You won’t want to miss the keynote address at the 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium, featuring Tanya Trujillo, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of Interior. Register now for your chance to hear the Department’s vision for water reuse and its priorities for addressing water resource challenges nationally.

Assistant Secretary Trujillo oversees the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation and leads the Interior Department’s efforts to address worsening drought conditions in the West. She is a water lawyer with more than 20 years of experience working on complex natural resources management issues. “From managing the Western water crisis to guiding the Department’s robust research efforts,” says United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, “Tanya’s leadership will be key to ensuring sound scientific integrity supports the work to advance Interior’s mission to protect our lands and waters for generations to come.”

As the Biden Administration shifts toward implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), WateReuse Association met last week with Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Commissioner Camille Touton and senior staff to discuss the roll out of federal funds. Commissioner Touton forecasted the release of a spending plan in the coming weeks with additional implementation details. Ahead of the meeting, WateReuse shared a letter detailing recommendations.

WateReuse and water sector partners also submitted a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and EPA last week outlining the impacts that new Build America, Buy America requirements will likely have on the sector. The letter encourages the Administration to provide flexibility in recognition of the unique water, wastewater, and water recycling sectors, and to avoid project delays, cost increases, or hinderances to the consideration of advanced treatment technologies.

Garney Construction joins WateReuse Association as a national leader in water and wastewater construction for systems of all sizes for municipal, federal, industrial, and private clients.

The California Department of Water Resources released 20 grant awards, including $1.7 million to Western Municipal Water District in Riverside County. WMWD will construct a PFAS treatment system to recharge 985 acre-feet of recycled water per year into the Arlington groundwater basin, which has declined by nearly 60 percent in the last 25 years. Read more.

Sarasota County’s Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility Expansion and Advanced Treatment Conversion Project will expand the capacity of existing facilities and provide recycled water for irrigation. “With this project, Sarasota is poised for a stronger, more sustainable and resilient future,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. Read more.

Environmental Protection Online stressed the importance of golf courses using irrigation water from recycled sources. According to the United States Golf Association, approximately 13% of golf courses nationwide use recycled water for irrigation. Through utilizing recycled water, greenskeepers can reduce the strain on local water supplies. Read more.

With the start of the new year, WateReuse staff member Aliza Furneaux will take on a new role as the Association’s Technical and Regulatory Programs Director. In her new role, she will lead administrative and regulatory policy affairs, working closely with the Association’s Director of Government Affairs and Policy, Greg Fogel. She will also continue to shape the Association’s technical programs and content for committees, webcasts, and the annual Symposium. Furneaux is excited to tackle the new opportunity and continue advancing the WateReuse community with the support of her colleagues and WateReuse members.

37th Annual WateReuse Symposium
Marriott Rivercenter | San Antonio, Texas
March 6-9, 2022

The historic passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November 2021 changed the landscape for water reuse funding. What new opportunities have opened up? How can your community benefit?

The IIJA contains $1 billion for investment in western water recycling projects, a $125 million authorization for a nationwide water reuse grant program, and roughly $48 billion for nationwide water programs. It also established a federal interagency working group on water reuse to ensure program and policy coordination between federal agencies. The January 12 webcast will cover next steps in policy-making following the bill's passage, the January 25 webcast will discuss how IIJA funding is being distributed nationwide, and the January 26 webcast will focus on IIJA implementation in California.

Profiles in Reuse are easy-to-understand communications tools that can easily be shared with water customers, policymakers, and others. The Profile on Agricultural Reuse discusses the ways in which recycled water provides a resilient water supply to support farmers. From Oregon, Idaho, and California to Florida and Maryland, the flyer presents some of the innovative ways communities are incorporating agricultural reuse to protect the environment, reduce energy use, and provide food security.