To bridge the technical knowledge gap for water utilities navigating emerging technologies, Carollo Engineers — alongside Yokogawa, the National Water Research Institute, and Baylor University — recently developed the AI & Machine Learning Guidebook for Potable Reuse.
Funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation through a fault detection and process control research project, the free publication provides water management entities with a practical, balanced roadmap between entry-level overviews and overly academic studies.
While centered on potable reuse systems using reverse osmosis and membrane bioreactors, the guidebook's principles apply directly to conventional drinking water and wastewater operations. Lead author Yoko Koyama emphasized that machine learning offers proven tools to anticipate infrastructure failures, optimize complex multistage processes, reduce rising energy costs and drive proactive operational decisions.
Shelter-in-Place Lifted After Chemical Incident at Allentown Water Plant
Officials in Allentown, Pennsylvania, recently lifted a shelter-in-place order following a hazardous materials incident at the Lehigh County Authority Waterworks treatment plant. The incident began during a routine delivery when sodium hypochlorite and and polyaluminum chloride were inadvertently mixed inside the facility, generating toxic fumes.
Out of precaution, authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for a half-mile radius around the plant, adjusting the perimeter throughout the day due to shifting winds. Emergency crews contained the hazardous vapors entirely within the building, and environmental meter readings outside detected no dangerous airborne contaminants. Five individuals underwent precautionary decontamination and were transported to a local hospital, though none reported injuries or symptoms.
AWWA Releases Report to Help Utilities Evaluate Data Center Development
Water utilities are increasingly at the center of community discussions about how proposed data centers could impact water resources, infrastructure and system capacity. A new report from the American Water Works Association guides utilities as they navigate those conversations.
The report, titled Cooling the Cloud: Considerations for Water Utilities Evaluating Data Center Development, produced in collaboration with Carollo Engineers, examines resource, technological, financial and contractual factors, including maintaining water supply reliability, recovery of growth-related costs, wastewater impacts and environmental considerations. Read more about it at AWWA.
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