patterns – from prolonged droughtsRead More

Check Out the Hydraulic Institute’s Data Tool for Pump Systems By Isaac Holowell & Peter Gaydon Engineering professionals often find themselves in need of comprehensive pump system information when performing work related to water and wastewater conveyance. The ability to quickly and easily access pumpRead More

Putting Poverty at the Center of the Affordability Discussion By Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi Over the past decade, water and wastewater affordability has emerged as a pressing concern due to rising utility costs and stagnant household incomes. In response, many utilities are trying to incorporate affordabilityRead More

By Kaitlyn Montán On Capitol Hill, water policy continues to be heavily influenced by tightening federal budgets for agencies relevant to the water sector, and intensifying partisan divisions. While the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and other stakeholders have faced a rapidly shifting policyRead More

By Robert F. Powelson & Greg Goodwin Behind every tap delivering safe drinking water stands a skilled professional – and utilities are running out of them. This expectation of reliable, clean water – so fundamental that it’s often taken for granted – relies largely onRead More

By David Weger Utah is facing a delicate balancing act. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, it was the fastest-growing state in the country with a population projected to double by 2060. It is also located in one of the driest regions in the UnitedRead More

By Brendan O’Brien More than a year has passed since the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) compliance deadline, bringing us closer to the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) compliance deadline of Nov. 1, 2027. While some utilities may have shifted their focus awayRead More