Water leaders tend to associate "la nina" with a weather pattern, but something -- or someone -- different comes to mind for the workers at El Paso Water in Texas. Employees believe El Paso Water's administration building is haunted by a ghost nicknamed La Nina. They have reported several eerie incidents, including a printer operating on its own, footsteps in empty hallways and a vault door that swings open by itself.

A 50-year analysis of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers shows that pollutant levels, particularly nitrates, have nearly doubled. Nitrate concentrations this past summer exceeded 20 milligrams per liter, more than twice the safe drinking water threshold, compared with just one to three milligrams per liter five decades ago. Scientists are urging Iowa to implement statewide water quality testing.

Kunia Village in Hawaii is set to drill a deep well to access clean drinking water, addressing contamination from PFAS and pesticides linked to the former Del Monte pineapple plantation. Supported by federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the well will reach 1,175 feet to tap the Ewa-Kunia aquifer. The project awaits final permits and is expected to be operational by mid-2026.

As part of the city's goal to recycle all water by 2035, Los Angeles plans to double the recycled water capacity at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys from 30 million gallons to 60 million daily. Construction begins next year.

Providence Village, Texas, is advancing a $202.5 million expansion of the Tom Harpool Regional Water Treatment Plant that will double the site's capacity to 60 million gallons per day by 2028. The project, financed partly by the Texas Water Development Board, includes a microfiltration membrane system, a 6 million-gallon clearwell tank and upgraded pumping systems to meet increasing regional water demand.

New York is allocating $135 million for 17 water and collection system infrastructure projects across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced. The funding, sourced from state and federal programs, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will enable the replacement of lead service lines and the removal of contaminants from drinking water.