Flood Disaster Lessons and Mitigation Successes at a Small Wastewater System in Vermont

by Shannon Pepper | Aug 11, 2023 | Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards

Many communities’ wastewater treatment plants and related infrastructure are located in or near floodplains, which makes sense given how these facilities work. However, this also means that they are prone to flooding. The Town of Waterbury, Vermont experienced...

The Future of Septic Systems in Rural Coastal Areas: Considering the Options

by Shannon Pepper | Jul 13, 2023 | Decentralized Wastewater Systems, Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards

Decentralized or “on-site” wastewater treatment systems, commonly referred to as septic systems, are a common method of treating wastewater in rural areas that do not have access to centralized sewer service. These systems treat wastewater for a single property or a...

Saltwater Intrusion: Should Your Utility Be Concerned?

by Shannon Pepper | May 1, 2023 | Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards

  Saltwater intrusion in the U.S.: a growing threat to water and wastewater utilities  Nobody likes getting a huge gulp of seawater. Not only is it not fun to drink, but it also has negative impacts on our health, infrastructure, and environment.  Saltwater...

The Threat of Wildfires: Impacts on Local Water and Wastewater Systems

by Shannon Pepper | Dec 20, 2022 | Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards, Source Water Protection

Tune in for a discussion of how wildfires impact wastewater and drinking water systems. As climate change further exacerbates natural disasters, water and wastewater systems will be put at greater risk for service and infrastructure failure or malfunction. In this...

Drought, Water and Environmental Justice: Life in the Desert in Imperial County California

by Shannon Pepper | Dec 19, 2022 | Conservation, Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards, Water Justice

In this podcast Sarah Diefendorf, Director of EFC West, discusses water resources and drought in Imperial County, California with Alex Cardenas, Vice President of the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors representing Division 1 in Imperial County...

Overcoming the ‘Yuck’ Factor: Shaping Public Perception of Potable Reuse

by Shannon Pepper | Dec 13, 2022 | Communications and Outreach, Conservation, Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards, Wastewater

If someone asked you to drink reclaimed wastewater, what would you say? What if they asked you to drink purified water? Clearly the latter sounds more appealing, but both these terms are often used to talk about the same thing: wastewater from homes and businesses...