ARTICLES BY KEVIN WESTERLING

• Sackett v. EPA: A Collection Of Commentary

  5/31/2023

  The Supreme Court recently passed down its latest verdict regarding what constitutes "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) and therefore what waterbodies the U.S. EPA has — or, more to the point, does not have — the authority to regulate. Here, I've collected various sets of commentary and reaction about Sackett v. EPA and the impact of the court's decision.
• When Almost Perfect Isn’t Good Enough

  5/4/2023

  Despite statistically astounding performance, water and wastewater utilities have almost no room for error due to the nature of public perception and the importance of their work.

• Pioneering Utility Shares Insights On PFAS Treatability

  4/11/2023

  Horsham Water was one of the earliest and hardest hit by PFAS contamination. Due to their experience, they are also among the best at treating to very low levels. Learn about the "Horsham Standard" and what drinking water utilities can expect as they endeavor to meet the pending national standard.
• From Drought To Deluge: Gauging The Impact Of Western Rains

  4/10/2023

  For a number of years now, we have heard of dwindling water supplies in the western part of the U.S., but 2023 brought "atmospheric rivers" that (literally) flooded the Golden State and filled 12 of its 17 major reservoirs above their historical averages for the start of spring. It's a double-edged sword when such extreme weather arises, and obviously important to learn from the experience to better prepare for future events and plan for both resiliency and sustainability.
• Thoughts And Themes From The UN Water Conference

  3/27/2023

  The UN 2023 Water Conference, one of the most significant water events of this or any year, was held March 22-24 at UN Headquarters in New York, co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Tajikistan, with online attendance from around the world pushing attendance to 10,000. During the conference, more than 700 commitments to “driving transformation from a global water crisis to a water-secure world” were made as part of the Water Action Agenda — what the UN called its “key outcome.”

• A Call To 'Water Action'

  3/22/2023

  Thomas Schumann is the founder of Thomas Schumann Capital. He is a sustainability pioneer and expert for water security investment and financial products, and a recent speaker at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York from March 22nd (World Water Day) to the 24th.

• The Water Industry Reacts To Proposed PFAS Regulations For Drinking Water

  3/14/2023

  With the U.S. EPA’s recent announcement proposing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS, stakeholders throughout the water industry — representing utilities, industry, the environment, legal interests, and public health — were quick to offer their opinions.

• A Big-Picture Approach To Water Regulations

  3/9/2023

  A Q&A with human health toxicologist and environmental risk assessor Janet Anderson, Ph.D., DABT

• Understanding The White House's Get The Lead Out Partnership, With One Of Its Participants

  2/13/2023

  In late January, the White House welcomed over 100 organizations for the launch of the Biden-Harris Get the Lead Out Partnership, which seeks replacement of 100% of the nation’s lead service lines (LSLs) in 10 years. The organizations that were on hand come from various sectors, but all have a vested interest in ‘getting the lead out’ and improving water quality for consumers, and all have partnered with the Administration to achieve the lofty goal of complete LSL removal.

• Putting PFAS In The Past

  1/13/2023

  Michelle Bellanca, CEO of cleantech company Claros Technologies, shares her thoughts on how to fix the nation's PFAS problem.
• Water Innovations: Positive Energy For 2023

  1/11/2023

  The past few years have been especially difficult for everyone, water and wastewater professionals included, with no shortage of turmoil and obstacles. There is some momentum for positive change, however, with innovative solutions at the heart of recovery, advancement, and ultimate prosperity.

• Understanding New PFAS Rules For Water

  12/20/2022

  A flurry of proposed PFAS rules, combined with ongoing legal challenges and uncertainties, have left many in the drinking water community confused about what it all means for the industry. To answer some common questions, I sat down with two experts: Craig Butt of SCIEX and Christopher Higgins of the Colorado School of Mines.
• Going Digital: Celebrating Achievement In Water And Wastewater Infrastructure Development

  12/1/2022

  Following two years of hosting remotely, Bentley Systems returned to a live setting for its annual Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards event, held November 14-15 in London, England. Bentley welcomed 114 press members from 23 countries to celebrate some of the most impressive infrastructure projects of the past year, including those from the water/wastewater sector.

• Celebrating 50 Years Of (Mostly) Clean Water

  11/3/2022

  October 18, 1972, the day the Clean Water Act (CWA) became law, was undeniably a pivotal moment for the state of water quality in America. From where we stand now, 50 years later, it's hard to imagine a time when polluters were dumping contaminants freely into environmental waters — enough to set a river on fire! Here we recall the six key 1972 amendments that defined the CWA, accompanied by some recent themes related to each one.