Blog
EPA Releases Final UCMR 5 Drinking Water Data for PFAS and Lithium
On August 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the final set of national drinking water data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for 30 chemical contaminants: 29 PFAS plus lithium. The data collected under UCMR 5 improves understanding of the prevalence and amount of 29 PFAS and lithium in the nation’s [...]
EPA Releases New Lead and Copper Rule Implementation Resources
On August 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released two new resources to support drinking water systems and states in implementing the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The new Access Tips and Service Line Inventory Tips documents provide practical information, definitions, and examples intended to help water systems understand and implement existing requirements [...]
EPA Announces New PFAS Strategy for Drinking Water
On May 18th, the EPA announced a new strategy on PFAS, two proposed drinking water rules for public comment. Following publication in the Federal Register, EPA is accepting written public comments on the two proposed rules for 60 days. Please note there are two separate rulemaking dockets for the rules, and comments pertaining to a specific [...]
Today, February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s tariffs — a major impact to the Administration’s economic program. The 6-3 decision is impactful on executive powers. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch joined the court’s three liberals in the majority. “The President asserts the [...]
Immigration Policy Alert
On September 19, 2025, the Trump Administration issued a proclamation entitled “RESTRICTION ON ENTRY OF CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANT WORKERS,” aimed directly at the H-1B visa program. The Department of Commerce is imposing a $100,000 visa petition fee (USCIS) for applicants seeking this highly coveted visa. Last Friday, the US Chamber of Commerce sent the Secretary of Commerce [...]
Tariffs Hit the Water Sector: New 50% Duties to Impact U.S. Equipment Imports
Tariffs are coming to the water sector, sooner rather than later. On August 18, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), an agency of the United States Department of Commerce (DOC), announced that 407 additional eight- or 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) codes are now subject to Section 232 steel and aluminum [...]
EPA to Defend Biden-Era Rule Requiring Lead Pipe Replacement
The Environmental Protection Agency announced in early August that it would defend the Biden administration’s aggressive rule for reducing lead in drinking water against a court challenge brought by a water utility association. There are roughly 9 million lead pipes providing water to homes and businesses in the United States. The rule gave cities and towns a [...]
WEF White Paper: Valuing the Circular Water Economy: A $47 Billion Opportunity for U.S. Utilities
This groundbreaking white paper from the Water Environment Federation reveals how U.S. utilities and municipalities could unlock $47 billion annually by adopting circular water economy principles. Valuing the Circular Water Economy explores three core strategies—Reduce, Recover, and Regenerate—to help utilities rethink water use, maximize resource recovery, and revitalize ecosystems. Reduce: Cut operational costs and environmental impact by minimizing water use and waste. Recover: Extract [...]