Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association (PNCWA) 2026 brought together utility leaders, operators, engineers, and regulators from across the region to discuss the challenges facing clean water systems today. Topics ranged from lift station reliability and nutrient removal to project funding and regulatory change.
Across Keller presentations and conversations throughout the conference, several common themes came up. Regardless of size or location, utilities are working to keep essential infrastructure reliable, move essential projects forward, and prepare for future requirements.
Here are three areas that rose to the top:
Keeping Critical Infrastructure Reliable
Optimization and reliability were recurring topics throughout the conference. As federal funding decreases, optimizing the existing systems becomes even more critical. Whether the discussion centered on lift stations, treatment facilities, or other major infrastructure, the message came through loud and clear. Optimization and reliability come from intentional planning, design, operations, and maintenance.
Key Takeaways
- Collaboration improves outcomes. The City of Nampa’s influent system upgrades highlighted the value of collaboration, early procurement, and thoughtful project delivery when modernizing aging infrastructure.
- Design decisions have long-term consequences. Lift station design choices can significantly affect reliability, safety, maintenance requirements, and lifecycle costs.
- Proactive maintenance reduces risk. Identifying issues such as clogging, controls failures, and equipment wear before they become failures can help reduce downtime and extend asset life.
Finding Ways to Move Projects Forward
Many communities already know what improvements are needed. The harder part is turning those needs into fundable, buildable projects.
Several sessions explored how utilities are pairing technical solutions with creative funding strategies to advance critical infrastructure investments. In many cases, funding considerations are impacting project decisions from the very beginning.
Key Takeaways
- Funding is part of project planning. Grants, low-interest loans, and local funding sources continue to play an important role in delivering infrastructure projects. Keller’s Stillman Norton and Pam Villarreal discussed creative ways to deliver financing.
- Engineering and financing go hand in hand. Funding strategies are increasingly being developed alongside technical and operational solutions.
- Innovation and financing can work together. The City of Rigby’s treatment plant improvements demonstrated how innovative technology and creative financing helped address growth, permit requirements, and cost considerations.
Navigating Future Demands
The decisions utilities make today will influence operations for decades. As regulations evolve and populations grow, long-term planning continues to take center stage.
Discussions around nutrient removal, permitting, and regulatory change highlighted the importance of evaluating solutions that balance performance, operational complexity, lifecycle costs, and future requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Regulations continue to evolve. Stricter nutrient limits are driving interest in augmenting both conventional and advanced treatment technologies.
- Policy can influence infrastructure decisions. Keller’s presentation on Oregon’s Three Basin Rule highlighted how regulatory changes can affect infrastructure planning, permitting pathways, and future growth opportunities.
- Flexibility matters. Utilities are prioritizing adaptable solutions as they prepare for changing regulations, treatment requirements, and population growth.
Looking Ahead
The technologies, regulations, and challenges discussed at this year’s PNCWA varied, but the goal was the same: helping communities make informed decisions and invest wisely in the infrastructure they rely on every day.
Whether the focus is reliability, funding, or long-term planning, utilities across the Northwest are working toward the same outcome—resilient systems that can serve their communities well for years to come.