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Whole‐System Approach Meets Public Needs
Author(s) -
Barnes Michael J.,
Pristou Walter,
Hiltebrand David
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.1997.tb02042.x
Subject(s) - mandate , quality (philosophy) , product (mathematics) , water quality , business , process (computing) , water industry , environmental economics , risk analysis (engineering) , operations management , environmental planning , engineering , water supply , computer science , environmental science , environmental engineering , economics , political science , law , ecology , philosophy , geometry , mathematics , epistemology , biology , operating system
Despite the mandate of new drinking water regulations on improving water quality in the United States, the public insists on the inclusion of additional safety features and is willing to pay for these safeguards if cost effective. In many utilities, treatment plant operators are driving finished water quality standards ahead of the regulatory process in an effort to maintain the public's confidence in the water industry's ability to produce a safe product at all times. This article details some of the challenges water utilities face as they strive to produce a product that meets or surpasses current and future water quality rules and regulations as well as the public's increasing demands. United Water New York is used as an example of how water utilities attempt to improve finished water quality by implementing operational changes and upgrades to the treatment plant.