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Newsletter #114 for March 2025 |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its seventh set of national drinking water data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). UCMR 5 requires water samples to be collected by public water systems to better understand the prevalence and amount of 29 PFAS chemicals and lithium from our nation's drinking water systems. This data will help support EPA's regulatory determinations and support actions to protect public health. The data released to date represent approximately 66% of the total results that the EPA expects to receive by completion of data reporting in 2026.
The seventh data set includes approximately 1.4 million sample results from 7,800 public water systems, and results can be accessed through the UCMR 5 Data Finder tool, which allows the public, federal, state, and local agencies to easily locate, view and summarize specific UCMR 5 results and download those results for further analysis. Video demonstration on how to access the data is available as well. |
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The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $6 million to researchers from Louisiana Tech University, Jackson State University, and the University of Nevada, Reno to advance their knowledge of nanomaterials and electrochemistry to aid in the development of Mobile Energy-Water Reuse Systems (MEWRS), a decentralized system for water treatment and renewable energy generation that can be deployed in rural communities to help provide reliable, safe water and energy. The University of Nevada, Reno will receive $1.7 million over four years to contribute to the research, development and deployment of MEWRS.
The information in the article is particularly useful for rural communities in Nevada, Louisiana, and Mississippi as it highlights the potential of MEWRS to address the unique challenges faced by these communities. The decentralized nature of the systems allows for independent operation, which is crucial in areas with limited access to centralized infrastructure. Additionally, the involvement of local advisory groups ensures that the mobile system is designed with direct input from community members, optimizing water treatment processes for different environments. This approach not only enhances the resilience of rural water systems but also fosters community engagement and empowerment, paving the way for sustainable and adaptable solutions to ongoing environmental challenges.
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Researchers at the University of Michigan are exploring innovative water treatment methods using bacteria to improve the sustainability and efficiency of drinking water systems. Their study focuses on understanding the microbial communities present in water from source to tap, aiming to harness beneficial bacteria while controlling harmful ones. With the presence of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) in drinking water systems, which has the potential to cause health impacts in people with compromised immune systems, researchers hope their new pilot filtration system at the Ann Arbor WTP can promote healthy bacterial communities that would offset the presence of NTM.
The team aims to evaluate their hypothesis that reducing disinfectant exposure to the microbial communities in BAC filters can promote more diverse biofilm communities with microbial populations that effectively outcompete pathogens, while achieving the same or better filtration performance. Specifically, they will test the impact of dechlorinating the backwash supply on filter microbial communities, focusing on whether this strategy reduces NTM levels.
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Upcoming Events
A listing of webinars, symposia, and conferences relevant to this work. |
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Wastewater | Open Access
Unlocking the potential of sidestream EBPR: exploring the coexistence of PAO, GAO and DGAO for effective phosphorus and nitrogen removal
Sabba F., Farmer M., Dunlap P., Qin C., Kozak J., Barnard J., Wells G., Downing L. 2025. Unlocking the potential of sidestream EBPR: exploring the coexistence of PAO, GAO and DGAO for effective phosphorus and nitrogen removal. Water Science & Technology. 91(5). doi:10.2166/wst.2025.038.
Why it's interesting: This study explores the potential of sidestream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (S2EBPR) for effective phosphorus and nitrogen removal in wastewater systems. By investigating the coexistence of phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs), glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs), and denitrifying GAOs (DGAOs) through modeling using full-scale data from the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, the research aims to improve the nutrient removal process.
EBPR and nitrification-denitrification processes are processes employed by WWTPs to remove phosphorus and nitrogen. However, these processes can be affected if adequate influent carbon is not available or if anaerobic zones are undersized or unable to maintain proper anaerobic conditions. S2EBPR can mitigate those issues by enhancing anaerobic conditions, allowing for internal carbon generation through fermentation. This approach can not only optimize phosphorus and nitrogen removal but also contribute to more sustainable and cost-effective wastewater management. However, DPAO and DGAO compete for the limited amounts of organic carbon available, and it is unclear how those organisms maintain their desired functions without competing for the same carbon sources. This study aims to better understand and predict how these organisms function. |
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Drinking Water | Open Access
Comparing the economic, environmental, and exposure impacts of options for coming into compliance with drinking water regulations in very small water systems in the US
Lane K., Tobiason J., Reckhow D., Kumpel E. 2025. Comparing the economic, environmental, and exposure impacts of options for coming into compliance with drinking water regulations in very small water systems in the US. Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability. 5. doi:10.1088/2634-4505/adbb8a.
Why it's interesting: This study evaluated and compared the economic, environmental, and health costs of improving very small community water systems with POU/POE installations to comply with the SDWA. In my cases, if a community water system fails to meet SDWA requirements for water quality, this can be addressed by installing or upgrading treatment processes, developing a new source, or by connecting t o another system. These solutions can often be expensive, and many small systems lack the resources to meet state requirements. An alternative solution to achieve compliance is to instead install household-level treatment devices (POU/POE devices). However, in many states, POU/POE devices are not allowed for regulatory compliance, although some have streamlined their adoption. States may require adequate certification of performance, field testing, or a rigorous design review of these devices. While some studies have found that these devices may be more economically feasible, they have not considered long-term costs, impact of community size, or the additional regulatory requirements when used for SDWA compliance. This study will examine how these factors can impact decision-making, and help small systems to weigh the tradeoffs between public health, sustainability, and costs over the long term. |
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Drinking Water | Open Access
Techno-economic Assessment of Distributed Wellhead RO Water Treatment for Nitrate Removal and Salinity Reduction: A Field Study in Small Disadvantaged Communities
Cohen Y., Soto M., Marki N., Jarma Y., Rogers M., Yip K., Strauss P., Aguilar C., Khan B., Rao P., Hendrickson T. 2025. Techno-economic Assessment of Distributed Wellhead RO Water Treatment for Nitrate Removal and Salinity Reduction: A Field Study in Small Disadvantaged Communities. Water Research. 123462. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123462.
Why it's interesting: Nitrate contamination and excess groundwater salinity are particularly challenging to mitigate in small, disadvantaged communities. These communities vary in size from a dozen to several hundred residents, and are often located in rural agricultural areas with low financial and technical resources to mitigate the risk from impaired water sources. Many of these small communities need permanent and sustainable solutions for reliable drinking water. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is regarded as a highly viable approach given its operational simplicity/flexibility, broad level of protection against multiple contaminants and salinity reduction, and relatively small footprint for deployment in small communities. USEPA and the State of California has also suggested RO as a best available technology (BAT) for treatment of nitrate contaminated small communities drinking water sources. However, for many disadvantaged communities, the affordability (capital and operating costs) and reliability of the treatment process is crucial. This study aims to evaluate the treatment performance, capital expenses, and operating costs of distributed wellhead RO water treatment over a 2-year period at three disadvantaged communities in California. |
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Industry News |
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New Arsenal For Algae Outbreaks
Algae outbreaks can release toxins such as microcystins, which can contaminate drinking water supplies, cause treatment disruptions, increase treatment costs, and reduce water quality. The article discusses innovative strategies for combating algae outbreaks in drinking water reservoirs without relying on chemicals.
El Paso Water's Pure Water Center: A milestone in water reuse technology
El Paso Water has began the development of their Pure Water Center, which will receive treated water from the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant to produce 10 MGD of drinking water for El Paso residents. The center will also offer educational opportunities to learn about water reuse.
Public education project brings new water recycling process to life
A team at Arizona State University has earned the 2025 WateReuse Award for Excellence in Outreach and Education for their new virtual reality project which aims to promote public acceptance of recycled water using VR experiences.
Cyanobacteria control in woodland reservoir: Ultrasound and diffused aeration replace copper sulfate
This article highlights the challenges Woodland Reservoir (Syracuse, NY) has experienced with algae growth and the innovative solutions implemented to control it, including diffused aeration and ultrasonic algae control. |
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