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Kansas City’s focus on customers and data getting results

Kip Peterson, Communications Manager, KC Water | January 14, 2016

Over the past four years, KC Water has undergone a gradual yet noticeable transformation from a sluggish municipal department, to a customer-focused and data-driven public utility.  As water and wastewater rates have risen to pay for much-needed and long-overdue infrastructure improvements, customers in turn have justifiably expected a bigger return on their investment – primarily in the level of customer service they receive.      | More >

One Water, One Future

Radhika Fox, CEO, US Water Alliance | January 14, 2016

At the US Water Alliance, we are driving a One Water approach. What is “one water”? Our planet has a finite amount of available fresh water. Water is an essential resource that moves through a cycle of use and reuse in watersheds around the world. Wherever it is in this cycle, water has value. The one water approach views all water – drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, greywater and more – as resources that must be managed holistically and sustainably. | More >

The Unsung Heroes of Holiday Revelry

Dr. Mark LeChevallier, American Water | January 14, 2016

‘Tis the season for house guests and party after party… for letting loose and enjoying the spirit of goodwill, joy and peace. It’s a time for bountiful feasts, traditional sweets and, perhaps, a tad too much “good cheer” as society observes the holiday and rings in the New Year.

Fortunately for the average individual, the major party days and nights are followed by a day off, or at least a later start time and “slow work day.” But not so for the teams at the wastewater treatment plants – the unsung heroes of holiday revelry aftermath!

If you think about what goes down your sink and garbage disposals after a holiday gathering, that alone is enough to understand why wastewater plants and workers are in overdrive the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. | More >

Inspiring art through innovation: Chicago’s phosphorus recovery yields engaging public art

Commissioner Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago | December 9, 2015

Consider phosphorus. It’s the 11th most abundant element on Earth, absolutely essential for human survival because plants need it to grow. But the amount of accessible phosphorus is limited and there are no substitutes. When we run out of phosphorus, we run out of food. Yikes!

Phosphorus in streams and rivers is harmful – a form of pollution – because it causes algae to grow, which sucks up oxygen leaving little for aquatic life. Phosphorus on farm fields and lawns is vital. | More >

Lessons from the Top Women Leaders in Water

Danielle Mayorga, Program Manager, US Water Alliance | December 3, 2015

In November, Global Water Intelligence named the top 20 most powerful women in water. The list featured some notable water leaders from around the world, including Melanie Schultz Van Haegen, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment; Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency; and, others from international water development, infrastructure finance, and utility management. We were excited to see that so many deserving Value of Water Coalition members made the list including, Susan Story (4), CEO of American Water; Marie-Ange Debon (7), Deputy CEO of Suez; Jacque Hinman (8), CEO of CH2M; and, Cindy Wallis-Lage (10), President of Black & Veatch Water. | More >

Creating a One Water Culture in LA

Heather Repenning, Commissioner, City of LA Board of Public Works | November 24, 2015

As the nation knows all too well, Los Angeles is facing the dual challenges of a historic drought and what is predicted to be a very strong El Nino winter.  In this context, the benefits of stormwater capture are numerous and urgent. By capturing stormwater before it hits our streets, we can prevent it from becoming runoff and carrying dangerous pollutants to our watershed.   We can mitigate the burden that flooding puts on our stormwater and wastewater systems, and increase our local water supply by allowing for reuse and, in some parts of our City, groundwater recharge. | More >

Coming Together to Imagine a Day Without Water

Radhika Fox, CEO, US Water Alliance | November 4, 2015

Earlier this year, the Value of Water Coalition decided to organize an event that every water and wastewater agency and like-minded advocacy group could participate in as a way to raise awareness about the often invisible water infrastructure crisis. We called it Imagine a Day Without Water. | More >

Help Spread the Word: Water is Essential, Reliable and Invaluable

Radhika Fox, CEO, US Water Alliance | October 19, 2015

It’s a simple question: What’s the value of water? The Value of Water Coalition members collaborated to create this toolkit for the water sector to use and engage the public with that very question.

With the toolkit, we’re asking the American public to stop and think for a moment about the true value of water. Not just that water in your glass, or the water in your shower. What about the water firefighters use to save families and homes? Or the water that cleans our clothes and keeps us healthy? The truth is, water touches every part of our life. | More >

Innovating with Nature: CH2M Celebrates 10 Years of Sustainability Reporting

Elisa M. Speranza, Senior VP & Corporate Director, CH2M | July 8, 2015

I love the famous quotation by U.S. naturalist John Muir, who wrote in 1911: "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." In this time of global economic, environmental, and social transformation, those of us in the business of providing water, wastewater, and stormwater management face many challenges and opportunities, and they are all hitched together. | More >

A Stronger Plan for a Greener DC

George Hawkins, General Manager, DC Water | May 22, 2015

This week marked an important milestone for DC Water, the District of Columbia, and the Clean Water community. On May 20, 2015 I was joined by our partners at the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to announce the completion of the process to modify DC Water’s Long Term Control Plan to enable a significant investment in green infrastructure. | More >