Water & Health Advisory Council members convened on June 22-24 in Washington, DC, for AWWA ACE 2026, joining water industry leaders, utility professionals, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the future of drinking water policy and infrastructure. Throughout the conference, Council members shared perspectives on emerging challenges facing water systems while promoting their open-access book, Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years, through technical sessions, a book signing, and the Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years Reception.
Council members Chad Seidel and Manny Teodoro led the session SDWA: The Next 50 Years – Rethinking the Future of Drinking Water Risk Reduction Opportunities in Drinking Water, exploring how drinking water policy can better prioritize risk and strengthen long-term system resilience. Seidel discussed the importance of relative risk as a framework for directing resources toward the most significant public health challenges, while Teodoro examined the role of consolidation and regionalization in building the technical, financial, and managerial capacity needed for long-term compliance. With most U.S. community water systems serving small populations, many utilities continue to face challenges related to aging infrastructure, workforce limitations, and the financial demands of meeting federal drinking water standards.
Council members Manny Teodoro, Chad Seidel, and Alan Roberson also participated in a signing for Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years, providing an opportunity to engage directly with water professionals and discuss the book’s perspectives on governance, workforce development, infrastructure, and the future of the Act. Later that evening, the Water & Health Advisory Council alongside Summit Strategy Group, Corona Environmental Consulting, and Rogue Water Lab hosted the Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years Reception, bringing together water policy experts, utility leaders, researchers, and public health advocates for an evening of discussion and collaboration. The reception also recognized Dr. Joseph Cotruvo as he transitioned to emeritus status with the Council, honoring his decades of leadership and contributions to drinking water policy and public health.
The Council’s participation continued with 30 Years Since the 1996 SDWA Amendments – How Successful Has the Law Been?, moderated by Alan Roberson and featuring Chad Seidel. The session reflected the impact of the 1996 amendments, examining how the Safe Drinking Water Act has evolved over the past three decades while identifying opportunities to strengthen drinking water policy for the future.
The conversations throughout AWWA ACE reinforced a common theme: protecting public health requires more than addressing individual contaminants. Long-term success will depend on strengthening infrastructure, workforce capacity, governance, and system resilience while ensuring drinking water policy remains grounded in sound science and practical implementation. The Water & Health Advisory Council looks forward to continuing these discussions and advancing collaborative solutions that support safe, reliable drinking water for communities across the country.
Read the open-access book here
Sign the Madison Declaration here