WATER INDUSTRY FEATURES, INSIGHTS, AND ANALYSIS
-
PFAS In Pregnant Women's Drinking Water Puts Their Babies At Higher Risk, Study Finds
When pregnant women drink water that comes from wells downstream of sites contaminated with PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” the risks to their babies’ health substantially increase, a new study found. These risks include the chance of low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality.
-
PFAS Settlements: Debunking The Myths And Revealing What's Really At Stake For Water Utilities Misinformation and confusion could prevent some utilities from benefitting from the aqueous film-forming foam multidistrict litigation (AFFF MDL) settlements. Here are five common myths about the AFFF MDL PFAS settlements and how public water systems can make the most of this unprecedented funding opportunity.
-
When Chemistry Meets Water Innovation
Nobel-winning molecular materials are poised to reinvent purification, desalination, and reuse.
-
Solving The World's Microplastics Problem: 4 Solutions Cities And States Are Trying After Global Treaty Talks Collapsed
Microplastics seem to be everywhere — in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. Countries have tried for the past few years to write a global plastics treaty that might reduce human exposure, but the latest negotiations collapsed in August 2025. While U.S. and global solutions seem far off, policies to limit harm from microplastics are gaining traction at the state and local levels.
-
AEC System Proven Effective For Chloride Removal
In two bench-scale tests, a new technology effectively removed up to 99% of chlorides and 97% of total dissolved solids in a single pass. This solution offers a commercially viable alternative to traditional treatment methods.
-
Common Misconceptions Are Keeping Lakes "Sick"
Long-held misconceptions about lake management fuel the intensity and recurrence of harmful algal blooms.
-
Colorado's Subalpine Wetlands May Be Producing A Toxic Form Of Mercury — That's A Concern For Downstream Water Supplies
The wetlands found across the Rocky Mountains of Colorado just below tree line are crucial for regulating the supply of clean water from the highlands to metropolitan regions downslope, including Denver. However, new research shows the wetlands also harbor a health risk.
-
Grand Canyon's Dragon Bravo Megafire Shows The Growing Wildfire Threat To Water Systems
As wildfire crews battled the Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in July 2025, the air turned toxic. A chlorine gas leak had erupted from the park’s water treatment facility as the building burned, forcing firefighters to pull back. The water treatment facility is part of a system that draws water from a fragile spring. The fire also damaged some of the area’s water pipes and equipment.
-
What Are Legionella Log Books And Why Are They Important? Implementing and managing a Legionella control regime can sometimes seem daunting and complex. Invariably, a lot of resources, time, and effort are needed to achieve the required standard and provide assurance to senior management and auditors that controls are effective and those that are not are being managed and rectified appropriately.
-
How ABB's Flow And Digital Technologies Help Bawat With Smarter Ballast Water Compliance
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets strict global standards for ballast water management to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms. For companies like Bawat, a Danish innovator in ballast water management, being able to verify ballast water flow measurements quickly, accurately, and from anywhere in the world is essential.
VIEWS ON THE LATEST REGS
-
With the U.S. EPA's PFAS rules now in place, utilities are finding themselves with a growing number of questions regarding how to treat these chemicals, the potential costs, and much more. For answers, Water Online's chief editor, Kevin Westerling, hosted an Ask Me Anything session featuring Ken Sansone, Senior Partner at SL Environmental Law Group; Kyle Thompson, National PFAS Lead at Carollo Engineers; and Lauren Weinrich, Principal Scientist at American Water.
-
A Q&A to explain and resolve issues confronting water suppliers as they endeavor to comply with the monitoring requirements of federal PFAS regulations.
-
Assessing what lies ahead in the 10-year race to go lead-free, otherwise known as the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).
-
Many water systems are still tackling the challenge of identifying and compliantly managing galvanized and galvanized-requiring-replacement (GRR) service lines.
-
In the most recent edition of Water Innovations, there is not a single article focused on PFAS. That wouldn't be exceptional if not for the fact that discussion around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances has so thoroughly dominated the water space lately. And yet, I penned this as an intro to the edition — just "a tiny bit of PFAS" content — because a small portion of PFAS is of the utmost importance in terms of treatment, policy, and cost.
MORE WATER INDUSTRY FEATURES
-
How GenAI Is Supercharging Digital Transformation For Rural Water Utilities Across The United States
From streamlining data workflows to preserving decades of field knowledge, utilities of all sizes are demonstrating that GenAI isn’t just a technology trend — it’s a workforce enabler.
-
Read more about how Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies evaluated a prime filter with challenging simulant solutions and how the experimental data confirmed superior performance, which demonstrated twice the throughput.
-
In a world where access to clean and safe water is increasingly vital, AquaKnight emerges as the steadfast guardian of clean drinking water in the ongoing battle against PFAS.
-
As public awareness of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) grows, so too does concern over their widespread presence in our water, soil, food, and even our bodies. Rapid, on-site, or remotely operated detection of these “forever chemicals” is a crucial step to understanding the levels of PFAS within our systems.
-
Using ozone and UV advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can help industrial facilities achieve compliance, but what's the right process for your application?
-
Each state’s guidance on the use of statistical analysis (and predictive modeling) varies. Explore the specifics about your state’s guidance to use statistical analysis for no-lead validation and material classification.
-
Engineers and project managers must take a complete cradle-to-grave approach when considering which technologies to implement as well as which vendors to partner with for their PFAS solution.
-
Learn why the U.S. EPA has recognized granular activated carbon (GAC) as a best available technology (BAT) for a wide range of substances within the same system.
-
Advanced side stream filtration protects sensitive cooling infrastructure in data centers, extending membrane life, reducing water and energy use, and preventing costly downtime caused by particulate-loaded cooling water.
-
Constant vs. Proportional Diffusivity In RSSCT: Choosing The Right Model For GAC Performance Testing
When designing adsorption systems for PFAS removal, utilities and engineers increasingly rely on RSSCTs (Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests) to compare the performance of granular activated carbon (GAC) or other sorbents. One often overlooked yet critical assumption in RSSCT modeling is the choice between constant diffusivity and proportional diffusivity. Though both approaches are valid, selecting the right model can significantly impact how well bench-scale results translate to full-scale systems.
-
Traditional chloramine monitoring methods have drawbacks that complicate water treatment. A new sensor can measure multiple parameters, offering operators better process control.
-
This application note will explore how active control programs lower operational costs of compliant contaminant removal.
-
Evaluating the use of activated carbon and other media for water treatment is a crucial step to ensure project goals are achieved.
-
Founded in 1982, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority supplies drinking water to a region of approximately one million people living south of Tampa Bay in DeSoto, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Its surface water treatment plant draws water from the Peace River to a reservoir and treats it to drinking water standards at the rate of about 31 million gallons a day.
-
Reporting noncompliance concerns is crucial to protect research participants, allowing researchers can ensure ethical research conduct and protect the rights and welfare of participants.
-
With the LCRR deadline fast approaching and over 59% of its service lines unverified, Martin County recognized the significant work ahead in preparing to meet the LCRR requirements. The county needed to establish a clear strategy for its compliance program, and to support this effort, it needed an engineering consulting partner with extensive expertise in LCRR.
-
Remote water quality monitoring, a key component to effective crisis response, can mitigate the risk of contaminated source water or distributed water reaching consumers.
-
Ozone is a vital pre-treatment for PFAS mitigation. It oxidizes precursors and co-contaminants, significantly extending the service life of downstream GAC and membrane systems.