Council member Dr. Chad Seidel, President of Corona Environmental Consulting, just spoke on The Water Entrepreneur podcast with Paul Gagliardo about the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the future of drinking water.
The SDWA has long served as the foundation for safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water. When it was established, it successfully set clear drinking water expectations and regulations that have delivered enormous public health benefits. But as Chad explains, cracks are beginning to show across the nation. Waterborne illnesses and unreliable drinking water service are now regular threats to the nation’s public.
Dr. Seidel argues that too much attention is given to high-profile crises while the everyday basics of safe water delivery often go overlooked. Maintaining infrastructure and ensuring reliable service must earn “air quote” status as one of the industry’s top priorities. Water infrastructure requires extensive time and money to maintain, and the uneven implementation across states has created inconsistent protections for communities.
Chad also acknowledges the critical work of our very own Water Health Advisory Council (WHAC). Our independent water experts can raise difficult but necessary questions about public health and spark much needed conversations about the priorities of drinking water.
Looking forward, Dr. Seidel emphasizes the need to move beyond the “regulatory treadmill” toward proactive change. With most of the nation’s water provided by a few large utilities, thousands of smaller systems struggle and eventually fail, threatening public health. Everyone deserves safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water, and achieving that goal will require leadership, innovation, and the courage to rethink how we manage this vital resource.
Listen to the full episode here:
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