Making waves: The potential of generative AI in water utility operations.

Water utilities facing increasingly complex infrastructure and operations stand to significantly benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). Current research in water distribution systems engineering primarily focuses on Specialized AI, which plays a crucial role in processing extensive datasets, identifying patterns, and extracting actionable insights to improve the resilience and efficiency of water utility operations. However, barriers of usability, accessibility, and trainability hinder broader adoption.

Energy management in the water sector: A policy statement review.

Water and wastewater utilities consume significant energy. While they are regulated on water quality and other environmental issues, energy management is largely optional. In between enforceable public policy and voluntary internal action, professional associations can influence their industries to act.

Making waves: Research to support water and wastewater utilities in the transition to a clean-energy future.

Drinking water and wastewater utilities are in the business of making clean water, not using clean energy, and the ongoing energy transition is swiftly creating new challenges for which they are unprepared. At this critical juncture in the water-energy nexus, this Making Waves article explores how the research community can support water utilities during the transition as features like renewables, flexible loads, and dynamic markets become standard. Researchers can help water utilities implement existing energy management techniques not yet widely practiced, including establishing energy policies, managing energy data, using low-energy-intensity water sources, and participating in demand response programs.

Emergency Preparedness and COVID-19: A Review of AWWA Policy Statements and Guidance.

Unless a water or wastewater utility has had to deal with a serious disruption in the past, emergency preparedness may not have been a priority. However, with COVID-19, every water and wastewater utility has now faced a prolonged emergency and can-and should-learn from it.

Emergency preparedness after COVID-19: A review of policy statements in the U.S. water sector.

Although COVID-19 has impacted water and wastewater utilities in new and profound ways, they must still provide their vital services despite the disruptions. The pandemic brings into focus their need for proactive emergency preparedness. In the United States, professional associations have long advocated in this area and have already developed considerable policy guidance and resources to help water and wastewater utilities prepare for and respond to emergencies.