Some water utilities around the North America are announcing planned increases to water rates. Rate increases aren’t usually celebrated by consumers – especially among households struggling to meet essential needs -- but it’s worthwhile to consider for a moment why they are necessary.

An ongoing situation in Louisiana that has generated a lot of news coverage is introducing the term “saltwater intrusion” to many people. It also highlights the potential impact of more familiar challenges facing the water sector – climate change, drought and source water protection.

The devastating wildfires in Hawaii have been heartbreaking from afar and their widespread impacts on the community continue to unfold. Based on lessons learned from previous wildfires, officials are recommending people in Hawaii, especially those in hard-hit Maui, use bottled water or fill jugs at water tankers (called water buffalos) until safe drinking water service is restored.

The National Institutes of Health recently published a new study that found that drinking enough water leads to “better biological aging and reduced risk of both chronic disease and premature death.”

Whatever the cause of the residents’ symptoms, it’s worth taking a moment to consider why water utilities monitor for arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic is tasteless and odorless, and occurs naturally in the Earth’s soils, rocks and minerals. It’s also used in industry as a wood preservative, in paints, metals, drugs and for a variety of other purposes. It is lethal in very high doses. You can learn more in the AWWA book Plain Talk about Drinking Water.

A recent demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin shows a low-cost device that can pull water out of the air.

Do we need to dump old water out of water bottles?

Facing the loss of water due to climate change and run off, the Sierra Nevada region of Spain is restoring a centuries-old system to collect more water. MemoLab is helping with the project.

In late 2021, the White House announced the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, which will distribute funding made available from the U.S. Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) to benefit you and your local water infrastructure. We're already seeing some results.

Fix a Leak Week is an annual event that encourages homeowners to find and fix leaks inside and outside their homes. Fixing them not only saves water, but it also saves money.