When I hear the cliché that there is a lack of innovation in the water industry, I usually pause and reflect on the wider scope of history. Because water is the foundation of lasting societies, it may seem like the industry resides in a fixed state, but the truth is that drinking water systems remain in a long-term equilibrium created from constant pressure to deliver safe, reliable service while also adapting to local stresses and changes. And the water industry has typically responded to its challenges—albeit slowly sometimes—by applying new technologies and innovative approaches as their reliability is confirmed.

What's interesting is that—again, 70 years ago—Wells focuses first on public relations and describes how utilities can improve transparency with their customers before delving into technical advancements.

As usual, this spirit of innovation is well reflected in articles in this issue of Journal AWWA. For example, the water industry is just beginning to understand how to effectively use predictive modeling, and the cover story this month describes how it is being applied as a verification method for determining service line materials as utilities in the United States finalize their inventories of lead use in their service areas. Another feature article highlights how pilot-scale and field-based testing with genomic data can help utilities understand the biogeochemical processes going on inside of their storage tanks and further minimize bacterial growth. As I see it, each article in this and every issue of Journal AWWA reflects the drive for continuous improvement that is inherent in water professionals.

The notion that there is a lack of innovation in the water industry is common, and I suspect that's how it has been for a long time. Regardless, it remains the role of water professionals to listen to novel ideas and consider how new equipment, materials, and attitudes could reasonably provide safer or better-tasting water as well as more reliable or efficient water services. Please consider writing an article for Journal AWWA to share your water industry innovations by contacting me at journaleditor@awwa.org.

当我听到水行业缺乏创新的陈词滥调时，我通常会停下来思考更广泛的历史。由于水是持久社会的基础，因此该行业似乎处于固定状态，但事实是，饮用水系统保持着长期平衡，这是由于持续的压力造成的，需要提供安全、可靠的服务，同时也适应局部应力和变化。当新技术和创新方法的可靠性得到证实时，水行业通常会通过应用新技术和创新方法来应对挑战，尽管有时速度很慢。

有趣的是，70 年前，威尔斯首先关注公共关系，并描述了公用事业公司如何在深入研究技术进步之前提高其客户的透明度。

与往常一样，这种创新精神在本期《AWWA》杂志的文章中得到了很好的体现。例如，水行业刚刚开始了解如何有效地使用预测模型，本月的封面故事描述了如何将其用作确定服务线材料的验证方法，因为美国公用事业公司最终确定了铅库存在他们的服务范围内使用。另一篇专题文章强调了利用基因组数据进行中试规模和现场测试如何帮助公用事业公司了解储罐内部发生的生物地球化学过程，并进一步减少细菌生长。在我看来，本期以及每一期《AWWA》杂志中的每一篇文章都反映了水务专业人士固有的持续改进的动力。

人们普遍认为水行业缺乏创新，而且我怀疑长期以来一直如此。无论如何，水务专业人士的作用仍然是倾听新想法并考虑新设备、材料和态度如何合理地提供更安全或更美味的水以及更可靠或更高效的水服务。请考虑为《AWWA》杂志撰写一篇文章，分享您的水行业创新，请通过journaleditor@awwa.org 与我联系。