Articles by: Contributing Author

Implementing Federal Funding for Utilities

Implementing Federal Funding for Utilities

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance August 22, 2022 at 9:28 am

Why It’s Important to Think Strategically, Creatively and Holistically When Working with ARPA, IIJA Funds By Jeff Rowe Utilities are faced with a rare and remarkable opportunity to impact the present-day situation of their users and rate payers while also altering the long-term future ofRead More

As the Akron team continued to refine its treatment strategies, it discovered that optimal treatment 
resulted in less chemical use than they had previously relied upon. Filter performance was also 
substantially improved.

COMMENTARY: How Can Mass Spectrometry Techniques Identify and Curb ‘Forever Chemicals?’

Commentary, Guest Columns August 22, 2022 at 9:27 am

By Craig Butt As government regulators seek to limit per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – which are chemicals linked to a range of health and environmental risks – testing for these chemicals has proven challenging. Called “forever chemicals” because of the extreme resistance to breakdownRead More

The Elusive Win-Win Scenario in Water Utility Consolidation

The Elusive Win-Win Scenario in Water Utility Consolidation

By Jason Mumm Utility systems work better at scale. George Westinghouse demonstrated it to the world in 1896 when his company harnessed hydroelectric generating stations at Niagara Falls to power the entire city of Buffalo with alternating current. Compared to Thomas Edison’s direct current, Westinghouse’sRead More

A Legal History of PFAS

A Legal History of PFAS

Water Management August 8, 2022 at 9:39 am

It took one lawsuit to expose the toxicity of PFAS. And more than two decades of litigation to begin to address the harm it has caused. By Michael DiGiannantonio In 1999, a farmer in West Virginia, Wilbur Tennant, filed the first lawsuit against DuPont forRead More

Extend WIFIA’s Maximum Term…As a First Step

Extend WIFIA’s Maximum Term…As a First Step

Financial Report, Guest Columns, Water Finance August 8, 2022 at 9:17 am

By John Ryan U.S. public infrastructure renewal was never going to be easy, but several current trends suggest that it will soon be even more challenging. Federal infrastructure loan programs are a proven policy tool, and their capabilities should be expanded in specific and practicalRead More

Getting Resilient: City of Phoenix Utilizes Insertion Valve to Strengthen Operations

Getting Resilient: City of Phoenix Utilizes Insertion Valve to Strengthen Operations

Water Loss, Water Management July 18, 2022 at 7:08 am

By Dave Shelton Being responsible for providing safe drinking water to approximately 1.5 million people is no easy task, but the City of Phoenix Water Service Department remains up for the challenge. As part of its ongoing efforts, the water service department is always lookingRead More

Everything You Need to Know about EPA’s New Health Advisories for PFOA, PFOS

Everything You Need to Know about EPA’s New Health Advisories for PFOA, PFOS

Water Management July 11, 2022 at 5:45 am

By Ashley Campbell & Seth Mansergh The EPA recently announced new health advisories for the two most commonly found forms of PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), to 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) and 0.02 ppt, respectively. Reductions in these levels hadRead More

Reducing Water Loss at a World-Class Resort

Reducing Water Loss at a World-Class Resort

Water Loss, Water Management July 8, 2022 at 6:09 am

British Columbia Municipality Takes Proactive Approach to Water Loss, Pairing Inline and External Leak Detection Solutions By Justin Hebner & Chris Wike The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is nestled in the scenic Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. When RMOW was incorporated in 1975,Read More

Examining the Economic Feasibility of Digital Twins

Examining the Economic Feasibility of Digital Twins

Technology Perspectives, Water Management June 27, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Sandra DiMatteo From aging infrastructure and changing environmental regulations to funding gaps and climate-fueled natural disasters, water utilities around the globe face a range of problems in their effort to deliver reliable and affordable water to their communities. Their potential solutions are similarly wide-ranging,Read More

Transmission Line Condition Assessment

Transmission Line Condition Assessment

How Best Practices Discussed in ASCE’s MOP 134 Are Essential to Both Condition Assessment and Asset Management Personnel By George Ruchti In the early morning hours of August 19, 2000, a natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured and ignited in New Mexico killing 12 people campingRead More