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Editor's Letter Getting Smart About Water We've all heard the adage, "Work smarter, not harder," but are we living it in the water industry? While the status quo may have merit and is almost certainly more comfortable, these trying times of big problems and small budgets beckon a new approach — to get smarter about water. You likely know the term "smart water" as it pertains to instruments that collect and interpret data, but the focus of this edition of Water Online The Magazine is to first engage the data-collecting instrument within each of us — our brains. Before a bit of technology is deployed, water professionals must compile the essential data to make smart decisions for their facilities and communities. Research and planning are part and parcel to that quest, and our first article, "Drinking Water Regulations: What Does The Future Hold?" (page 8), is a case in point. Utilities that are proactive with respect to government mandates are almost always better off than their reactive counterparts, but proper information is needed to stay ahead of the curve. To that end, Eric Meliton of Frost & Sullivan offers a sneak peek at the U.S. EPA's 2015 review of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), so that utilities can assess their capabilities and devise appropriate plans for what lies ahead. Along with mandates, utilities must also stay ahead of rising populations and water demand. As far back as Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798), in which he wrote "Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink," generations have bemoaned our inability to get drinking water from the ocean. But perhaps that's about to change. On page 12, James Smith of Constantine Engineering describes technology breakthroughs that could, at long last, usher seawater desalination into feasibility as a potable water supply source. These regulatory and supply concerns, along with the advancing age of many water systems, are driving the need for new and upgraded infrastructure. At the same time, these give rise to opportunity — to build smarter, more sustainable facilities that have economic, social, and environmental ("triple bottom line") benefits. The long-term and holistic impacts of such facilities are sometimes hard to measure, however, and are therefore hard to appreciate. Dr. Robert Raucher of Stratus Consulting demystifies the triple bottom line for decision makers on page 16. Even with return on investment spelled out, high capital costs in today's budget-conscious environment are difficult to swallow for government officials and the public alike, especially when they necessitate a rise in water rates. But with tactical, researched, and clear messaging, utilities can change perception and overcome objections. "Tapping Into The Value Of Water," my article on page 22, presents a methodology to get funding initiatives approved. In addition to the always advised forward-looking approach, there are great lessons to be learned from the past. Extreme weather has wreaked havoc on many water systems in recent years, and the evidence points at more to come. To combat this trend, U.S. government agencies collaborated with leading water groups and consulting firms to analyze case studies and devise a set of best practices for utilities in the eye of the proverbial storm. On page 26, Claudio Ternieden of Concurrent Technologies Corp. shares the outcomes of this effort. Last but not least in this guide to smarter water operations is a deconstruction of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). For anyone who has followed this important legislation from the sidelines and is wondering about its practical application, Dan Hartnett of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) answers the question "What Can WIFIA Do For You?" on page 30. Each of these articles, while arming us with valuable information, reminds us of the many challenges confronting water utilities — strict regulations, water scarcity, inadequate infrastructure, and funding issues, just to name a few. However, we also live in an age of innovation, with a plethora of new technologies available to help see us through. The smart water professional Kevin Westerling will rely on these and every other tool at his disposal — Editor editor@wateronline.com starting with the one on his shoulders. 6 Water Online The Magazine ■ wateronline.com 101 Gilbraltar Road, Suite 100 Horsham, PA 19044 PH: (215) 675-1800 FX: (215) 675-4880 Email: info@wateronline.com Website: www.wateronline.com DIRECTOR OF SALES Bill King (215) 675-1800 ext. 100 bking@vertmarkets.com CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Chuck Allen (215) 675-1800 ext. 126 callen@vertmarkets.com CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Todd Bula (215) 675-1800 ext. 124 tbula@vertmarkets.com CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Patrick Gallagher (215) 675-1800 ext. 129 pgallagher@vertmarkets.com CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Scott Setzman (215) 675-1800 ext. 134 ssetzman@vertmarkets.com MANAGING EDITOR Michael Thiemann (814) 897-9000, Ext. 340 michael.thiemann@jamesonpublishing.com PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Dianna Gross (814) 897-9000, Ext. 255 dianna.gross@jamesonpublishing.com DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Martin Zapolski (814) 897-7700, Ext. 337 martinz@jamesonpublishing.com DIRECTOR Of ONLINE DEVELOPMENT Art Glenn art.glenn@jamesonpublishing.com Reprints, Eprints, and NXTprints The YGS Group (800) 290-5460 VertMarketsReprints@theYGSgroup.com www.theYGSgroup.com ADDRESS CORRECTIONS Send to Water Online at above address, or email circ@vertmarkets.com. 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