How can water utilities manage upstream risks to advance potable reuse?

As the adoption of potable water reuse accelerates, the focus is expanding beyond advanced treatment to proactively managing what enters the system upstream. Short-term pollutant spikes, emerging contaminants and industrial discharges can challenge advanced treatment processes designed around consistent conditions. Managing upstream sources is essential for protecting system performance and building public confidence, in addition to meeting regulatory targets.  

Supporting utilities with this challenge is water reuse technologist Tyler Nading. Tyler has spent 17 years at Jacobs focused on reliably transforming wastewater into a sustainable, high-quality drinking water source. His work spans planning, pilot testing, design and startup of advanced water treatment systems, with an emphasis on potable reuse and the upstream controls that make it viable at scale.  

Enhanced source control for potable reuse 

Enhanced source control programs are becoming increasingly important as more utilities adopt potable reuse. Tyler served as principal investigator for The Water Research Foundation’s Project 4960, which developed a comprehensive framework for managing industrial contaminants in potable reuse systems.  

The project brought together utilities, regulators and researchers to develop a framework that enables utilities to identify high-risk contaminants and prioritize monitoring alongside implementing targeted industrial controls.  

Building on this research, Tyler continues to work with agencies to implement enhanced source control programs that align pretreatment, regulatory strategy and advanced treatment performance — so that risk is understood and managed from sewer to supply.  

Shaping the future of water reuse 

Tyler has played key technical leadership roles on major potable reuse programs, including the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT), where he supported the project from pilot testing to regulatory strategy and all the way through the startup of advanced treatment facilities.  

He has also led and supported direct potable reuse evaluations, advanced purification facilities and PFAS treatment programs, helping utilities navigate emerging regulations while identifying practical, cost-effective treatment solutions.  

In parallel with his process expertise, Tyler has led the application of digital twins and dynamic simulation to support treatment plant design and system-wide water quality evaluations. These digital tools are particularly valuable in potable reuse, where performance must be consistent under a wide range of conditions. By simulating hydraulics, controls and water quality together, utilities can test scenarios and optimize performance before systems go live.