We might be surprised, because we wouldn't expect to find them. The history of our industry over the last twenty to thirty years has been that when we look for things, we find them. These are the harder questions that the utility manager wrestles with. It is what a manager does about what they don't know that drives a decision. That is not to say research is not needed.
Research is needed in a number of areas.
Often times, utilities are forced to take action and make decisions. Regardless of the size of the utility, they all are faced with addressing these kinds of issues. I was recently asked to give a rundown on current trends in the water utility industry to a group of people in the business of developing consumer products. It was on their minds and they knew it was on the customers' mind. Utilities cannot control where customers get information about drinking water.