Guest Columns

The Water Coalition Against PFAS, a coalition of water sector associations whose membership represents all facets of clean and safe water delivery, is strongly supporting the reintroduction legislation that would protect utilities and ratepayers from having to bear the costs of PFAS cleanup. The Water SystemsRead More

The North American construction industry is on high alert following a slate of tariff announcements from President Donald J. Trump and the associations that represent various aspects of the construction are reacting. On Feb. 1, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on imported goods from CanadaRead More

Funding for water infrastructure programs including for grants and loans like the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and WIFIA appear to not be affected after the Trump administration last week revoked a memorandum that paused a number of federal spending programs. As part of a memorandumRead More

Lee Zeldin was confirmed by the Senate last week as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by a vote of 56-42 as three Democrats crossed the aisle to support President Donald Trump’s pick for environmental chief. Zeldin served as a NewRead More

In January, Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) sponsored legislation seeking to invalidate the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) through the Congressional Review Act procedure. According to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), which reported on the Palmer bill, the CRA allows a simple majority ofRead More

Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering has been appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to its National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC). His two-year term is effective immediately. “It’s an honor to join this distinguished group of professionals committed to safe and reliable drinkingRead More

The water sector got a brief scare last week when an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office appeared to immediately pause distribution of funds appropriated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA, also knownRead More

On Jan. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft risk assessment of the potential human health risks associated with the presence of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in biosolids, also known as sewage sludge. The findings for the draft riskRead More

By Anne Austin Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plays a critical role in modern infrastructure and everyday life. Used safely for nearly a century, PVC provides essential benefits in applications ranging from water and sewer systems to medical devices, flooring and even automotive components, where it helpsRead More

In December, associations representing the municipal water and wastewater sector submitted a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging his administration to prioritize water infrastructure in his second term. The letter was endorsed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), the AssociationRead More