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The rising development of data centers – being used to power AI tools and cloud services – are increasing energy and water demands across the Western US.    If current trends continue, new data centers in states such as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah could collectively use billions of gallons of water annually.…

A new “Playbook” offers a practical, step-by-step framework for publicly owned water, wastewater, and energy utilities to attract, develop, and retain a new generation of trained workers. Topics covered in the Playbook include recruitment; compliance; environment, health and safety; training and development; and, employee and labor relations.   This guide equips HR professionals and leaders…

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $9 million in grant funding to help protect drinking water systems from cybersecurity threats and natural disasters. Authorized by Congress through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), this grant program is now open for applications from public water systems serving 10,000 people or more.    The EPA has…

PFAS contamination poses a nationwide crisis. A new report confirms these toxic “forever chemicals” now affect 98% of tested US waters. Researchers found elevated levels at 95% of sampled sites downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Similarly, 80% of sites downstream from biosolids land application sites showed increased PFAS levels.   The report expanded on previous…

The southwestern United States is having its worst megadrought in 1,200 years. New research suggests that this drought could persist for decades, as ongoing warming disrupts the region’s vital rain cycles. Models suggest continued global temperature rises could keep the Southwest in a dry regime through at least 2100.   The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)…

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is beginning an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Verde River Sediment Mitigation Project in northern Arizona. This comprehensive study will examine options for restoring lost storage capacity due to sedimentation.    The goals of this EIS include restoring the lost capacity of Horseshoe Reservoir and mitigating future sedimentation throughout…

The annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report (Report)provides updates on the ecological health of the lake, discussing past and ongoing environmental challenges. UC Davis has conducted continuous monitoring of the lake since 1968. This accumulated data provides invaluable insights for this iconic, but vulnerable lake.   The latest 2024 Report indicates that Lake Tahoe…

Utah’s agricultural program to reduce water use through improved efficiency is showing some encouraging results. Nearly 700 projects have secured funding under the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Agricultural Water Optimization Program. To date, 250 projects have been completed resulting in annual savings of over 40,891 acre-feet of water! This volume of water could…

Severe weather events, particularly heavy rainfall, are becoming increasingly common. Having reliable assessments of location and timing for such occurrences is crucial for saving lives and property. Researchers have developed a new AI method that converts low-resolution global weather data into high-resolution precipitation maps.    Researchers utilize historical weather model data, which describe global precipitation…