Supreme Court sides with San Francisco, requiring EPA to set specific targets in water pollution permits

San Francisco argued that Clean Water Act permits should function like recipes that restrict specific ingredients in a dish, rather than telling cooks not to make the dish too salty.

Robin Kundis Craig, Professor of Law, University of Kansas • conversation
March 5, 2025 ~11 min

How does raw water compare to tap water? A microbiologist explains why the risks outweigh the benefits

Raw water may not be as safe as it looks. Like raw milk, untreated water comes with dubious health claims and high risks.

Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University • conversation
Jan. 27, 2025 ~7 min


San Francisco is suing the EPA over how specific water pollution permits should be

One of the most liberal US cities is offering the Supreme Court a chance to further restrict federal regulatory power.

Robin Kundis Craig, Professor of Law, University of Kansas • conversation
Oct. 11, 2024 ~11 min

Is hard water bad for you? 2 water quality engineers explain the potential benefits and pitfalls that come with having hard water

Hard water might dry out your hair and skin − but having hard water isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Timothy Ellis, Associate Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University • conversation
May 20, 2024 ~7 min

Thirsty in paradise: Water crises are a growing problem across the Caribbean islands

Water is everywhere, but freshwater supplies are limited on many Caribbean islands. Rising demand and climate change are worsening water shortages for the people who live here.

Farah Nibbs, Assistant Professor of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
May 13, 2024 ~10 min

How to provide reliable water in a warming world – these cities are testing small-scale treatment systems and wastewater recycling

Water shortages are one of the greatest problems created by a warming world. A decentralized water system is a compelling counterargument to the notion that bigger is better.

Lu Liu, Assistant Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University • conversation
Dec. 15, 2023 ~10 min

Collaborative water management can be a building block for peace between Israelis and Palestinians

As the war between Hamas and Israel grinds forward, two experts explain how Israelis and Palestinians have cooperated to tackle their region’s water challenges.

Richard Friend, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of York • conversation
Oct. 30, 2023 ~11 min

Intense heat and flooding are wreaking havoc on power and water systems as climate change batters America’s aging infrastructure

A heat wave that pushed California’s power grid to the limit, and the water system failure in Jackson, Mississippi, are just two examples.

Paul Chinowsky, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Sept. 7, 2022 ~8 min


Intense heat waves and flooding are battering electricity and water systems, as America's aging infrastructure sags under the pressure of climate change

A heat wave that pushed California’s power grid to the limit, and the water system failure in Jackson, Mississippi, are just two examples.

Paul Chinowsky, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Sept. 7, 2022 ~8 min

What contaminants lurk in the UK's drinking water? An expert explains

High levels of lead were unexpectedly found in 14 UK schools’ drinking water: so how much do we really know about what’s in our pipes?

Vanessa Speight, Professor of Integrated Water Systems, University of Sheffield • conversation
Sept. 14, 2021 ~6 min

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