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NEW ENGLAND

Water Wayfinder Issue 3 – 2026

The official publication of the New England Section American Water Works Association

2026

NE-AWWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW:

One Water, One Future

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Lending Industry Expertise in the Classroom Recognize Excellence in the Water Industry Fall Webinar

Address Service Requested: New England Section American Water Works Association – c/o Cody Finan, AWWA, 6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235 USA

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Issue 3 – 2026

contents 11

Reflection Message from the Section Chair

Message from the Executive Director

Projection Recognize Excellence in the Water Industry

Fall Webinar

Section Sponsorship

Connection

12 15

2026 NE-AWWA Annual Conference Preview: One Water, One Future

Technical Selection Lending Industry Expertise in the Classroom

Build It Standard or Custom: What Municipalities Should Know Before Building a PFAS Treatment System

Issue 3 – 2026

contents CHAIR Ryan Shea Boston Water & Sewer Commission CHAIR-ELECT Richard Fedder Raftelis PAST CHAIR Christopher Woodcock Retired TREASURER Chi Ho Sham Independent Consultant

SECTION DIRECTOR Renee Lanza GEI Consultants Inc. MASSACHUSETTS TRUSTEE Peter Salvatore Boston Water & Sewer Commission MAINE TRUSTEE Patsy Root IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. NEW HAMPSHIRE TRUSTEE Sarah Trejo Aquarion Water Company RHODE ISLAND TRUSTEE Carleigh Samson Corona Environmental Consulting, LLC VERMONT TRUSTEE Andrew Evans RCAP Solutions

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL Cielo Sharkus Endicott College EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hillari Wennerstrom Mosaic AMC LLC

Direction

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Sarah Trejo – Editor and Chair

New England Section AWWA Events

New Section Members

28 New England Water Wayfinder is published by

Advertiser Product & Service Center

Tel: 866-985-9780 Fax: 866-985-9799 www.kelman.ca Managing Editor Design/layout Advertising Sales Advertising Co-ordinator

Mathias Leiendecker Kellee Breckman Megan Stanley Stefanie Hagidiakow

©2026 Craig Kelman & Associates Ltd. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or the association, may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.

Issue 3 – 2026

Address Service Requested. New England Section American Water Works Association c/o Cody Finan, AWWA 6666 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235 USA

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Issue 3 – 2026

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Issue 3 – 2026

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Reflection

M E S S AGE F RO M T H E S ECT IO N C H A IR

Building Momentum for One Water, One Future Ryan Thomas Shea, Section Chair

ummer is in full swing across New England, and with it comes an exciting stretch of preparation, collaboration, and momentum for the NE-AWWA community. As we look ahead to the 2026 Annual Fall Conference this October, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made so far this year and share what lies ahead. The first half of 2026 has been defined by remarkable engagement from water professionals across the region. From policy advocacy on Capitol Hill to handson leadership workshops and continued monthly webinar programming, our Section has demonstrated exactly what makes the New England water community strong: a commitment to service, a willingness to collaborate, and a shared belief in the essential role safe drinking water plays in every community. This Spring’s Water Matters FlyIn underscored that strength. With representatives from all five New England member states, we delivered a unified message on infrastructure funding, PFAS accountability, affordability protections, and cybersecurity resilience. These issues remain central to the future of drinking water systems across the country, and NE-AWWA will continue championing policies rooted in public health, equity, and longterm sustainability. NE‑AWWA returned to Washington, DC this June for ACE, with more than 200 water professionals from the New England section representing all five member states attending, presenting, moderating and

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participating in committee and council meetings throughout ACE, a reflection of the region’s deep commitment to collaboration and industry leadership. In addition, our past Section Chair, Chris Woodcock, received the Volunteer of the Year Award, a welldeserved recognition of his dedication and service to AWWA. Jonathan Medeiros was selected to serve and began his term on AWWA’s Young Professionals Committee. Finally, Stephen Estes-Smargiassi was named nationally as the Public Health Champion of the Year by the Lead Service Line Collaborative. This award honors individuals who have made significant contributions towards shaping best practices in lead service line replacements, and Stephen’s recognition reflects over three decades of leadership in advancing LSLR initiatives and improving national guidance. Together, these recognitions highlight the depth of talent within NE-AWWA and the momentum carrying us forward. Beyond federal advocacy, our training and education work continues to grow. The Effective Utility Management Principles Workshop hosted earlier this year received outstanding feedback, and our monthly technical webinars remain a cornerstone of our commitment to accessible, highquality professional development. Combining both of those themes, the NE-AWWA Board is happy to announce a special Financial Planning webinar scheduled for October 7. This webinar will help New England utilities turn regulatory requirements into a financeable capital plan, focusing on major

compliance drivers, such as PFAS treatment, lead service line replacement and aging infrastructure influence on debt strategy, rate setting and customer affordability. The session will also review current funding programs, New Englandspecific governance and ratesetting considerations, and the importance of early stakeholder communication Finally, and most enthusiastically, the 2026 NE-AWWA Annual Fall Conference will take place at the Verve Hotel in Natick on October 21-22, centered around the theme of One Water, One Future. Calls for exhibitors, sponsors, and hotel registration are all open, and we encourage everyone – operators, engineers, students, utility managers, and industry partners – to join us. More than a conference, this event is an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, to learn from peers, to share your voice, and to strengthen the relationships that support our collective mission. At a time of national uncertainty and organizational change, gatherings like this reinforce what has always been true: New England’s water professionals are strongest when we stand together. As always, I welcome your questions, ideas, and feedback. Whether you have a suggestion for the conference program, an issue affecting your utility, or an interest in getting more involved with NE-AWWA committees, I encourage you to reach out. Your participation is essential to the future we are building. Thank you for your continued dedication to public service, and I look forward to seeing you in Natick this October.

Issue 3 – 2026

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Reflection

M E S S AGE F RO M T H E E X EC U T I V E DIRECTO R

Excited to Connect for One Water, One Future in Natick, MA Hillari Wennerstrom, CAE, Mosaic AMC LLC, NEAWWA Executive Director

s fall approaches, I’m reminded of the diversity of New England’s water community and the vital role NE-AWWA plays in bringing people together. Membership offers more than access to resources-it connects colleagues with industry expertise, educational opportunities, and a shared network committed to advancing the water profession across New England. Engagement is essential to a strong association. Whether you attend an online educational program, volunteer on a committee, or connect with fellow members at an in-person event, your involvement strengthens our Section and creates opportunities to share knowledge, build relationships, and learn from one another.

We have an exciting lineup of speakers and exhibitors for our Annual Conference, October 21-22 at The Verve in Natick, MA. I encourage you to join us for One Water, One Future. This event will help you connect, learn, and grow alongside peers from across the region.

"WE HAVE AN EXCITING LINEUP OF SPEAKERS AND EXHIBITORS FOR OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 21-22 AT THE VERVE IN NATICK, MA."

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Projection

Recognize Excellence in the Water Industry

he New England Section AWWA is proud to recognize the outstanding individuals and organizations making a difference across the water industry. NE-AWWA Awards celebrate excellence in leadership, service, innovation, volunteerism, and contributions to the water profession.

Applications are still being accepted! If you know a colleague, organization, or industry leader whose dedication and accomplishments deserve recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Help us shine a spotlight on those who are advancing the water industry and strengthening our communities.

Submit your nomination online today and help us celebrate the people and organizations who make a difference. Award recipients will be recognized at the Section’s Annual Conference, October 21-22.

"IF YOU KNOW A COLLEAGUE, ORGANIZATION, OR INDUSTRY LEADER WHOSE DEDICATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DESERVE RECOGNITION, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION."

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Projection

Fall Webinar

hank you to everyone who joined our August webinar, Applied Math for Operators. Special thanks to Andrew Evans and Rebekah Novak of RCAP Solutions for delivering such an informative and educational session. It was a great way to restart our Webinar Series after a short summer break. We look forward to the next program in the series, our Fall Webinar, Financial Planning for Large Capital Compliance Programs, on October 7 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The presentation will be hosted by Section Chair-Elect Toby Fedder and Past-Chair Christopher Woodcock. This webinar will help water utilities move from “Oh no…” to “Let’s go!” as they plan financing for large capital projects.

"SPECIAL THANKS TO ANDREW EVANS AND REBEKAH NOVAK OF RCAP SOLUTIONS FOR DELIVERING SUCH AN INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL SESSION. IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO RESTART OUR WEBINAR SERIES AFTER A SHORT SUMMER BREAK." The program will guide New England drinking water utilities from regulatory pressure toward practical, financeable capital compliance plans. It will address how overlapping challenges – including PFAS

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Projection

Section Sponsorship SUPPORT THE WATER COMMUNIT Y. BUILD CONNECTIONS. INCRE ASE VISIBILIT Y.

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"SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE WATER INDUSTRY AND CONNECT WITH THE PROFESSIONALS SHAPING ITS FUTURE."

Become a Section Sponsor today! Information is available on our website – https://www.ne-awwa.org

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Connection

2026

NE-AWWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW:

One Water, One Future

ur 2026 Annual Conference, One Water, One Future, is almost here! Join us October 21-22 at The Verve MetroWest in Natick, MA, to exchange ideas, strengthen collaboration, connect with colleagues, and advance a sustainable water future. Attendee registration, the full agenda, room block reservations, and sponsor/exhibitor registration are now available. A strong lineup of speakers and educational sessions is planned for both days. Featured workshop tracks include Drinking Water Quality, Treatment and Regulations and Advanced Innovative Tools to Address Utility Needs. Visit our website for the full agenda and session descriptions. A limited number of rooms are still available at the conference venue for the nights of October 20-21. The room block closes September 20. The link to reserve your room is available on the conference page of our website. Looking to elevate your company’s presence at this year’s event? A limited number of sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor spaces are still available. Sponsoring or exhibiting increases your company’s visibility while demonstrating your organization’s leadership and commitment to a sustainable water future. Opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so secure your spot today. One Water, One Future brings together New England’s water professionals to explore innovative solutions, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships across the drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and environmental sectors. As the region faces evolving regulatory requirements, aging infrastructure, climate resilience challenges, and workforce needs, collaboration has never been more important. This meeting offers valuable technical education, practical case studies, and opportunities to learn from peers who understand the unique challenges facing New England communities. Attendees will connect with industry leaders, regulators, consultants, and utility professionals to exchange ideas and build lasting professional relationships. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of emerging trends, discover new technologies, or expand your professional network, One Water, One Future provides the knowledge and connections to help you succeed. Join your colleagues in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and collaborative future for water across New England.

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WHY ATTEND? Attendees will gain practical insights through keynote addresses, panel discussions, case studies, and interactive workshops focused on safe drinking water and the industries that support it. Scientists, engineers, policymakers, and industry professionals will find valuable opportunities to exchange perspectives, build partnerships, and contribute to a more sustainable water future. TCH APPROVALS: NE-AWWA will seek approval in its five member states: MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT. Approvals will be posted as they are received. Credits will be awarded for each day of attendance. GROUP REGISTRATIONS: NE-AWWA is committed to making conference attendance accessible for member organizations, whether employees attend for one day or both days. • Organizations may split one full conference registration between two employees, with each employee attending one day. • To use this option, select the appropriate registration choice in the system and provide the name of the second attendee. • Organizations registering four or more individuals for the full conference are eligible for a 10% discount on total registration fees. For assistance with group registration processing, please contact our office.

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Connection HOTEL INFORMATION: Located just west of Boston, The Verve’s MetroWest location is situated 18 miles from downtown Boston and Logan Airport in the corporate/retail hub of Natick, MA. Across the street from premium shops at Natick Mall, the hotel features decor inspired by four decades of 20th-century American pop culture. A limited number of rooms have been set aside for the nights of October 20-21 at the rate of $189.00 per night. All rates are subject to applicable taxes at the time of the event. There are three easy ways to make reservations now into our group block: • Use the custom complimentary booking link: https://group.tapestrycollection.com/usgsfs • Hilton Honors Members may use the Hilton Honors App and input the group code “91M” • Call 1-800-Hiltons and reference the group code “91M” or call our front desk directly, 508-653-8800 Deadline to book at our discounted rate is September 20, 2026.

TICKETS $400.00 Member All Access Conference Pass – Wednesday & Thursday $550.00 Non-Member All Access Conference Pass – Wednesday & Thursday $275.00 Members One Day Conference Access $300.00 Non-Members One Day Conference Access $150.00 Student Full Conference All Access Conference Pass – Wednesday & Thursday $100.00 Student One Day Conference Access $400.00 Members Only Split Registration – All Access Conference Pass

Conference Agenda – October 21-22, 2026

TIME

Wednesday – October 21, 2026

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Registration Open & Exhibitor Set Up

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Welcome

10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Workshop Session Track A: Cybersecurity Track B: Advanced Innovative Tools to Address Utility Needs – Part 1

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Break

12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Lunch & Keynote Address

1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Break

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dedicated Exhibit Hall Time

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Workshop Session II Track A: Stormwater Management Track B: Drinking Water Quality, Treatment and Regulations – Part 1

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Networking Reception

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Connection

TIME

Thursday – October 22, 2026

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration Open, Breakfast and Exhibit Hall Time

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Career Fair Setup & Opening

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

General Session/AWWA Speakers

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Break & Exhibit Hall Time

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Workshop Session III Track A: Drinking Water Quality, Treatment and Regulations – Part 2 Track B: Advanced Innovative Tools to Address Utility Needs – Part 2

12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Lunch, Section Business Meeting and Closing

Workshop Session I Breakdown

Track A: Cybersecurity • Jumpstarting a Utility Cybersecurity Program — Kevin Morley • Water Cybersecurity Through Collaboration — Gus Serino Track B: Advanced Innovative Tools to Address Utility Needs – Part 1 • From Data to Decisions: AI-Driven Risk Modeling for Asset Reliability and Revenue Protection — Chuck Krohg • Smarter Infrastructure Investments: A Data Driven Framework for Maximizing Every Utility Dollar — Alyson Bryne & Alfredo Guerra • From Data to Decisions: The Role of AI in Water Process Management — Diana Wagdy

Workshop Session II Breakdown

Track A: Stormwater Management • AWWA Stormwater Management Standard: A Tool to Support Utility Operations — Chi Ho Sham • Where’s the Poop? Improving Methods and Thinking Outside the Box to Close Complex IDDE Catchment Investigations — Julia Vient & Colin Brown • Reimagining Green Infrastructure in Urban Redevelopment: Engineering Out Catch Basins — Peter Enright Track B: Drinking Water Quality, Treatment and Regulations – Part 1 • Ahead of the Curve: BWSC’s Proactive, People-Powered, Tech-Enabled Lead Sampling Program for Schools & Childcare Facilities — Ajay Sharma & Emma Page RETURN TO CONTENTS

• •

Preparing for Anticipated MDBPR Revisions & Addressing Legionella Concerns — Carleigh Samson Addressing Microplastics in Drinking Water Systems: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective — Cielo Sharkus

Workshop Session III Breakdown

Track A: Drinking Water Quality, Treatment and Regulations – Part 2 • Challenges Associated with Incorporating PFAS Treatment Into an Existing Residential Water Supply System — Michael Shortell • Advanced PFAS Regeneration: Centralized Treatment — Nicole Bolea • Why UV AOP Performance Varies: Lessons from Six New England 1,4 Dioxane Treatment Systems — Scott Binder Track B: Advanced Innovative Tools to Address Utility Needs – Part 2 • From Skepticism to Strategy: Tough Questions about AI Prediction — James Fitchett • Evolution of SCADA Communication — Joe Durrance & Noel Henderson • Goodbye ArcMap, Hello Utility Network: Modernizing Utility Operations — Francisco Brilhante

See you in October!

One Water, One Future Issue 3 – 2026

Connection

Speaker Spotlights

Carleigh Samson Carleigh Samson is a Water Process Engineer with Corona Environmental Consulting. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has over 10 years of experience conducting meaningful analysis of national data to understand drinking water quality and contaminant occurrence and to assess impacts of regulatory revisions, including the Microbial and Disinfection Byproduct (MDBP) Rules, the PFAS Rule, and the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.

OCTOBER 21 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | WORKSHOP SESSION II

Cielo Sharkus Dr. Cielo Sharkus is an Assistant Professor at Endicott College and Principal Investigator of the SHARK Lab. Her research focuses on surface-water hydrology and emerging contaminants in freshwater systems. She serves in leadership roles with AWWA and other environmental organizations. Her work emphasizes actionable science that supports water utilities, policymakers, and communities while preparing future engineers through research-driven education and mentorship.

OCTOBER 21 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | WORKSHOP SESSION II

Issue 3 – 2026

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Connection

Chi Ho Sham Dr. Chi Ho Sham is an independent consultant working on drinking water and source water protection, water quality assessment, watershed management, underground injection control, and natural resources management issues for four decades. He volunteers and has volunteered for many organizations including the AWWA, Water Research Foundation, and NEWEA. Chi Ho holds a B.A. from the University of Regina in Canada and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo.

OCTOBER 21 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | WORKSHOP SESSION II

James Fitchett Jim Fitchett is an entrepreneur, management consultant, speaker, and longtime Harvard adjunct professor. He is the founder of VODA.ai and previously served as Harvard Medical School’s first CIO and a Partner at Ernst & Young. His career spans decades of leadership in innovation, strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology.

OCTOBER 22 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | WORKSHOP SESSION III

Chuck Krohg Chuck Krohg is a mechanical engineer focused on smart water technology and data-driven infrastructure planning. He works with water utilities to apply predictive analytics to better understand risk and prioritize investment. His focus is connecting advanced technology with the practical needs of utility managers, engineers, and operators.

OCTOBER 21 | 10:00-11:45 a.m.| WORKSHOP SESSION I

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Issue 3 – 2026

Connection

2026

NE-AWWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW:

One Water, One Future Meet Our Keynote Speaker Christopher Lyon

State Director of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

"Lyon was educated at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Boston College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism." 20

Issue 3 – 2026

hristopher Lyon was born in Boston and raised in a small Plymouth County town without sidewalks and only one lonely traffic light. What Lyon’s hometown lacked in more suburban “amenities,” it more than made up for in cranberry bogs. In fact, Lyon’s hometown, Hanson, was the original headquarters of Ocean Spray Cranberries, a vital part of Southeastern Massachusetts’ important cranberry industry. Lyon’s father, a descendant of three Mayflower pilgrims (Allerton, Rogers and Cooke), worked for Ocean Spray for 25 years. As a young boy, Lyon vividly remembers running through the old factory on weekends when his father was called into work. He has never forgotten the sweet and tart smell of the crushed cranberries on the factory floor. Lyon’s work in politics and government is extensive, starting at a very young age. As an undergraduate at Boston College, his local state representative knew of Lyon’s keen interest in government and politics. Since this representative (a Republican) played poker with the House Speaker (a Democrat), Lyon was able to secure a three-year position as a page in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In his professional life, not only has Lyon lived all over the country but all over Massachusetts, as well. Lyon has lived in Northampton (President Calvin Coolidge’s hometown), Western Massachusetts, Chestnut Hill, and Boston during his college years, and, of course, in Plymouth County. As chief of staff at the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2 during the first Trump term, Lyon’s primary focus was implementing the administration’s environmental policy agenda. Now, as State Director for Southern New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island) in USDA’s Rural Development program, Lyon is rededicated to the America First agenda that will revitalize the area’s abundant and too often overlooked beautiful and unique small communities. Lyon was educated at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Boston College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

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Technical Selection

Lending Industry Expertise in the Classroom AWWA Connections

couple years ago, the Illinois Section of AWWA (ISAWWA) received a call from a local community college interested in launching an educational program for water and wastewater technicians. The community college had received a $350,000, three-year National Science Foundation grant to develop an initiative to address regional workforce demand. “They already understood this was an industry in need of workers and they were asking, ‘What can we do as an educational institution to meet this new need?’” said Laura Morgan, outreach specialist at ISAWWA. Thus began a partnership that focuses on building pathways to careers in water. The Water and Wastewater Technology Program at Waubonsee Community College west of Chicago is in its second year. ISAWWA members teach some of the courses, host some of the interns, and otherwise help inform the curricula. “We quickly realized that it’s really important to match what the students are learning to what the industry wants the mastery in,” said Sheela Vemu, the associate professor at Waubonsee who launched the program with fellow faculty member Nancy Christensen. They pulled together a Business and Industry Leadership Team of regional partners, including ISAWWA, to inform the program’s components.

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“One of the biggest things we emphasized is how many different jobs exist,” Morgan said, referencing lab work, operations, engineering, and administration. “Understanding what happens, how decisions are made, the mechanics, and the whole part of public works and water — it’s an important piece of this program.” It’s one of the reasons why ISAWWA regularly coordinates treatment facility tours – not only for Vemu in her research to start the program, but year-round for local high school counselors and other educators. “They have the same reaction every time: ‘I never knew that there are all these careers,’” Morgan said. “It’s a career discovery experience not just for the students but for the educators.” The program’s internship model extends hands-on learning even further and emphasizes exploration over declaring a specialization. Students rotate through different utilities and roles, gaining practical experience while identifying where their skills and interests align. Interns have “short rotations where they spend time at different utilities and get about 40 hours of hands-on experience,” said Lindsay Selfridge, engagement specialist at ISAWWA. “That is really successful in helping them figure out where they want to go in the field.” Those rotations are designed to compress meaningful learning into short windows of time – a reflection of the program’s ninemonth structure and its focus on workforce readiness.

Issue 3 – 2026

"One of the biggest things we emphasized is how many different jobs exist,” Morgan said, referencing lab work, operations, engineering, and administration." “One of the questions that came up in a recent meeting was, ‘What can you teach someone in four hours that makes them employable?’” Selfridge said. “It’s about being really intentional and making sure students leave ready to contribute.” That alignment between education and industry is especially important in water, where retirements and infrastructure needs are driving demand for skilled professionals. When Waubonsee launched its first cohort in fall 2025, demand from students reflected that urgency. The program exceeded expectations, enrolling more than twice the number of students originally projected; and they’re looking forward to the second cohort this fall. ISAWWA covers the cost of each student’s first year of AWWA student membership, helping them expand their professional networks and access ongoing development. “We want them to jump right in,” Selfridge said. “Whether that’s attending webinars, joining committees, or connecting with young professionals, we wanted to remove any barriers to membership.” Through the AWWA membership, students have attended conferences like WATERCON, ISAWWA’s annual conference, where they’ve interacted with vendors, explored new technologies, and built relationships with potential employers.

Four interns, seated, spoke on a student panel at WATERCON. “This is a really cool program,” Selfridge said. “You’re combining education with real-world experience and creating those connections early. That’s what makes it work.”

“This is a really cool program, You’re combining education with real-world experience and creating those connections early. That’s what makes it work.”

Issue 3 – 2026

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Build It

Standard or Custom:

What Municipalities Should Know Before Building a PFAS Treatment System Why the right answer for PFAS removal depends less on the equipment catalog and more on the system engineering behind it.

ost equipment decisions in the municipal water industry start the same way. A utility identifies a need, a vendor proposes a system, and the conversation moves quickly to specifications, pricing, and delivery. For decades, that process has favored a single answer: the standard, off-the-shelf system, a model the industry has come to trust for good reason. PFAS is changing that calculus. As utilities confront new federal maximum contaminant levels and looming compliance deadlines, many are discovering that a treatment challenge defined by site constraints, variable source water, and unforgiving performance requirements does not always fit neatly into a catalog. The question facing a growing number of utilities is no longer simply which system to buy, but whether a standard system is the right tool for the job at all.

THE CASE FOR STANDARD SYSTEMS There is a reason standardization has dominated the water industry. A manufacturer that produces a consistent line of systems builds efficiency into everything it touches: supply chains are predictable, components are sourced in volume, and the engineering is largely settled before an order comes in. That translates directly into advantages a utility can feel: • Lower upfront cost. Volume purchasing and repeatable designs keep capital costs down and quotes competitive. • Speed and predictability. When the configuration is already worked out, lead times are shorter and there are fewer surprises. RETURN TO CONTENTS

• •

Proven, repeatable performance. A system that has been built hundreds of times carries a long track record behind it. Simpler procurement. Fewer custom variables mean a more straightforward path from specification to delivery.

For many applications those benefits are decisive, and a standard system is simply the smart choice. The limitations emerge only Issue 3 – 2026

Technical Selection

when the application stops cooperating with the catalog. A standard system carries fixed assumptions about tank height, footprint, nozzle and access locations, and pipe runs, all baked in long before a utility ever calls. When a site cannot accommodate them, the utility ends up adapting itself to the equipment rather than the other way around. The software world offers a useful parallel. A generalized, offthe-shelf product is built to serve everyone, which is exactly why it costs less and rarely fits any one customer perfectly. You save on the upfront price, then pay later in the work of adapting the solution to your particular needs. A purpose-built solution flips that equation: it is adapted to you out of the gate.

are multidisciplinary in a way routine filtration is not, depending on the interplay of water quality, media selection, hydraulic loading, site logistics, operator capabilities, and long-term economics, and those variables rarely line up the same way twice. That complexity is most acute for the smaller and mid-sized systems that make up much of the affected market, the utilities with the tightest sites, the most variable source water, and the least margin for a poorly fitted system, and precisely the ones a standard catalog serves least well. Additionally, PFAS is the first contaminant being regulated at parts per trillion (ppt) levels, and this 1000x increase in granularity often results in poor performance when comparing Standard lead-lag systems to more modern 3- and 4-vessel arrangements, especially when planning for the pending 4 ppt MCL. The media savings from adding a 3rd vessel increases as PFOA and PFAS concentrations increase, and a custom system build for your water quality can often provide significant O&M savings vs. a Standard lead-lag system as these estimates illustrate:

WHY PFAS CHANGES THE EQUATION The water industry has historically been cautious about anything custom, defaulting to the belief that standard is safer until a problem becomes painful enough to justify a different approach. PFAS is proving to be exactly that kind of problem. These projects

Estimated GAC Media Life Savings with 3rd Vessel*:

PFOS Concentration (ppt)

PFOA Concentration (ppt) 0

7.5

N/A

14%

30%

39%

49%

60%

20%

33%

41%

51%

62%

7.5

26%

22%

34%

42%

53%

65%

34%

22%

35%

42%

52%

65%

43%

23%

37%

41%

53%

67%

52%

25%

37%

45%

55%

64%

* Calculated using EPA Shiny software, assuming groundwater with low TOC

WHAT “CUSTOM” ACTUALLY MEANS Custom is an easy word to misuse. It does not mean reinventing the individual components. At the component level, these systems are built from the same fundamental parts: tanks, pumps, valves, and media. The customization happens one level up, in how those parts are integrated into a complete system that solves a specific set of site constraints, treatment objectives, and operational and financial goals. In other words, the value of a custom approach is not custom hardware for its own sake. It is custom system engineering. 24

Issue 3 – 2026

The conversation begins where every treatment project does, with water analysis and flow rates, then moves into a fuller picture of what the utility is trying to accomplish. Designing around the realities of the site A genuinely custom process digs into questions a standard configuration cannot fully answer. Any supplier can ask them; the difference is whether the system can be shaped around the responses. What are the utility’s operational capabilities once the RETURN TO CONTENTS

Technical Selection

system becomes theirs, and how should that shape the design? What are the logistics for getting equipment in and out, and is there room for laydown areas and media replacement, or is this a candidate for a vessel-swap program? Each answer steers the design, and each is unique to the site. Media selection follows the same logic. Water quality should drive most of the choice, but it is not the only factor. On the carbon side, the economics of reactivation, proximity to a kiln, and the trade-offs between virgin and reactivated carbon all factor into a decision a capital-cost-only lens would miss. Ion exchange resin carries its own selection criteria. The choice between a PFAS-selective resin and a less expensive nonselective one turns on background water chemistry, because competing ions such as sulfate, nitrate, and organic carbon can shorten run length and drive up changeout frequency. Because most PFAS resin is single-use, the spent-resin disposal pathway and its cost become central to the lifecycle economics. And where short-chain compounds such as PFBA or PFBS are present, resin chemistry may be selected for the advantage it offers on those harder-to-capture fractions. A custom process weighs a far wider set of parameters than a standard specification accounts for. Matching the vessel to the application Vessel selection is a clear example of where one size does not fit all. Steel vessels with traditional epoxy coatings make the most sense once diameters reach roughly 36 inches and above. Below that, the availability and economics of steel become challenging, and market alternatives often feel residential rather than built for PFAS treatment. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or FRP, still has its place, particularly for short-deadline temporary installations. For permanent installs it carries real drawbacks, including limited access for underdrain maintenance. Recognizing this gap, some providers have engineered purpose-built polymer vessels as a Goldilocks option between FRP and steel in the smaller size ranges. The right answer depends on the application, and a

process that can choose among vessel types serves the utility better than one locked into a single option.

THE DISCIPLINE BEHIND A CUSTOM BUILD The hesitation many utilities feel about custom systems usually comes down to a single fear: that custom means improvised, and improvised means risk. That fear is legitimate when custom work is done the old way, figuring it out on the shop floor. It evaporates when the work is backed by modern design discipline. The single biggest differentiator in a well-run custom process is that nothing is left to be sorted out during fabrication. Everything is designed in 3D before it is built. Choices about flow splits,

Emery & Garrett Groundwater Investigations A Division of GZA

Groundwater Exploration, Development, & Protection | Permitting Geotechnical Services | Environmental Assessments | PFAS Investigations For more information contact:

Peter J. Foster, P.G., 603-279-4425, peter.foster@gza.com 56 Main Street / P.O. Box 1578 Meredith, NH 03253 www.gza.com RETURN TO CONTENTS

Issue 3 – 2026

Technical Selection

"As utilities confront new federal maximum contaminant levels and looming compliance deadlines, many are discovering that a treatment challenge defined by site constraints, variable source water, and unforgiving performance requirements does not always fit neatly into a catalog."

parallel trains, tank access and nozzle locations, valve tree placement, and the pipe runs connecting them are exactly the kind that go wrong at the site if they are not verified in advance. That discipline extends to structural and hydraulic performance. Rather than making components bigger and heavier just to be safe, a rigorous process verifies designs with analysis software, using finite element analysis for structural loads and computational fluid dynamics for flow. The result is a complete design package, down to every pipe support and fastener location, that reaches the manufacturing floor with nothing left ambiguous. A fully resolved design package pays a second dividend: control over procurement. When every component is specified up front, parts can be sourced from vendors that already understand the spec they need to meet. In systems that integrate this many parts, a buttoned-up supply chain is just as important to final quality as the design itself.

WHEN CUSTOM IS THE ONLY ANSWER THAT FITS Consider a utility facing a compliance deadline it was not going to meet without help, on a development site with significant space limitations. The need was not simply a temporary system; it was one that could fit a constrained site and stand up to extended use. Working from site visits, photographs, and satellite overlays, a custom trailer-mounted build was engineered and fabricated on an aggressive schedule, delivering full PFAS treatment as a stopgap to a permanent installation. Almost nothing about that build was off the shelf. Considerations ran down to the height of the air release valve, to fit the available space. Custom access hatches were cut into the trailer for future media replacements, and structural reinforcements let the tanks be removed if needed. The result remained in service well beyond its temporary mandate, the kind of quick-deployment build a less agile provider could not have delivered. That is the practical difference a custom approach makes: not a fancier system, but the only system that fits the problem.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT APPROACH None of this makes custom universally better than standard; it makes them suited to different problems: • A standard system is often the right call when the site comfortably accommodates a catalog configuration, source water and flows are within typical ranges, and cost and speed are the dominant priorities. • A custom-engineered system earns its value when the site is constrained, the flows are smaller or unusual, the source water is variable, or the consequences of a poor fit, in performance, operating cost, or a missed compliance deadline, are too high to absorb. The questions worth asking a vendor follow directly. Can you design around my actual site, or only your standard footprint? How do you verify, before fabrication, that the system will perform and fit? Can you match the system to my operators’ capabilities, not just my water chemistry? A provider built around custom system engineering can answer those concretely. A catalog cannot.

THE BOTTOM LINE Standardization brought the water industry real and lasting benefits, and for the right application it remains the smart choice. But PFAS has introduced a class of challenges where the assumptions built into a standard system are exactly the assumptions that fail, on tight sites, at smaller flows, and under deadlines that leave no room for a system that almost fits. For those utilities, the value is not in custom hardware. It is in custom engineering: a process that begins with the realities of the site, weighs every variable that drives long-term performance and cost, verifies the design before anything is built, and delivers a system made for the problem rather than adapted to it. With PFAS, the fit of the system is the difference between a solution and a liability.

AUTHOR: Tom Klein, VP, Product Engineering Tom brings a diverse background in mechanical engineering, water treatment, and PFAS treatment software design, with a strong focus on machinery and system development for municipal water applications. He has also held multiple roles within one of the nation’s largest water and wastewater utilities, providing him with valuable operational insight and real-world experience in large-scale infrastructure management.

Issue 3 – 2026

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Direction

Upcoming Events

OCT

2026 Annual Conference – Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Career Fair Registrations 10:30 am to 2:30 pm The Verve Hotel, 1360 Worcester St., Natick, MA 01760

NEW ENGLAND SECTION AWWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE One Water, One Future Communicating the Value of Every Drop

INFORMATION

www.ne-awwa.org

NOV

15-19 FEB

14-16

OCTOBER 21-22

The Verve Hotel 1360 Worcester St Natick, MA

Water Quality Technology Conference Memphis, Tennessee

WEF/AWWA Young Professionals Summit February 14-16, 2027 Vancouver, BC, Canada

2027

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Issue 3 – 2026

Direction

New Section Members Name

Company Name

Name

Company Name

Alexander Stodolski

Wire Belt Company of America

Katlin Bassett

Springfield Municipal Water

Anthony Fattorini

SWSC

Leah Fuess

Cailin Hesketh

Tighe & Bond, Inc.

MaryAnn Flammia

American Tower Corporation

David Lizotte

Town of Tewksbury Water Sewer Division

Nithyanadham Kankoni Vijayakumar

Rodney Hunt Inc

Deb Lamoureaux

Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.

Paige Zimmerman

Dylan McPhetres

Patrick Connerton

City of Newport, RI - Utilities Department

Elizabeth Bunker

Paul Kaboub

Inyarek Partners Water Works Metrology

Gary Ferrante

Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.

Scott Benting

Helen Lawrence

Champlain Water District

Sienna Faessler

Janelle Mercer

Clemson University

Stephen Goodwin

Jeffrey Harrod

Schneider Electric

Long Trail Partners Utility Services of Vermont

visit us online ne-awwa.org

Issue 3 – 2026

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Advertiser Product & Service Center

New England Water Wayfinder is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of NE AWWA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.

COMPANY

PAGE

PHONE

WEBSITE

AMERICAN Flow Control

800-326-8051

www.american-usa.com

Baker Water Systems, Baker Water Systems, A Division of Baker Manufacturing Co, LLC.

800-356-5130

www.bakerwatersystems.com

Coyne Environmental Services

3, 8

215-785-3000

www.coyneenvironmental.com

Dewberry Engineers Inc.

703-849-0100

www.dewberry.com

Emery & Garrett Groundwater Investigations, A Division of GZA

1-844-342-5492

www.gza.com

Engineering Performance Solutions

855-338-7770

www.epslabs.com

Environmental Finance Center Network

315 443-1846

www.efcnetwork.org

Flomatic Valves

800-833-2040

www.flomatic.com

Holliston Sand Co. Inc.

401-766-5010

www.hollistonsand.com

Integra Clear Co

800-322-6646

www.vita-d-chlor.com

Lowry Water Technologies

800-434-9080

www.lowrywatertech.com

Neptune Technology Group Inc

800-633-8754

www.neptunetg.com/home

Pleasant Mount Welding Inc.

570-282-6164

www.pmwi.net

Sentinel Water Solutions

888-811-PFAS

www.sentinel-h2o.com

The Rapid Group

973-345-5600

www.therapidgroupusa.com

U.S. Pipe

866-347-7473

www.uspipe.com

Underground Testing & Services, LLC

603-497-5549

www.utnsllc.com

Water & Sewer Specialties

877-342-5318

www.waterandsewerspecialties.com NEW ENGLAN D

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