Colleen Thompson

Does La Niña Have Other Plans for So Cal’s Typical Wet Winter?

Californians faced some of the worst fires in recorded history this year thanks to a lack of rain and the upcoming storm season may not relieve the state’s unusually dry condition. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, recently confirmed an ongoing La Nina event expected to last into the winter. The event, a part of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, influences global oceanic temperatures and rainfall. A La Nina winter, combined with the effects of global climate change, threatens to push California into …

Elementary California Water Basics—Getting an Education from the Foundation

Californians pride themselves on being water savvy—the Golden State’s vast infrastructure of reservoirs and aqueducts has supported its agricultural industry and booming population for decades. But as global climate change continues to bake the state, California needs massive changes to its water conservation models—starting with better water education.

The Water Education Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1977, instructs Californians about…

To Grab or to Composite...That is the PFAS Question!

The debate regarding the most appropriate method to collect non-potable liquids—specifically POTW influents and effluents—continues. Last month California State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) staff appeared to walk back parts of the original Phase III PFAS monitoring orders, directing the responsibility for making decisions regarding sampling techniques back to the agency and their laboratory. October is upon us and water treatment professionals are wondering…