In this “In the kNOW” webinar, we will describe the primary programs that will be used to distribute the Federal stimulus dollars to water sector projects; how to access those funds; and the key attributes of projects that are successful in securing Federal funding support. We will also share the benefits you can achieve by taking advantage of these new programs, along with information about important previously existing Federal funding sources, such as the low-interest loans with flexible financing provided through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, now in its fifth year. You will hear insights and successful case examples from Jacobs staff who have helped clients secure Federal and State financing for billions of dollars in water infrastructure capital projects, and from one of the senior underwriters in EPA’s WIFIA loan program.

The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act contains $55 billion in infrastructure spending spread over five years for water, wastewater and stormwater funding programs. Owners need to move quickly in order to secure these funds. One way to do that is to consider alternatives to the traditional design-bid-build delivery approach. This “In the kNOW” webinar will describe the range of collaborative delivery models available and highlight how each can reduce project timelines and improve project outcomes. Collaborative delivery is the fastest growing form of project delivery in the water industry – for a reason. These approaches take various forms, but each involve close collaboration among all stakeholders—owners, designers, constructors, operators, technology providers, and equipment suppliers—through all stages of a project.

Utilities and municipalities are challenged to go beyond traditional levels of service to deliver solutions that mitigate climate impacts, improve infrastructure and address broader community needs. Due to its cross-cutting benefits as a strategy, communities are increasing prioritization and investments in green infrastructure to manage stormwater objectives while enhancing community health, improving overall infrastructure, and providing opportunities, especially for disadvantaged populations. Additionally, as a nature-based solution, green infrastructure provides a resilient solution set to mitigate and address the impacts of climate change. This webinar will provide motivation and drivers for green infrastructure, case studies and concepts exploring policy and equity for green infrastructure from stormwater parks to healthy streets to a wide variety of community amenities.

Infrastructure projects are becoming more challenging as we address aging infrastructure, capacity issues, climate change, population growth and conflicts with other existing infrastructure. Optimization technology employs sophisticated algorithms, enhanced computation and automation to assist water utilities in finding solutions to these complex infrastructure problems that maximize benefits and minimize costs. In this webinar, we will present examples from Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance, a CSO Long-Term Control Plan and others with our partner Optimatics.

While we respond to other pressing global challenges, climate change remains one of the biggest threats to life on this planet as we know it. As anchor institutions embedded in nearly every community, water systems have an opportunity to accelerate our progress, playing an even bigger role in delivering decarbonization and resilience measures against climate change. In this webinar we will present the key findings of the recent IPCC AR6 ‘Physical Science Basis’ report of greatest relevance to the Water sector. We will help identify the potential vulnerabilities and make practical recommendations for resilience actions that can be taken to pro-actively manage them.

In this “In the kNOW” webinar, we will explore the role of water resource recovery facilities (WRRF) in combating the climate emergency. The wastewater sector offers immense opportunities to contribute to climate goals. Two utilities – Metro Vancouver and VCS Denmark - will share their experience identifying and implementing measures to reduce emissions and achieve energy neutrality goals. We will also discuss the latest research on the quantification of nitrous oxide and methane emissions, considering global best science and the ambitions of the U.K. water sector as part of their 2030 net zero route map.

Within watersheds and across community boundaries, utilities are tackling complex challenges in sustainably, equitably, and safely managing water. Addressing these challenges requires integrated, collaborative solutions that are specific to the regional watershed, beneficial to local communities, and rooted in the context of the global water cycle. Integrated or One Water approaches are not a one size fits all. In this webinar we will learn how two utilities – the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District – are addressing very different water quality and water quantity challenges.

Cities are archetypal ‘systems of systems’ – everything connects to and impacts everything else. Elements of cities – infrastructure, services, open spaces, community activities, and more – cannot and should not be addressed in isolation. Historically, this mono-dimensional approach has been commonplace. Recognizing, devising, instituting, and operationalizing a comprehensive, integrated systems-based approach to strategy, planning, design, and development of water infrastructure is essential to the future of cities; and cities are fundamental to the global attempts to properly manage the water cycle and address climate change and social inequities. In this “In the kNOW” webinar, we will explore the role of water infrastructure projects as catalysts for urban revitalization, presenting a case for this transformative approach and sharing actual examples to highlight its successes to date, while defining remaining challenges.

Getting the best possible raw water quality is fundamentally important to water treatment. Engineering higher water quality in drinking water reservoirs is practical and powerful. There are emerging methods to predict spikes in taste and odor compounds or harmful algae blooms days, if not weeks, in advance using machine learning tools. In this webinar, you will learn how Clayton County Water Authority in Georgia, U.S., manages water quality in its indirect reuse reservoirs employing state-of-art water supply protection within an integrated water management program.

The American Rescue Plan Act, provides $1.9 trillion in relief to families, small businesses, and state and local governments to offset lost revenues and put significant effort into expediting COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution. An infrastructure bill is expected to work its way through the U.S. Congress in the next few months that will follow up with targeted funding for specific sectors of infrastructure, including water, transportation and others. Additional federal funding is being channeled through existing programs, such as continuation of federal contributions to low-interest loan programs for water and transportation sectors.

Water for industrial uses represents almost twenty percent of global water demand according to the UN World Water Development Report, 2021. In this panel discussion, we will explore three industrial markets that experienced major impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and have been transformed for the recovery and beyond: Life Sciences / Pharmaceuticals, Data Centers and Forest Products.

The Lead and Copper Rule was initially promulgated in 1991 with minor revisions over the past 30 years. On January 15, 2021, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released Long-Term Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, which are currently undergoing a public comment period. The Long-Term Revisions will have significant impacts on the 60,000 public water systems required to comply with the rule. While aimed to reduce the risks of lead and copper, the revisions will add even more complexity, logistical challenges, and data management considerations. During this public comment period there are steps that utilities can take to prepare for some of these requirements, which can take a couple of years to complete.