What I learned at WQTC 2025: A leader’s perspective on water quality challenges
The quality and safety of our drinking water have never been more critical or more on the minds of the public. With lead service line replacement deadlines approaching and PFAS concerns making headlines, utilities across the U.S. are under pressure to protect public health and maintain trust while being tasked with doing more with limited funding.
That’s why Erika’s recent move into the role of Lead Service Line Leader for the U.S. West comes at such a pivotal time. In this position, she helps teams and clients navigate complex regulations, leads monthly meetings with a team of AECOM experts and brings together professionals from across the country to share resources and lessons learned. In doing so, she enables the rapid deployment of best practices across the lead service line replacement projects we deliver with our utility partners.
“Every state interprets the U.S. EPA guidance differently, and every water system is unique, so hearing those perspectives is invaluable,” Erika explains.
Collaboration is at the heart of her work and attending the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Quality Technology Conference in November 2025 offered the perfect opportunity to learn, connect and bring fresh insights back to her team.
Why I attended Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC)
I first attended WQTC in 2022, when I presented on the lead service line investigations we were conducting on behalf of Denver Water. It was exciting to share our approach and even more rewarding to see how much interest utilities showed in the discussion. For the 2025 event, my focus was different. With my new role, I wanted to gain perspectives on industry practices for lead pipe replacement and apply those learnings internally. Networking with peers and hearing about emerging trends was my priority.
What stood out most
The sessions were packed with insights. Here are a few that really stuck with me:
- Innovation in lead service line identification
U.S. regulations require utilities to replace lead service lines by 2037. First, they need to know what their pipes are made of. I saw technologies such as X-ray fluorescence that can identify pipe materials without the need to dig up people’s front yards. That’s huge for utilities trying to work efficiently and minimize disruption. - PFAS
PFAS was a major topic, with utilities exploring treatment options to meet strict standards. The regulatory pressure is real, and it’s driving innovation across the industry. For example, treatment technologies are looking to enhance traditional adsorption through novel media that better withstands background organics, or through powdered forms applied in controlled reaction tanks and recovered via membranes, filters or similar processes. There are also advancements underway with the scaling up of foam fractionation processes to separate PFAS from the water column in complicated liquid streams. This approach creates a low‑volume, PFAS‑rich foamate needing little pretreatment, making it well‑suited for use with emerging destruction technologies. - Wildfire impacts on water quality
Living in Colorado, this hit close to home. Ash and chemicals from wildfires can enter raw water reservoirs, overwhelming treatment plants. Some projects are piloting ways to treat ash from recent fires to prepare for future events.
A keynote that inspired me
One of the most inspiring talks came from a NASA engineer who designed the International Space Station’s water treatment system, capable of recovering 98 percent of urine into drinking water. It was a powerful reminder that innovation starts by questioning what we take for granted — like the role of gravity in water treatment and reimagining solutions for environments where those basic assumptions no longer apply. Beyond the technical talks, I enjoyed hearing how challenges vary across regions. In Denver for example, customers have embraced lead service line replacements thanks in part to strong community engagement and an education program that builds trust and understanding. However, distrust of local government makes it harder. Small and rural utilities face different hurdles, like not having GIS systems, which makes it harder to locate service lines, plan replacements efficiently, and meet regulatory reporting requirements. Those conversations were eye-opening and gave me a broader perspective of the challenge.
How it helped me grow
Attending WQTC was as much about learning as it was about connecting. Talking to people outside Colorado and hearing what everyone else is doing helps me grow professionally. Meeting AWWA folks who work on the regulatory front in Washington, D.C. was fascinating too. It gave me a deeper appreciation of the policy side of what we do. I’m also excited to be part of the AWWA Distribution System Water Quality Committees to help with the young professional activities and initiatives for the upcoming year. We’re working to get more young professionals involved, encourage abstract submissions for future conferences, and create opportunities for growth. Building the next generation of water leaders is something I’m passionate about.
Looking ahead
As I step into this new role, my focus is clear: collaboration, innovation and knowledge-sharing. Every utility faces unique challenges, but we all have the same goal — to provide safe, reliable drinking water. WQTC reminded me how important it is to keep learning and connecting.
If you’d like to share your experiences with lead service line replacement or water quality challenges, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep the conversation going.