A few months ago, this column addressed the megadrought in the U.S. Southwest and the increasing concerns over water scarcity [ 1]. Since that time, the drought in that region of the U.S. has continued, further impacting communities across the West. And over the course of the summer, severe droughts have been reported across the globe, warranting further attention be given to the impact, as well as the developing technologies, around water scarcity.
Recently released operating plans for Lakes Mead and Powell by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (www.usbr.gov) show no signs of lessening drought conditions in 2023. Instead, the plans include additional reductions in water releases from the Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams, which create the two reservoir lakes. The severity of the situation is underscored by recent allocations of government funding to address severe drought conditions, including $8.3 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water infrastructure programs [ 2].
A global issue
Increasing concerns over drought conditions have recently been reported around the world. A lack of rainfall and heat over the summer had reduced water levels in many of Europe’s rivers. The Rhine river, a major thoroughfare, had experienced low water levels that affected transportation, including that of commercial shipments. A report issued by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in August [ 3] describes numerous additional upsets from the drought, such as reduced yields on summer farm crops, and severe impacts on energy generation both for hydropower and for cooling capabilities in other power plants.
China is experiencing what is reported to be its worst drought on record, with parts of the Yangtze River drying up. Measures being taken in China include shutting down energy-intensive industries and cloud seeding (Source: Washington Post).
Water-treatment technologies
While water-treatment technologies and conservation efforts have been advancing for many years, the current state of severe drought is bringing a renewed urgency to further developments. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is, for example, inviting universities, private industries and other sponsors to submit proposals to receive funding for desalination and water-reuse projects. The Bureau says that up to $2 million of funding is available. Details can be found on its website [ 4].
Last month, in what is said to be the largest round of Series A funding ever given to a water-technology company, ZwitterCo, Inc. (www. zwitterco.com) received $33 million in Series A funding to further develop and produce its zwitterionic membrane technology. The company has patented its zwitterionic copolymers [ 5] and describes its product as a “rugged polymeric membrane that is immune to reversible fouling.” The funding was led by venture capital company DCVC (www.dcvc.com).
More on water-related technologies can be found in this issue’s feature reports, as well as in many of our past issues and on our website.■
Dorothy Lozowski
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. Drought emphasizes water scarcity, Chemical Engineering, June 2022, p.4.
5. See “Membranes,” Chemical Engineering, December 2020, pp.7–8.
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Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
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Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
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Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
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Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Chemical Engineering
Water scarcity worsening
| By Dorothy Lozowski
A few months ago, this column addressed the megadrought in the U.S. Southwest and the increasing concerns over water scarcity [ 1]. Since that time, the drought in that region of the U.S. has continued, further impacting communities across the West. And over the course of the summer, severe droughts have been reported across the globe, warranting further attention be given to the impact, as well as the developing technologies, around water scarcity.
Recently released operating plans for Lakes Mead and Powell by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (www.usbr.gov) show no signs of lessening drought conditions in 2023. Instead, the plans include additional reductions in water releases from the Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams, which create the two reservoir lakes. The severity of the situation is underscored by recent allocations of government funding to address severe drought conditions, including $8.3 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water infrastructure programs [ 2].
A global issue
Increasing concerns over drought conditions have recently been reported around the world. A lack of rainfall and heat over the summer had reduced water levels in many of Europe’s rivers. The Rhine river, a major thoroughfare, had experienced low water levels that affected transportation, including that of commercial shipments. A report issued by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in August [ 3] describes numerous additional upsets from the drought, such as reduced yields on summer farm crops, and severe impacts on energy generation both for hydropower and for cooling capabilities in other power plants.
China is experiencing what is reported to be its worst drought on record, with parts of the Yangtze River drying up. Measures being taken in China include shutting down energy-intensive industries and cloud seeding (Source: Washington Post).
Water-treatment technologies
While water-treatment technologies and conservation efforts have been advancing for many years, the current state of severe drought is bringing a renewed urgency to further developments. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is, for example, inviting universities, private industries and other sponsors to submit proposals to receive funding for desalination and water-reuse projects. The Bureau says that up to $2 million of funding is available. Details can be found on its website [ 4].
Last month, in what is said to be the largest round of Series A funding ever given to a water-technology company, ZwitterCo, Inc. (www. zwitterco.com) received $33 million in Series A funding to further develop and produce its zwitterionic membrane technology. The company has patented its zwitterionic copolymers [ 5] and describes its product as a “rugged polymeric membrane that is immune to reversible fouling.” The funding was led by venture capital company DCVC (www.dcvc.com).
More on water-related technologies can be found in this issue’s feature reports, as well as in many of our past issues and on our website.■
Dorothy Lozowski
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.