There is no doubt that the electric power and water sectors are intrinsically linked. From thermal power generation (e.g., natural gas, coal) to the emergence of a hydrogen economy, one sector cannot operate without the other. Yet, while they are so closely connected operationally, a clear divide exists between the amount of attention given to water and… Continue reading What Can the Water Industry Learn from the Success of the Renewable Power Industry?
Category: Our Take
What’s In, What’s Out for Water in 2024?
Standing on the precipice of a new year, the water industry finds itself, once again, at a crossroads of tradition and transformation. This year represents a pivotal juncture for water industry stakeholders across the value chain. At times, it seems that water is in the news more than ever before and it feels like we,… Continue reading What’s In, What’s Out for Water in 2024?
Dubai Brings Water to the Forefront at This Year’s COP28
As key stakeholders—including government officials, nonprofit managers, and business executives—gathered at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP), progress on climate change was at the forefront of discussions. While water has come up as a topic of discussion in previous COPs, COP28 was the first time in 28 years that water was a core theme… Continue reading Dubai Brings Water to the Forefront at This Year’s COP28
Behind the Data: Unveiling the Water Footprint of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage these days—but when consumers type a question into ChatGPT, they aren’t thinking about water. ChatGPT, a generative AI tool with 1.4 billion site visits in August 2023 alone, uses an estimated quarter of a gallon of water for every 40 to 100 queries it receives, according to a… Continue reading Behind the Data: Unveiling the Water Footprint of Artificial Intelligence
Every Drop Counts: Spain and Italy Get Serious with Leakage Management
While the broader public thinks of “water” as a single issue, in reality, water is more complex. The 2023 AquaTech trade show and conference in Amsterdam addressed a broad range of water issues organized into four key segments: Clean Water, Wastewater, Industrial & Corporate Water, and Digital Water. Water scarcity, partly due to water loss, is perhaps the most pressing… Continue reading Every Drop Counts: Spain and Italy Get Serious with Leakage Management
Engineers to Emerge as Key Water Champions amid Threats from Climate Change
Let’s face it—the earth’s temperature will sail past the 2030 target to limit the global warming threshold to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Our collective fates are cemented in an increasingly volatile environment shaped by droughts, flooding, and large weather events (e.g., hurricanes and winter storms). At that point, if we are not there… Continue reading Engineers to Emerge as Key Water Champions amid Threats from Climate Change
The UN Wants a Paris Agreement for Plastics – Will It Matter for Water?
Restraining the explosion of plastic pollution, which is projected to double in size globally by 2040, is the next evolution in the discussion about climate. The United Nations recently agreed to reach a global agreement to tackle plastic waste, indicating consensus on a shifting global sentiment away from plastics. The treaty has an ambitious timeline for a globally binding… Continue reading The UN Wants a Paris Agreement for Plastics – Will It Matter for Water?
Potential Regulations for Canadian Oil Sands Highlight Importance of Industrial Wastewater Treatment
It’s no secret that the Canadian economy relies heavily on oil and gas. Canada is the fourth-largest oil producer and sixth-largest gas producer in the world. Oil sand extractions in the province of Alberta produce roughly 3.3 million barrels of oil per day—equivalent to 20% of Canada’s total oil production. Mining oil sands is an environmentally… Continue reading Potential Regulations for Canadian Oil Sands Highlight Importance of Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Florida Adopts Fair Market Value Policy Impacting Water Utility Consolidation
Florida has emerged as the 13th state to adopt such fair market value (FMV) legislation, further highlighting a steady trend of state policymakers targeting consolidation of water and wastewater utilities. On 6 June 2023, Florida’s governor signed the anticipated House Bill 125 (HB 125), which establishes an alternative procedure for determining the rate base value of… Continue reading Florida Adopts Fair Market Value Policy Impacting Water Utility Consolidation
It’s All about the Data. Are Remote Monitoring and IoT Solutions the Key to Addressing Water Infrastructure Issues?
It is no secret that water utilities face mounting regulatory, financial, and environmental pressures to increase the surveillance and control of their systems. U.K. utilities, in particular, have been faced with large fines in recent years due to overflow and spill incidents. In April 2023, Anglian Water was hit with a £2.65 million fine for discharging untreated effluent… Continue reading It’s All about the Data. Are Remote Monitoring and IoT Solutions the Key to Addressing Water Infrastructure Issues?
