Regulation and Wastewater Innovation
A new report finds that “water and wastewater utilities are having a hard time keeping up with climate change, aging infrastructure, and urban population growth” and that there is a common perception that the regulatory process stands in the way of innovation. Empirical research from the team that put together this report calls into question a common assumption that utilities and regulators are generally at odds with each other in their views on innovation. The team conducted a nationwide survey of wastewater utility managers and regulators, and the results suggest that utility managers and regulators generally agree about how regulation gates innovation in the wastewater sector, and how innovation could be encouraged.

Explore these findings and possible steps forward in a new paper published in Environmental Research Communications by Alida Cantor, Luke Sherman, Anita Milman, and Michael Kiparsky.

 

California’s Latest Drought in Four Charts: PPIC
California is grappling with drought again, facing many of the same conditions and challenges that were features of the 2012–16 drought—including stressed ecosystems, depleted reservoirs, hard-hit farms and rural communities, threats to urban water supplies, and the potential for extensive wildfires. Knowing what’s different and what’s similar to our last major drought can help us better prepare the most vulnerable sectors for ongoing dry times. Check out the drought charts and read more here.