2026 Drinking Water Outlook – A Pivotal Year

Looking back at 2025, the word “uncertainty” resonates with me as I reflect upon regulations that remain under judicial review, economic trends that contribute to elevated project costs, and potential opportunities and challenges that Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings.  As we turn our attention to 2026, the focus shifts from uncertainty to preparation. Our goal is to help our clients anticipate what’s coming, Read More

Minnesota Researchers Explore New Way to Remove PFAS from Groundwater 

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (U of M) may have discovered a new practical and cost-effective way to clean up PFAS-contaminated groundwater. PFAS (per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are human-made substances that don’t easily break down and can accumulate in drinking water and the environment.   The U of M study tested a polymer-stabilized Read More

New Dashboard Shares Lead Service Line Inventory Data  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a new dashboard that is full of information from each State’s lead service line inventory under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.   The data compiled in the initial inventories indicate there are fewer lead service lines nationwide than previously estimated by USEPA. The updated estimate is four million lead service lines, which is five million less than the original estimate of nine million.   To Read More

Updated Definition of Waters of the United States Open for Public Comment   

An updated “common-sense” definition for what the phrase “waters of the United States” means under the Clean Water Act (CWA) has been proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The proposal follows the Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency in favor of Idaho landowners who sued USEPA over its CWA interpretation that classified the Sacketts’ property as a wetland.  The key proposed revisions to the WOTUS Read More

Proposed Changes Aim to Reduce PFAS Reporting Burden 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has announced a proposal to improve its perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The goal of the proposed changes is to make the reporting requirements more practical and implementable.  The update aims to improve a Biden Administration era PFAS reporting and recordkeeping regulation under TSCA section 8(a)(7) that required manufacturers and importers of PFAS to Read More

New Cybersecurity Tools for Water Systems 

Water systems have access to new and updated tools to help prevent and respond to cybersecurity incidents. The U.S. Environmental Agency (USEPA) tools can assist public drinking water and wastewater systems by protecting access to safe water and aid systems conducting risk and emergency planning for cybersecurity.  To better address potential vulnerabilities and ensure all water systems have the best information and emergency safeguards available to maintain protection for drinking water and Read More