Publications and Talks
Policy reports, peer-reviewed papers, and talks are not just ways to communicate my ideas to my peers, they also help me refine and strengthen my ideas, seek feedback, and generate new ideas for the next venture.
Policy Reports and Magazine Articles
Dobie, S., O'Fiesh, L., Alvarez, J., Vedachalam, S., Van Duvall, U., Vogel Davis, S. 2024. Creating an Inclusive Water + Energy Workforce. The Water Council & Corvias Infrastructure Solutions (link).
Vedachalam, S., Sinha, S., Mossman, M., and Dobie, S., Leonard, M., and Dunsavage, J. 2023. A Blueprint to Scale Up Reforestation and Wetland Restoration in Underserved Communities Across the Greater Milwaukee Area. Corvias Infrastructure Solutions, LLC. Ann Arbor, MI. 48 pp., November (link).
Vedachalam, S., Sinha, S., Mossman, M., and Dobie, S. 2023 A Blueprint to scale Up Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Underserved Communities Across the Greater Chicago Region. Corvias Infrastructure Solutions, LLC. Ann Arbor, MI. 36 pp., October (link).
Vedachalam, S., Pebbles, K., & Sinha, S. 2023. Analysis of Great Lakes Regional Poll Data. Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. Ann Arbor, MI.
Vedachalam, S., and Franzen, E. 2022. The Surprising Origins of Dedicated Lead Funding for US Lead Pipe Replacement. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 114(9), 64-70 (link).
Calabretta, S., Cunningham, M., and Vedachalam, S. 2022. Investing in American’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Equity and Sustainability. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Hansen, K., Thomas, T., Vo, S., Berven, K., Moudgalya, P., and Vedachalam, S. 2022. Financing Green Stormwater and Natural Infrastructure with Clean Water State Revolving Funds. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Hansen, K., Vedachalam, S., and Ryan, J. 2021. Increasing State Revolving Fund Capacity through Leveraging. Water Finance & Management. June, 28-30 (link).
Norriss, J., Cunningham, M., DeRosa, A., and Vedachalam, S. 2021. Too Small to Succeed? State-Level Consolidation of Water Systems. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 113(10), 8-15 (link).
Vedachalam, S., Norriss, J., Banerjee, J., and Male, T. 2021. Putting Better Water Quality Communication on the Fast Track. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 113(9), 80-83 (link).
Vedachalam, S., and Dobkin, R. 2021. H2Affordability: How Water Bill Assistance Programs Miss the Mark. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Norriss, J., Zheng, X., Franzen, E., and Vedachalam, S. 2021. Too Small to Succeed? A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding Consolidation in the Water Sector. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Banerjee, J., Vedachalam, S., and Norriss, J. 2021. Re-Envisioning Water Quality Reports: A Priceless Opportunity. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Vedachalam, S., T. Male & L. Broaddus. 2020. H2Equity: Rebuilding a Fair System of Water Services for America. Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Washington, DC (link).
Vedachalam, S., and Kirchoff, M. 2020. Analysis of Water Utility Websites Reveals Missed Opportunities. Journal: American Water Works Association, 112(3): 62-29 (link).
Vedachalam, S., Cassell, M.H., and Heath, E.A. 2019. Are Conservation Programs Effective? Evaluating a Collaborative Approach to Improve Water Quality. Northeast-Midwest Institute, Washington, DC (link).
Vedachalam, S., & Lindquist, A. 2019. What We've Learned in the Two Years of WIFIA's Existence. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 111(3), 33-38 (link).
Vedachalam, S., Mandelia, A.J., and Heath, E.A. 2018. Source Water Quality and the Cost of Nitrate Treatment in the Mississippi River Basin. Northeast-Midwest Institute, Washington, DC (link).
Vedachalam, S. 2018. Lead in Drinking Water: Post-Flint Media Coverage and Evolving Laws in the Northeast-Midwest Region. Northeast-Midwest Institute, Washington, DC (link).
Vedachalam, S., Shannon, A., and Schwab, K.J. 2017. Mobile-Assisted Data Collection for Effective Policymaking: Notes from a multi-country water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) monitoring program. IEEE Internet Initiative eNewsletter. January 2017 (link).
Peer-reviewed Publications
Nicholas, W., & Vedachalam, S. 2021. Poor accessibility of water utilities’ consumer confidence reports. Utilities Policy, 72, 101272.
Vedachalam, S., Mandelia, A.J. & Heath, E.A. 2019. The impact of source water quality on the cost of nitrate treatment. AWWA Water Science, 1(1), e1011.
Vedachalam, S. & R.R. Geddes. 2017. The Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA) of 2014: Structure and Effects. Journal AWWA, 109(4), 1-12.
Vedachalam, S., MacDonald, L.H., Shiferaw, S., Seme, A., Schwab, K.J., & PMA2020 investigators. 2017. Underreporting of high-risk water and sanitation practices undermines progress on global targets. PLoS One, 12(5), e0176272.
Vedachalam, S., MacDonald, L. H., Omoluabi, E., OlaOlorun, F., Otupiri, E., & Schwab, K.J. 2017. The role of packaged water in meeting global targets on improved water access. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 7(3), 369-377.
Vedachalam, S., Spotte-Smith, K.T., & Riha, S.J. 2016. A meta-analysis of public compliance to boil water advisories. Water Research, 94, 136-145.
Vedachalam, S., Singh, P., & Riha, S.J. 2016. Sewage pollution in New York: Impact of the ‘Right to Know’ Act, Water Policy, 18, 1303-1316.
Vedachalam, S., Lewenstein, B.V., DeStefano, K.A., Polan, S. D., & Riha, S.J. 2016. Media discourse on ageing water infrastructure. Urban Water Journal, 13(8), 861-874.
Vedachalam, S., Geddes, R.R., & Riha, S.J. 2016. Public-Private partnerships and contract choice in India's water and wastewater sectors. Public Works Management & Policy, 26(1), 71-96.
Rahm, B.G., Vedachalam, S., Bertoia, L.R., Mehta, D., Vanka, V.S., & Riha, S.J. 2015. Shale gas operator violations in the Marcellus and what they tell us about water resource risks. Energy Policy, 82, 1-11.
Vedachalam, S., Vanka, V.S., & Riha, S.J. 2015. Reevaluating onsite wastewater systems: expert recommendations and municipal decision-making. Water Policy, 17(6), 1062-1078.
Vedachalam, S. & Riha, S.J. 2015. Who’s the cleanest of them all? Sanitation scores in Indian cities. Environment and Urbanization, 27(1), 117-136.
Vedachalam, S., M.E. John, & S.J. Riha. 2014. Spatial analysis of boil water advisories issued during an extreme weather event in the Hudson River Watershed, USA. Applied Geography, 48, 112-121.
Vedachalam, S., Kay, D.L., & Riha, S.J. 2014. Capital investment and privatization: Public opinion on issues related to water and wastewater infrastructure. Public Works Management & Policy, 19(2), 118-147.
Vedachalam, S. & Riha, S.J. 2014. Small is beautiful? State of the dams and management implications for the future. River Research and Applications, 30(9), pp.1195-1205.
Rahm, B. G., Vedachalam, S., Shen, J., Woodbury, P. B., & Riha, S. J. 2013. A watershed-scale goals approach to assessing and funding wastewater infrastructure. Journal of Environmental Management, 129, 124-133.
Vedachalam, S., Hitzhusen, F.J., & Mancl, K.M. 2013. Economic analysis of poorly sited septic systems: a hedonic pricing approach. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 56(3), 329-344.
Vedachalam, S. and Riha, S.J. 2012. Desalination in northeastern US: Lessons from four case studies. Desalination, 297, 104-110.
Vedachalam, S. and Mancl, K. 2010. Water resources and wastewater reuse: Perceptions of students at the Ohio State University. The Ohio Journal of Science, 110(5), 104-113.
Vedachalam, S., Schmiedeler, J.P., & Mancl, K.M. 2009. Automation of delivery device for chlorine dioxide disinfection. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 25(6), 915-921.
Presentations and Talks
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Water and Labor (moderator). U.S. WASH Convening. Washington, D.C. May 8-10, 2024 (forthcoming).
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How to Ensure Water for All? Water Infrastructure Governance, Design, and Use: Do We Need a Radical Shift? (invited panelist). WEC Executive Roundtable. Atlanta, GA. April 23-24, 2024.
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Equity and Justice in Water Systems (invited speaker). AGU23. San Francisco, CA. December 11-15, 2023.
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Centering Communities in Great Lakes Ecosystem and Restoration Programs (invited panelist). Great Lakes Conference. Cleveland, OH. October 12-13, 2023.
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Water and Environmental Justice: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward. Innovative Cities Lecture. School of Architecture & Urban Planning. May 2, 2023.
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Incorporating Equity in Water Infrastructure Decisions. Equitable Infrastructure Solutions class (Prof. Khalid Osman), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. February 15, 2023.
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Guest speaker at Earth Justice class (Prof. Divya Gupta). Virtual. October 12, 2022.
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Equitable, Resilient, and Forward-Thinking Solutions are Needed to Enable Small Communities Access Federal Water Funding (invited). NRWA WaterPro Conference. National Harbor, MD. September 28, 2022.
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Navigating Non-Academic Waters: A Hydrology Jobs Panel (invited panelist). AGU Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee. Virtual. September 8, 2022.
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Advancing water resource equity through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law implementation (invited panelist). Green Bay, WI. June 8, 2022.
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Affordability in the U.S. Water Sector (invited). NEADA Winter Meeting. Virtual. March 18, 2022.
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Consolidation in the U.S. Water Sector (invited). NASUCA Water Committee Meeting. Virtual. February 10, 2022.
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Simple and Effective Water Communication Strategies? Support for Utilities to Improve the Quality and Accessibility of Consumer Confidence Reports. 18th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop. Virtual. September 2, 2021.
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Making Water the Beverage of Choice in Virginia (keynote). Virginia Health Catalyst Summit. October 8, 2021.
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Invited Panelist. Penn State Association of Water Students. Virtual. March 19, 2021.
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Guest speaker at Comms 700 class (Prof. Rahul Mitra). Virtual. February 11, 2021.
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Enhancing water sector resilience through governance and regulatory reforms (invited). SENR Seminar Series. April 14, 2020.
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Fair Water: A Right of All (invited panelist). Washington, DC. June 13, 2019.