In this episode of The NextDrop Question, I speak with Stacia Eckenwiler, Assistant Administrator with Columbus Water and Power in the Division of Water Reclamation.
Columbus is a useful place to have this conversation. The region is growing across residential, commercial, and industrial demand. For a wastewater utility, that growth is not an abstract planning number. It shows up in treatment capacity, collection-system pressure, wet-weather management, capital projects, staffing, rates, monitoring, and long-term resilience.
Stacia gives a practical view from inside the utility.
One point from the conversation stood out. When projected growth first came into view, the natural reaction was to think about adding treatment capacity. One plant is landlocked. Another plant appeared to need another train. But after reviewing the data more carefully, the team stepped back and asked a better operating question: can the existing system be optimized before committing to major expansion?
That is where monitoring, instrumentation, digital tools, and process changes become practical. Stacia describes how Columbus is thinking about plant optimization, digitalization, gap analysis, operations and maintenance needs, and better use of data to support staff decisions.
This is the part of digital water that matters most to utilities. It is not technology for its own sake. It is better visibility, better confidence, and better decisions under real constraints.
A focused question. A practical takeaway. See you next time.
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