Articles by: Contributing Author

AMWA: Final Lead and Copper Rule Contains Big Changes

AMWA: Final Lead and Copper Rule Contains Big Changes

By Diane VanDe Hei After years of development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its long-awaited revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in the Federal Register on Jan. 15, 2021, beginning the ticking of two simultaneous clocks: 60 days until the newRead More

The Greatest Water Transfer in History

The Greatest Water Transfer in History

Water Management December 21, 2020 at 8:00 am

By Michael Warady Our country is currently in the midst of the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind – not in 10 or 20 years – but today. Much has been written about the Silver Tsunami, roughly defined as the wave ofRead More

The Data Core: How Utilities Can Optimize Operations by Concentrating Data

The Data Core: How Utilities Can Optimize Operations by Concentrating Data

Water Management December 18, 2020 at 3:43 pm

By Gary Wong Water and wastewater utilities have often been viewed as lagging other sectors when it comes to maximizing the use of data within their organizations. That is not to say that the sector lacks data: SCADA systems collect and store data at intervalsRead More

Activity 540 SBM provides CRS credit for inspections of storage basins. Credit: LAN.

Integrating Asset Management and the Community Rating System

Water Management December 18, 2020 at 2:07 pm

By Tak Makino Asset Management Infrastructure asset management is gaining widespread acceptance as a best management practice. Simply put, infrastructure asset management is the set of practices that balance the costs of operations and maintenance of public infrastructure with desired levels of service and a tolerableRead More

How Will Water Affordability be Defined for the Next 20 Years?

How Will Water Affordability be Defined for the Next 20 Years?

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance December 9, 2020 at 8:00 am

The EPA has a chance to listen and implement water industry leaders’ recommendations on affordability using new data, methods, metrics and digital technologies. Here’s a review of submitted comments to the EPA on its proposed affordability guidance updates.  By Greg Baird In the United States,Read More

Gaining Visibility with AMI: Texas Utility Tackles Smart Metering Project

Gaining Visibility with AMI: Texas Utility Tackles Smart Metering Project

AMR/AMI, Water Management November 30, 2020 at 10:19 am

By Zeb Wright Like many municipalities and utilities around the county, Faulkey Gully Municipal Utility District (MUD) knew they had an aging infrastructure that needed to be addressed. The utility, which serves a rapidly developing suburb northwest of Houston, knew that the meter system was nearingRead More

Closing the Funding Gap: Finance Considerations for Today & Tomorrow

Closing the Funding Gap: Finance Considerations for Today & Tomorrow

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance November 30, 2020 at 10:13 am

By Ian Lancaster & Katie Cason The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic volatility cast a blanket of uncertainty over many industries, causing key stakeholders — from investors to business leaders — to assess the shifting landscape and long-term implications for various sectors. For the water/wastewater infrastructure sector,Read More

The Key to Thwarting Non-Revenue Water? Understanding It

The Key to Thwarting Non-Revenue Water? Understanding It

Water Finance, Water Loss, Water Management November 16, 2020 at 11:33 am

By Jeff McCracken Non-revenue water loss is among the biggest challenges facing the water industry and the world. Nearly one-third of all water, amounting to $39 billion annually, is lost before it ever reaches a customer, according to a report from Frost & Sullivan. Water scarcityRead More

Non-Revenue Water: An Opportunity for Water Utilities, Now More than Ever

Non-Revenue Water: An Opportunity for Water Utilities, Now More than Ever

Technology Perspectives, Water Loss, Water Management November 2, 2020 at 9:44 am

By Travis Smith It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the water industry. Revenue shortfalls from a decline in commercial and industrial water use and some residential customers struggling to pay bills are affecting utilities across the country. The service must goRead More

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Power of the P3: Buffalo, Veolia Partnership Results in System Efficiency

Private Financing / P3s, Water Management October 22, 2020 at 8:45 am

By Keith Oldewurtel In the United States, water and wastewater utilities are managing many challenges, with the EPA estimating that addressing the nation’s water infrastructure needs will cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next several decades. Faced with increasing water quality initiatives, limitedRead More