National Advocacy
WateReuse has a strong federal advocacy program. The Association lobbies for funding support for reuse research and local water reuse and desalination projects. WateReuse tracks relevant water legislation, supports bills of importance to members, and maintains close contact with Congress and federal agencies.
The Association's advocacy efforts are managed by the National Legislative Committee. The Committee promotes the adoption of laws, regulation, and public policies that support the water reuse and desalination needs of the membership. The Committee works closely with and directs the activities of the Association's
Title XVI Stimulus Funding Increased to $135 Million
The Department of Interior announced April 15 that it is increasing stimulus funding for Title XVI water recycling projects to $135 million. While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) set a minimum funding requirement of $126 million for water reclamation and reuse projects, the Department of Interior has decided to allocate an additional $9 million. In all, Interior's Bureau of Reclamation will invest $1 billion in water infrastructure under ARRA. For a complete overview of how the ARRA funds are allocated, click here.
Bureau of Reclamation Releases Guidelines for Requesting Stimulus Funding
The Bureau of Reclamation released guidelines March 16 on how to request federal funding provided in the recent stimulus package for Title XVI water reuse projects. To be eligible for Recovery Act funds, projects must be authorized under Title XVI and a formal request must be submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation by April 7, 2009. To view the guidelines, click here.
Transition Team White Paper
The WateReuse Association prepared a white paper for the Congress and President-elect Obama's transition team on Providing Safe, Secure and Sustainable Solutions for America's Water Needs. The document includes ideas and solutions that provide sustainable water management in a manner that promotes a healthy environment, public health, and rapid economic recovery. The document offers five solutions that should be incorporated into a federal response to ensure a safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable water supply for the nation. To view the white paper, click here.