Colorado River Basin lawsuit: Arizona enters the ring
How should Colorado River water shortages be shared, and what does the uncertainty mean for communities, agriculture and utilities? In episode 170 of Talking Underwater, hosts Sarah Kominek, Mandy Crispin and Bob Crossen discuss Arizona’s move to join Nevada’s lawsuit challenging the federal government’s approach to managing Colorado River resources for water supply. They explore the dispute over Upper and Lower Basin water cuts, the push for near-term conservation agreements and the history behind today’s allocation challenges.
Also in this episode: a remembrance of a Smith and Loveless wastewater industry leader, Robert Rebori; flooding’s impact on wastewater and drainage infrastructure across the Southwest; Pasadena’s storm preparations; the Navajo Nation’s discharge-permitting milestone; and wastewater infrastructure investments in New York City and San Jose.
Episode chapters
- 01:34 — Remembering a Smith and Loveless wastewater industry leader
- 02:53 — Arizona joins Nevada’s Colorado River lawsuit
- 07:47 — Basin geography, the 1922 compact and water allocations
- 16:29 — Southwest flooding and Pasadena’s storm preparations
- 20:02 — The Navajo Nation’s NPDES permitting milestone
- 20:45 — New York City’s Port Richmond facility upgrades
- 21:10 — San Jose’s biosolids dewatering facility
- 21:44 — Industry surveys, cybersecurity resources and StormCon’s call for papers
Resources & News
- Arizona joins Nevada lawsuit challenging federal Colorado River plan | WaterWorld
- Navajo Nation receives first-ever TAS approval for NPDES and sludge programs | Wastewater Digest
- New York City begins $185M upgrade of Port Richmond wastewater facility
- San José opens $177M biosolids dewatering facility | Wastewater Digest
Surveys & eBooks
About the Author
Bob CrossenBob Crossen
Bob Crossen is the vice president of content strategy for the Water and Energy Groups of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B. EB2B publishes WaterWorld, Wastewater Digest and Stormwater Solutions in its water portfolio and publishes Oil & Gas Journal, Offshore Magazine, T&D World, EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge in its energy portfolio. Crossen graduated from Illinois State University in Dec. 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He worked for Campbell Publications, a weekly newspaper company in rural Illinois outside St. Louis for four years as a reporter and regional editor. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].
Mandy CrispinMandy Crispin
Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld, having joined Endeavor Business Media in 2023. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has internal and external corporate communications experience in disparate industries including online retail, gaming, plastics and is now enjoying exploring the water utility space. Crispin can be reach at [email protected].
Sarah KominekSarah Kominek
Head of Content, Stormwater Solutions
Sarah Kominek is the head of content for Stormwater Solutions at Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B. Kominek graduated from Wayne State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Communication. She worked as a reporter for Plastics News, a Crain Communications publication, for six years covering public policy and medical plastics.
