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Drinking Water

Whether your goals are to unlock new sources, enhance the quality and reliability of the supplies you have or upgrade the technologies you use, we can help you achieve water supply innovation.

Mark White

Practice Lead

Mark White

How we support your drinking water goals

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Since 1947, CDM Smith has been a global leader in developing, treating and delivering safe and resilient drinking water supplies. As industry-leading technical experts, we deliver best-in-class solutions with a focus on innovation and sustainability.

A water partnership for
the long haul

We provide services for the complete water project lifecycle — from piloting and preliminary design to permitting, construction, and operation— which allows us to foresee, plan for and quickly resolve issues. 

Conventional and
advanced water
treatment

Whether the solution is conventional or advanced treatment (UV, ozone, biological filtration, or membranes) CDM Smith's expertise leads the way in successfully meeting water providers’ most challenging issues.

Industry leaders in corrosion control and LSLR programs

We can help you navigate regulations, develop corrosion control strategies, secure funding and implement actions, including sharing our expertise gained from designing, managing, inspecting and replacing more LSLs than anyone else.   

Groundbreaking R&D that solves today’s problems

Our decades of advanced R&D on topics such as biofiltration, PFAS, and contaminants of emerging concern, have resulted in practical solutions that improve the way we treat drinking water supplies. 

How do you determine the right level of treatment for PFAS?

What's the right level of treatment for PFAS? Too little and you risk PFAS getting through. Too much and you could blow up your budget. Dr. Charles Schaefer and his all-star team are diligently designing PFAS treatability studies to address this problem head on.

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Featured drinking water projects

Always looking forward, we prepare today for the problems we may face tomorrow, guiding our clients through uncertainty and forging a path towards a more promising future.

View All Water Projects
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Interior of a water treatment plant with large beige tanks, blue pipes, and chemical containers.
Ayer, Massachusetts

Ayer combats PFAS with dual treatment systems 

To safeguard its drinking water, the Ayer Department of Public Works (DPW) partnered with CDM Smith to design two tailored PFAS treatment systems using innovative adsorption technologies.

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Aerial view of a construction site with cranes, machinery, and workers, surrounded by greenery and distant cityscape.
Aerial view of a construction site with cranes, machinery, and workers, surrounded by greenery and distant cityscape.
Houston, Texas

The US’s largest progressive design-build project 

Houston expanded its Northeast Water Purification Plant to 400 mgd, increasing its ability to support growth while reducing groundwater dependency.

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Aerial view of water treatment plant in Jordan
Aerial view of water treatment plant in Jordan
Northern Shuneh, Jordan

Hydrating Jordan’s northern region 

Thanks to a remarkable drinking water infrastructure upgrade, more than 1 million people now have improved access to potable water in the Northern Governorates of Jordan. 

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I love brainstorming during concept development, discovering the best path forward to meet key objectives.

Mark White, PE, BCEE

Senior Environmental Engineer

Mark has extensive experience in water treatment facility planning, design and upgrades, with expertise in membrane technology and project management.

Related resources

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Webinar

Unlocking over 90% high recovery reverse osmosis for reuse and desalination

This webinar will provide the tools necessary to identify not only if high recovery systems are right for your system, but which technologies could be the best fit.

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Insight

Using communication to boost public trust in water systems 

Effective communication can boost public trust in water systems, especially regarding Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance programs. Rose Hanson, strategic communications expert, shares best practices for transparency, accountability, and accessibility when engaging the public.

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Insight

Why is public communication key to successful lead projects? 

Environmental communications expert Autumn McNeill explains what water utilities must know to engage with the public as they plan to develop inventories, home and school sampling programs and lead service line replacements.

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Insight

Piloting for water reuse

Jill Tedder, discipline leader for water reuse in the Southwest, sat down to discuss her experience with piloting and how it’s evolving water treatment for the future.

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On-demand webinar

What's happening next? Emerging contaminants, new PFAS, and beyond

For several years, much of the drinking water industry has been focused on addressing lead and PFAS. As most utilities address these water quality issues, the question is what is next. What contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) should utilities be preparing for?

Launch Webinar

Related practices

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Conveyance

Whether you’re concerned about keeping existing water conveyance assets healthy or building new ones, we’re here to help you find the answers you need.

Water Reuse

Water reuse is the future of water supply. CDM Smith is committed to strengthening water supply portfolios where they are most needed today and will be tomorrow.

Water Reclamation

Whether your goal is to meet your permit conditions or to build a net-zero facility, we’ll work with you to find the right solutions.

One Water

CDM Smith has been a leader in One Water for more than two decades, developing integrated water resources strategies and advancing projects that enhance our communities and protect the natural World. 

Ready to take the next steps?

We love collaborating with passionate individuals and organizations. If you want to talk about potential projects, reach out to our experts. If you're interested in joining our team, check our careers page for open positions or internships.

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