EPA adds PFHxS-Na to toxics release inventory, expanding PFAS reporting

Court battle over EPA PFAS rule turns to procedural fight

AWWA-v-EPA-PFAS-Our-Opposition-to-Motion-to-Sever (PDF)

Additional AWWA Resources for these court proceedings

EPA Motion to Sever and Hold Challenges to Index PFAS in Abeyance

Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era tariffs, raising implications for infrastructure costs

Trump calls for federal response to Potomac Interceptor collapse

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:06 – Episode overview (topics the episode will cover)
• 01:19 – PFAS TRI addition explanation (PFHXSNA added to toxics release inventory)
• 04:09 – EPA motion on PFAS drinking water rule (EPA asks court to sever hazard index challenge)
• 09:36 – AWWA & AMWA opposition filing (utilities argue judicial review should remain unified)
• 14:22 – Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariff plan (overview of the decision and implications)
• 16:35 – Potomac Interceptor sewer collapse (political conflict and infrastructure impacts)
• 21:34 – Connecticut stormwater infrastructure challenges (Meriden compliance gaps and repairs)
• 22:54 – San Diego stormwater failures (flooding, lawsuits, funding shortfall)
• 24:13 – Housekeeping (polls, nominations, and program updates)

About the Podcast

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Bob Crossen talks with John Ikeda and Justin Roush about the launch of Xavier University’s groundbreaking Water Utilities Management master’s degree — the first program of its kind in the United States. Together, they discuss how the degree was conceived, the industry challenges it aims to address, and why workforce development has become one of the most urgent priorities for water and wastewater utilities.

Ikeda, chief mission officer at the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and Roush, assistant economics professor at Xavier and director of the new program, outline the growing need for specialized utility leadership as retirements accelerate and system complexity increases. They explain how the curriculum blends foundational business skills with utility‑specific coursework in areas like rate setting, regulation, capital improvement planning, and strategic communications. The discussion also highlights unique residency experiences, cohort‑based learning, and the program’s intentional focus on networking and long‑term career growth.

Crossen, Ikeda, and Roush explore how the master’s degree fits into broader sector‑wide workforce strategies and why emerging topics — such as AI in water — are being built directly into the curriculum. The episode offers a forward‑looking look at how the program aims to elevate future water utility leaders across the U.S.

• Xavier University Water Utility Management Program
• Xavier University Water Utility Management Program on LinkedIn
• Poll: What is your biggest workforce challenge in 2026?
• WWD Emerging Leaders submissions
• WW Emerging Leaders submissions
• WW Women in Water Questionnaire
• StormCon 2026 registration

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:25 – Guest introductions
• 02:24 – Origin of the master's program
• 04:49 – Why traditional programs fall short
• 06:53 – What makes water utilities unique
• 08:20 – Role of WEF in program development
• 10:44 – Why visibility and career pathways matter
• 11:30 – Cohort model & residency experiences
• 18:44 – Unique program features
• 27:15 – Housekeeping announcements and closing reminders

About the Podcast

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode of Talking Underwater, co-hosts Mandy Crispin and Bob Crossen explore the forces shaping the water and wastewater sector as the industry looks ahead to 2026.

The conversation opens with insights into new research on the growing water demands of data centers in Texas. Drawing from a recent white paper by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Crispin outlines how existing and planned data center development could significantly strain drinking water supplies if water planning and policy fail to keep pace with rapid growth.

Crossen then shares insights from a January poll on wastewater capital spending priorities. Results show utilities are primarily focused on treatment process upgrades and collection system improvements, while resilience and emergency preparedness rank surprisingly low.

The episode wraps with a broader look at 2026 industry forecasts from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Key themes include workforce development, the rise of the circular water economy, policy efforts around PFAS and the “polluter pays” principle, funding through state revolving funds, and affordability programs such as LIHWAP. Together, these perspectives suggest a shift from big‑picture concepts toward practical action as utilities confront emerging challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

• Thirsty Data and the Lone Star State: The Impact of Data Center Growth on Texas’ Water Supply
• What is perchlorate in drinking water?
• Poll results: 2026 wastewater capital spending priorities
• Looking forward: WEF’s strategics priorities and collective action for the wastewater sector
• NACWA’s clean water initiatives focus on liability, affordability and infrastructure
• AWWA outlines federal priorities for water and wastewater utilities in the 119th Congress
• Poll: What is your biggest workforce challenge in 2026?
• WWD Emerging Leaders submissions
• WW Emerging Leaders submissions
• StormCon 2026 registration

• 00:28 – Introduction
• 01:05 – Overview of HARC white paper on Texas data centers and water use
• 01:42 – Projections for data center water demand by 2030
• 04:13 – Policy recommendations
• 06:23 – January capital spending poll overview
• 07:55 – 2026 WEF priorities
• 09:15 – 2026 NACWA policy and legislative focus
• 09:34 – State Revolving Fund reauthorization
• 10:08 – Low‑Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
• 11:15 – Housekeeping announcements and closing reminders

About the Podcast

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Bob Crossen speaks with Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, about the evolving pressures on industrial water use and the widening implications of the AI boom. Drawing from his cross-sector expertise, Collins unpacks why water is an inherently hyper‑local resource and how industries — ranging from semiconductor fabrication to refineries and petrochemical plants — are adapting to shrinking supplies and rising costs.

The conversation explores how data centers are straining municipal systems and, in some cases, driving new water‑reuse investments. Collins shares real‑world examples illustrating how creative contracting and industrial partnerships can help utilities upgrade critical infrastructure. He also highlights the increasing viability of air‑cooling technology as an alternative in water‑scarce regions.

Shifting to oil and gas, Collins explains how produced water, seismicity concerns, and disposal challenges are prompting operators to rethink water management strategies. Throughout the discussion, he stresses the importance of “fit‑for‑purpose” water use and the opportunities for circular water practices that avoid mixing contaminated and freshwater streams.

The episode closes with a look at the logistical and economic barriers that still limit a truly integrated one‑water approach.

• Gabriel Collins, Baker Institute for Public Policy
• Gabriel Collins on LinkedIn
• The Sinews of Civilization Substack
• WWD Emerging Leaders submissions
• WW Emerging Leaders submissions
• StormCon 2026 registration

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:39 – Industrial Water Use in 2026
• 03:04 – Blind Spots vs. Barriers
• 05:07 – Water Reuse, Recycling, and Sector Differences
• 06:34 – Fit‑for‑Purpose Water & Evolving Standards
• 09:02 – Costs, Margins, and Sensitivity to Water Price
• 11:03 – Data Centers & Municipal Pressure
• 14:25 – Policy Levers & Infrastructure Investment
• 17:34 – Oil & Gas: Produced Water, Disposal, and Seismicity
• 20:19 – One Water & Virtual Water Displacement
• 22:08 – Barriers to Circular Water
• 26:35 – Housekeeping

About the Podcast

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, Mandy Crispin and Bob Crossen discuss the EPA’s proposal to establish a national primary drinking water regulation for perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The hosts break down the proposed rule, monitoring requirements, cost implications, and what utilities should prepare for, plus give updates on PFAS treatment research and recent wastewater spills.

• EPA proposes national drinking water rule for perchlorate
• Federal Register: Proposed national primary drinking water regulation for perchlorate
• What do the new PFAS MCLs mean for the water industry?
• Steps water systems can take to address perchlorate in drinking water (2020 EPA guidance document)
• New copper-aluminum layered double hydroxide technology offers sustainable PFAS remediation
• Georgetown isolates 42-inch wastewater line failure after San Gabriel River spill
• Houston reports wastewater spill exceeding 100,000 gallons following collection system failure

• 00:00 – Cold open
• 00:54 – Introduction to episode and overview
• 01:32 – EPA proposal for perchlorate regulation explained
• 03:49 – Comparing perchlorate MCLs to PFAS standards
• 05:00 – Binning approach for monitoring frequency
• 07:21 – Waiver process for reduced monitoring
• 09:41 – Initial monitoring requirements and costs
• 10:02 – Public comment deadline and hearing details
• 11:04 – PFAS treatment research update
• 12:23 – Wastewater spill reports
• 15:29 – Housekeeping

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, the hosts discuss the state of the industry surveys from each water brand — Wastewater Digest and WaterWorld — with some data points. The hosts provide some analysis of the results, including what some of the biggest challenges and trends are moving into 2026.

• 2025 State of the One Water Industry
• 2024 State of the One Water Industry

• Cold open | 0:00
• Episode summary | 1:01
• Financial trends | 6:29
• Organizational health | 9:45
• Key industry issues | 32:05
• Housekeeping | 40:24

• WWD Videos
• WW Magazine Subscription
• StormCon Registration

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

In this episode of Talking Under Water as Kaitlin Spiridellis shares insights from her year-long global fellowship exploring water challenges and solutions across five continents. From Europe’s luxury water market and Vienna’s century-old gravity-fed system to sanitation campaigns in Indonesia, equity efforts for First Nations in Australia, and innovative partnerships in Africa, this episode uncovers surprising patterns in water stress and highlights emerging technologies shaping the future of “One Water” management. Kaitlin also reflects on the emotional impact of her journey and her optimism for global collaboration in building resilient, equitable water systems.

• World of water landing page
• The Water Chronicles: A Journey to Understand the World’s Water Disparities

• Cold open - 0:00
• Host introduction and episode summary - 0:53
• Europe segment - 2:04
• Australia - 15:04
• Africa - 19:00
• Global themes & future outlook- 22:44
• Personal reflection - 33:00
• Housekeeping - 36:55

Talking Under Water, a production of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B, is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest(WWD), WaterWorld and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, stormwater and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

In this episode of Talking Under Water the hosts discuss recent industry news, including the resignation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acting administrator, David Richardson; a newly proposed rule of Waters of the United States from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corp; the EPA proposing to revise PFAS reporting under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Water Infrastructure Modernization Act; and investments from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) into resource recovery research and some patent-pending research for Purdue University surrounding PFAS chemicals.

• Search for the PFAS reporting rule change under docket #EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0549 here.
• View a prepublication version of the PFAS reporting rule change proposal here.
• Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 aims at expanding intelligent water infrastructure
• FEMA acting chief resigns amid disaster response concerns
• EPA, Army propose new WOTUS definition aimed at clarity and regulatory certainty
• Purdue researchers develop rapid PFAS screening and replacement method
• DOE invests $25 million to recover critical minerals from U.S. wastewater

• Cold open - 0:00
• Host introductio nand episode summary - 0:52
• FEMA Administrator resigns - 1:38
• EPA releases proposed WOTUS rule - 2:15
• EPA proposes TSCA PFAS reporting updates - 3:44
• Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 - 6:21
• Purdue research on PFAS chemical alternatives - 7:56
• DOE invests $25 million into wastewater resource recovery - 9:02
• Housekeeping - 10:16

• WWD webinars
• WaterWorld November/December digital edition
• SWS digital update

Talking Under Water, a production of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B, is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest(WWD), WaterWorld and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, stormwater and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.