WateReuse News: Water Week 2022 Edition

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

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April 25, 2022

This Water Week, Take Action to Advance Water Reuse

Today marks the start of Water Week 2022! This week is our opportunity to advocate for the critical next steps to unleash the full potential of water recycling across the United States. Join us in action:

Urgent Action Needed: Call Your Member of Congress to Fund Water Recycling!

Following the release of the President’s budget request earlier this month, Congress is now deciding how much funding will go to critical water recycling programs, including programs administered by the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).

Take action today! Contact your Members of Congress in support of the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program.

This program – the only nationwide water recycling grant – authorizes U.S. EPA to make competitive grants to water resource development agencies in all 50 states and territories to engineer, design, construct, and test water reuse systems. The WateReuse Association worked successfully with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. EPA to include full funding for the program in the President’s fiscal year 2023 budget request. Now it’s critical we urge our representatives and senators to fund it in their upcoming appropriations legislation.

How You Can Help:

Call the Capitol switchboard today at (202) 224-3121 to reach the office of your representative or senator.
Ask for the staffer who handles water issues and tell them that you are calling about FY 2023 appropriations. Leaving a message is fine!
Our simple message: "Congress should include $25 million for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants (33 U.S.C. 1300) in the FY 2023 appropriations legislation."
If you prefer to write, you can use this template to share your story.
If you need help with addressing your letter, or would like to prepare before a phone call, contact Greg Fogel at gfogel@watereuse.org or 805-570-3038.

More Ways to Celebrate Water Week 2022

Social media: You can use these sample posts and shareable graphics, include the hashtag #WaterWeek2022, and tag WateReuse Association.
Arrange an in-person or virtual Capitol Hill meeting with your representatives. Contact Greg Fogel for assistance.
Expand your perspective by reviewing the 2022 Water Week One-Pager, and the WateReuse policy briefs on the intersections of water reuse with climate change and affordability.

Washington Update

White House Office of Management and Budget’s Build America, Buy America Guidance has Implications for Water Recycling Projects

On Thursday, April 28, the U.S. EPA will host a listening session webinar for the water sector on the Build America, Buy America provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Register here.

Last week, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released guidance on how federal agencies should implement Build America provisions. All federal infrastructure funding projects awarded on or after May 14 must meet these requirements. WateReuse expects to see further information related to waivers and specific construction materials. Read more.

U.S. EPA Releases Funding Notice for Technical Assistance Programs

The U.S. EPA announced a Request for Applications for $68 million to provide technical support to disadvantaged communities across the country. Water reuse is a powerful tool to ensure safe and affordable water, as outlined in a recent WateReuse Association Policy Brief. The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) Grant Program will select technical assistance providers to help communities develop and submit project proposals, including State Revolving Fund (SRF) applications for IIJA funding. U.S. EPA encourages non-profit organizations, universities, and other eligible entities to apply as a designated EFC in an EPA Region or as a national EFC for EPA Headquarters. The application deadline closes June 17, 2022. Read more.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

Sistemas Pluviales joins the WateReuse Association as a design firm focusing on water resiliency, preparing for a changing climate, and finding solutions to restore our ecosystems. Laurent Herbiet is a Mexico City-based architect with a focus on water sustainability from rainwater harvesting for potable reuse, wetlands and wastewater treatment, and reuse for the built environment.

CO: Blog Dives Deep into Recycled Water Brewing

The Arryved Blog published a deep-dive into the efforts of CDM Smith and Ratio Beerworks to produce beer with purified recycled water. The article highlights the importance of high-quality water to craft brewing, a key advantage of using advanced purified water in the process. Read more.

NV: Southern Nevada Leads on Water Recycling, Conservation

Southern Nevada is using less water from the Colorado River than allotted, in large part because the area returns recycled water to the river. A recent KNPR radio story outlined how Southern Nevada Water Authority and Las Vegas Valley Water District are combining water recycling and conservation to preserve water resources without hampering economic growth. Read more.

OR: Clackamas County Maximizing Benefit of Water-Energy Nexus

A recent Who What Why Science article highlighted Clackamas Water Environment Services for combining water recycling with sustainable biogas production. The system not only reduces carbon emissions, but it also provides resiliency from fires, earthquakes and other threats in the form of an onsite energy supply. Read more.

WY: WateReuse Engages Rural Water Operators on Water Recycling

WateReuse Association staff, members, and partners presented a comprehensive overview of water recycling at the Wyoming Rural Water Spring Training Conference last week. Presenters included Austa Parker of Brown and Caldwell, Heather Strathearn of WateReuse Association, Justin Mattingly from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tressa Nicholas from Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The conference brought together hundreds of operators to explore the theme of resiliency.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Have a Question You’d Love to Ask a Peer? Use WateReuse Connect to Find the Answer

WateReuse members can use WateReuse Connect to access a member-to-member network of more than 9,000 water recycling practitioners, business leaders, regulators, academics, and technology providers. Join conversations about potable reuse demonstration facilities, non-potable site supervisor trainings, funding opportunities and more! Post your questions, observations, and unique challenges on our online platform to benefit from the unique experiences of other members across the nation and around the world. It’s simple to use with your member login information. For help accessing WateReuse Connect, please email Member Services.

WateReuse Conferences, Webcasts, and Events

On-Demand WateReuse Symposium

Closing April 30, 2022

The On-Demand 2022 WateReuse Symposium ends this Saturday, April 30. Registrants have one week left to take it all in! If you’re registered to attend, log in here to catch up on recordings. You can still register here to watch videos this week.

Direct Potable Reuse in the Four Corners

May 18, 2022
11 am PT | 2:00 pm ET | (1 hour)
Free for members

The Four Corners region includes the arid western states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. These four states have several common challenges to providing reliable water supplies: rapid population growth, severe long term drought conditions, and dwindling or overallocated natural water sources. Indirect potable reuse is currently practiced in these states, often through managed groundwater replenishment or incidental means. Is engineered potable reuse the next step to building safe, reliable, and resilient water resource portfolios?

While water utilities in the Four Corners states take steps toward direct potable reuse (DPR), each of these states face different implementation challenges. This panel delves into the progress and issues regarding DPR in the region.

Florida Water Reuse Week

May 15-21, 2022

Water Reuse Week is an opportunity to recognize and advocate for the many benefits of water recycling for Florida communities. The week will include in-person programs in the Village of Wellington and Palm Beach, as well as a webcast, virtual engagement opportunities, and other new resources and information.

Learn More and Register