Microplastics, Infrastructure Failures, and Stormwater News
01 May 2026

Microplastics, Infrastructure Failures, and Stormwater News

Talking Under Water

About

In this episode Talking Under Water the co-hosts discuss the addition of microplastics to the EPA’s Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL6), enforcement fallout from the Potomac interceptor sewer collapse, industrial wastewater sampling tied to a Tesla facility in Texas, and recent stormwater headlines across the U.S. 


Show notes

How EPA Regulates Drinking Water Contaminants


CCL 6 Frequent Questions


Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 6-Draft


Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 6 (CCL 6) Docket Folder


Water Research Foundation Project 5155 (Consumer messaging guidance, microplastics)


Understanding microplastics in water: Fact vs. fiction (Brent Alspach video interview)


WaterWorld subscription


EPA, DOJ sue DC Water over Potomac Interceptor collapse


Lab analysis details wastewater characteristics at Tesla-linked site in Texas


Poll: Which wastewater process area will you focus on this year?


Charleston seeks $4.6 million to replace flood-prone homes with rain gardens, retention ponds 


Grand Canyon eases water restrictions as aging system challenges persist


L.A. County captures record 120 billion gallons of stormwater, boosting local supply


Timestamps

00:00 Cold open
00:48 Introduction
01:27 EPA/HHS joint initiative announced to address microplastics
02:13 What the CCL is and how EPA uses it
02:39 How EPA decides whether to regulate (three criteria)
04:02 Draft CCL6 overview (chemicals, microbes, and groups)
05:01 Public comment process + key deadline
05:54 STOMP program explained
09:02 Potomac interceptor collapse
11:05 Tesla-linked wastewater characteristics 
13:03 Douglas County, NV stormwater utility and rate proposals
14:33 Charleston, SC buyouts + rain gardens/retention
15:34 Grand Canyon National Park water system update
16:05 LA County stormwater capture numbers
17:07 Housekeeping


About the Podcast


Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, stormwater and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.    


Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.