Maintaining the West’s Oldest Retail Water Provider

Many of our nation’s public utilities face the challenge of adaptability. Aging infrastructure, increases in storm intensity, and the need to ensure a ready workforce are hurdles utility managers have to overcome to provide reliable services. Salt Lake City, Utah, deals with each of these challenges as it provides water, wastewater, and storm water services […]

Developing Flood Protection in California’s Capital

Since its founding in 1989, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) has been a catalyst for the development of flood protection projects in the Sacramento, California, area. As the local cost-sharing partner, SAFCA continuously looks for ways to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state of California, and the Bureau of Reclamation […]

Building a Flood Control System for the 21st Century

Photo portrait of Congresswoman Doris Matsui

Managing water in the West is a balancing act. It requires great coordination between our water resources managers and our flood control managers. While the water resources managers must carefully maximize water allocations each year, flood control managers must prepare for worst-case flood scenarios. In California’s Sacramento Valley, we are blessed with rivers and tributaries […]

The Importance of Water Dispute Mediation in Successful Water Management

Todd H. Votteler, PhD, is president of Collaborative Water Resolution (waterdisputes.org). He is also the editor-inchief and a cofounder of both the Texas Water Journal and Texas+Water. Dr. Votteler is a fellow of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. He is also a partner of Four Worlds Partners (fourworlds.org), […]

Implementing Prepare 2060 for Utah’s Water Supply

Development in the western United States can largely be traced to the presence of a reliable water source to allow for individuals and industries to flourish. The drive to ensure the reliable delivery of water to growing population centers in the West still exists today. In Utah, the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) is […]

Greg Ingleton of SA Water

Late last year, in November 2017, Greg Ingleton, business development manager for Environmental Opportunities at SA Water, based in Adelaide, South Australia, took center stage at a TEDx Talk event in Adelaide to present his innovative vision for SA Water and Adelaide Airport. Struck by an idea when flying into Adelaide Airport, Mr. Ingleton used […]

Volume 4 Issue 5 May 2018

  For municipal water providers and managers, especially those with combined systems, storm water is a source of significant water quantity and quality concern. Residents and business owners rely on municipalities and public works departments to move storm water away from their property. At the same time, flows created by storm events pick up pollutants […]

Storm Water Innovation on America’s Front Lawn

Portrait photo of Michael Stachowicz, Turf Management Specialist National Park Service in Washington, DC.

Just 7 years ago, the National Mall looked quite different than it does today. The grass was patchy and laden with weeds, and the soil was compact and bare, causing silty water to run through the streets when it rained. Needless to say, this was not the image the National Park Service (NPS) wanted the […]

Mark Doneux of Capitol Region Watershed District

In October 2017, the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program recognized the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD), located in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the overall best score winners of the Phase II division. With its commitment to creating collaborative partnerships throughout the community, drive to collect and reuse storm […]

Sustainable Resource Management in San Antonio

At the spot where water from the San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS) Dos Rios Water Recycling Center cascades 50 feet down into the river, a visitor from a group of international guests gently wept. When asked if everything was alright, he nodded. “I’m ok,” the visitor said. “It’s just that in my country, we don’t […]