PFAS Ban at the 2026 Winter Olympics
For the first time ever, this year’s Winter Olympics incorporated a rule banning the use of ski waxes containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The new rule led to Japanese snowboarder Masaki Shiba and South Korean skiers Lee Eui-jin and Han Dasom being disqualified from events due to their equipment testing positive for PFAS. Top-tier events have been testing skis and snowboards for PFAS since 2023 after the International Ski and Snowboard Federation banned the use of PFAS-containing ski wax due to research showing high concentrations of PFAS in the soil at ski resorts, ski slopes and cross-country trails after competitions.
Potomac River Sewer Spill
In January, a section of sewer line collapsed in Montgomery County, Maryland, resulting in untreated sewage spilling into the Potomac River. As of February, over 240 million gallons of sewage had overflowed into the river, making it one of the largest spills of its kind in U.S. history. Read more about the spill and the Environmental Protection Agency’s response efforts.
New Mexico Environment Department Leak Detection Program
The New Mexico Environment Department launched a statewide satellite-based leak detection program in January in an effort to reduce water loss in rural drinking water systems. The program uses remote sensing and AI to help utilities identify hidden leaks and support long-term conservation efforts. A pilot phase conducted in five communities across the state in 2025 identified more than 78 leaks and saved around 345,000 gallons of water per day during the first half of the year. Learn more.
Environmental Water Resources Program in California
The Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris, California, has long partnered with local schools to provide water education. In recent years, the agency has prioritized skills-based programming and partnerships with local high schools to address the aging workforce. Students at West Valley High School in Hemet, California, can go through a two-year pre-apprenticeship Environmental Water Resources program and leave equipped to take the state-level certification exam for a job as a water treatment operator or water distribution operator once they turn 18. More than 200 students have gone through the program since it launched in 2025. Read more.
