Water Online Highlights

  1. The Augmented Operator: Navigating The Intersection Of AI And The Water Sector Workforce 4/2/2026

    The water sector is facing a convergence of crises. On one side, an estimated 30–50% of the utility workforce is projected to retire within the next decade, taking with them irreplaceable institutional knowledge. On the other, AI is no longer future technology; it is being deployed today for operations. These two forces are colliding at precisely the moment utilities can least afford disruption.

  2. Wastewater Monitoring Sounds The Alarm On New COVID Variant 4/1/2026

    A newly emerging COVID-19 strain, nicknamed the “Cicada” variant, is raising concern among public health experts. But it’s not just hospitals or test results driving early detection this time. Instead, the first warning signs are flowing through America’s wastewater systems.

  3. The AWWA Said $2.4 Trillion. It Missed The Compound Interest. 4/1/2026

    Einstein once said of compound interest, "He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it." The same logic of compounding applies to the organic sediment accumulating on the floor of your drinking water reservoir. The longer you wait to address it, the more exponentially expensive it becomes to fix.

  4. Engineering Resilience Through Localized Manufacturing 4/1/2026
  5. Winter's Alarmingly Low Snowpack Offers A Glimpse Of The Changing Rhythm Of Water In The Western U.S. 4/1/2026

    The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most important number in western water management, considered a strong proxy for how much water the mountains are holding in reserve. But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.

  6. Understanding The Different Phosphorus Tests 3/30/2026

    In wastewater treatment, phosphorus testing can quickly become confusing. For example, there are three different tests. So, which test was performed? Test results can be displayed in two different forms. So, which form was utilized? Tests can measure both particulate and dissolved phosphorus. So, was the sample filtered?

  7. Why Real Progress On Source Water Protection Requires National Priority 3/30/2026

    Alex Shannon, Senior Vice President at WSP in the U.S., argues that water professionals largely understand what needs to be done — but limited funding, competing priorities, and complex governance slow action, making broad public and political buy‑in essential to truly prioritize and invest in water.

  8. Designing Flexible Infrastructure For An Uncertain Water Future 3/30/2026

    Alex Shannon, Senior VP and West Region Water Business Line Leader at WSP in the U.S., discusses how utilities are responding to rising risks by shifting away from rigid, one‑off solutions and toward modular, lifecycle‑based infrastructure planning that can adapt over time — helping manage costs while staying resilient amid evolving water challenges.

  9. Using Watershed Scale Risk Assessments To Drive Collective Action 3/30/2026

    Karen Frost, Executive Director of The Water Council, highlights how industry associations can use shared Water Body Risk Assessment tools to identify common watershed challenges, prioritize collective pain points, and align technology solutions across multiple facilities for greater regional impact.

  10. Why Source Water Protection Is The Smartest Investment Utilities Can Make 3/30/2026

    Kenan Ozekin, Chief Research Officer at The Water Research Foundation, explains that climate change, emerging contaminants, and land‑use pressures are converging at once — making it far more cost‑effective and impactful to manage risks upstream in the watershed than to treat them later at the drinking water plant.