WateReuse News: U.S. Market Analysis, LA Times Talks Reuse

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

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July 25, 2022

Analysis: U.S. Market for Water Recycling

Stay On Top of Water Recycling Trends

The growth of water reuse technologies and products provides utilities with an option for local, sustainable water supply, and creates opportunities for businesses to help implement these innovative solutions.

WateReuse Association recently commissioned a comprehensive study examining the expected growth of water recycling in the municipal and industrial sectors across six U.S. regions.

The reports are now available to WateReuse Association members. Check to see if your organization is a member, or become a member today to explore all six reports!

View the Reports

Washington Update

House Advances Six Appropriation Bills, Including Water Reuse Funding

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a six-bill appropriations package that includes more than $60 million for water recycling and another nearly $20 million for desalination projects in FY 2023. WateReuse lead the way in advocating for this funding, which includes $20 million for the Title XVI-WIIN Water Reuse Grants Program and $10 million in first-time funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants. WateReuse worked with Congress to authorize the pilot program in last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA); if funding is enacted, it would become the first nationwide program dedicated to advancing water reuse.

WateReuse has also been working closely with Senate champions to secure robust funding levels for both Title XVI-WIIN and the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program.

House Poised to Consider a Drought and Wildfire Relief Package

This week the House is likely to consider the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act (H.R. 5118), a 48-bill package including provisions for key water recycling programs. The package includes an act authorizing Congress to appropriate an additional $700 million for the Competitive Grant Program for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects and extend the program’s length in recognition of the long-term investments needed to address western drought. WateReuse previously reported on the Senate version of this bill introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. The package also includes an updated version of Representative Grace Napolitano’s Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act, crafted with support from the WateReuse Association. The bill raises the Title XVI-WIIN program’s project funding cap from $20 million to $50 million and authorizes $600 million in appropriations on top of the direct funding provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Any final water investment package would need bipartisan support in the Senate. WateReuse will continue to track drought relief and resiliency legislation and will update WateReuse members on upcoming advocacy opportunities.

Department of Interior Releases Final Buy America Waiver; Informational Webcast July 28

The U.S. Department of Interior issued a 6-month Build America, Buy America waiver adjustment period for their IIJA programs. The waiver permits use of non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials while recipients of DOI Federal financial assistance agreements work to incorporate the new Buy America requirements. The extension period for compliance ends January 12, 2023 and WateReuse does not expect this period to be extended. WateReuse is in the process of analyzing the waiver and has serious concerns that it could negatively impact planned water recycling projects.

Bureau of Reclamation is hosting a webinar on the waiver and IIJA implementation on July 28 from 11-12 pm PT (2-3 pm ET). Join the webinar here or by phone: 202-640-1187 (passcode: 648 180 667#)

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

CONSOR joins the WateReuse Association as a full-service transportation and water resources engineering consulting firm that provides engineering and design services for all phases of treatment facility projects. CONSOR’s team includes proven leaders from across the infrastructure engineering landscape, each bringing a legacy of partnership, trust, and innovation.

AZ: Interview Follows Recycling Water and Other Water Sources in Gilbert and Chandler

Water from the Town of Gilbert comes from a variety of sources, including highly treated recycled water, the Salt River Project, the Colorado River, and groundwater. "Gilbert reuses 100% of the water that we receive back through our wastewater system," Eric Braun, Assistant Director of Gilbert Public Works, told ABC15 news. Currently, half the recycled water is delivered for landscape, the rest is used to recharge the aquifer. These practices, and similar practices of conservation and aquifer storage employed by the neighboring City of Chandler help ease drought concerns.

CA: Utilities Lead the Way in Recycling Water

The Los Angeles Times featured WateReuse members Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for modeling the successful collaboration that is needed to execute water recycling projects. “Our goal is really to turn the largest discharge of treated wastewater in Southern California into an engine for groundwater replenishment,” said Brad Coffey, of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The article also highlights the long legacy and continued innovation of WateReuse member Water Replenishment District of Southern California, describing how their Albert Robles Center has helped the agency achieve 100% aquifer replenishment with recycled water.

CA: U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator and San Diego Mayor Tour Recycled Water Construction

Federal officials joined City of San Diego leaders on a tour of the Pure Water San Diego project, currently under construction. Mayor Todd Gloria noted that the project would not only improve local water supply but also reduce ocean discharges by nearly 50%. About $1.2 billion in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) funding is helping to fund the massive construction project. "Over the next five years, the environmental protection agency is going to be investing $50 billion in water infrastructure projects just like this,” said Radhika Fox, U.S. EPA office of water assistant administrator.

KY: Local Conference Features Beer Made with Recycled Water

Two local breweries teamed up with water professionals to produce craft beer from recycled water for the Water is Life festival in Lexington, KY. This exciting education opportunity allowed local brewers and the public to learn about the safety of recycled water.

WateReuse Section News and Activities

WateReuse sections are active across the country. Learn more about what’s going on in the Pacific Northwest in their second quarter newsletter.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Job Opportunity

Technical Program Manager, WateReuse Association

Come work with us! WateReuse is seeking a full-time Program Manager to develop technical programming, administer member-led programs, manage strategic partnerships, and support the Association’s overall education and advocacy goals.

Apply Today!

Managed Aquifer Recharge: Tucson’s Reclaimed Water Story

Earlier this month John Kmiec, WateReuse board member and director of Tucson Water, led an engaging webcast about the Managed Aquifer Recharge projects that are helping Tucson Water serve the community and revive the Santa Cruz River. WateReuse members can view this and other webcast recordings via the webcast library.

Watch the Webcast

WateReuse Conferences, Webcasts, and Events

WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Oregon Summer Summit and Social

Eugene, OR
July 28, 2022
Free event, social, and tour

Join WateReuse Pacific Northwest for a special event at the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission treatment plant in Eugene to learn about recycled water and its many benefits and opportunities, as well as network with leaders in water reuse along with local and state representatives. Learn more at the link below.

California Workshop: Draft Regulatory Concepts for Onsite Treatment

August 1, 2022
2 pm PT | 4:00 pm ET | (2 hour)

The State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) will hold a workshop on August 1, 2022 to present draft regulatory concepts for onsite treatment and reuse of non-potable water regulations. State Water Board staff will provide a brief presentation prior to receiving comments at the staff workshop. If you have any questions, please send an email to DDW staff at ddwrecycledwater@waterboards.ca.gov.

Webcast: A Sustainable Solution to Meet Data Center Water Need – Water Reuse, Innovation, and Partnership

August 24, 2022
11 am PT | 2:00 pm ET | (1 hour)

In this webcast, Arcadis and Tomorrow Water will discuss innovative concepts for reducing the water demands and space requirements of data centers, including the co-location of data centers with water reclamation facilities to allow exchanging water and cooling capacities. According to the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the nation’s data centers collectively consumed 165 billion gallons of water in 2014, a demand which will continue to grow unless the industry explores creative water solutions including the use of recycled water.

WateReuse California Annual Conference

Hyatt Regency Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA
September 11-13, 2022

Join us for an exciting program including keynote speaker Dr. David Sedlak, Co-Director of Berkeley Water Center and author of Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World’s Most Vital Resource, a tour of the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, a packed schedule of technical sessions, and seven panels on topics including drought response, project delivery methods, and inter-agency collaboration.

Partner Event: World Water-Tech North America

Los Angeles, CA
September 28-29, 2022

The World Water-Tech North America Summit accelerates innovation, investment, and collaboration in the North American water ecosystem. The summit will provide water leaders with a platform for high-level discussion, networking, and deal making. Hosted in California, home to both innovative utilities and the highest concentration of start-ups in the world, World Water-Tech North America will assemble municipal and industrial leaders, regulators, engineering firms, tech pioneers, and investors to collaborate towards creating smarter, more resilient water systems.

2023 WateReuse Symposium:
Reimagining Water Together

Marriott Marquis Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
March 5-8, 2023

Submit a Presentation by September 30!

The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the premier conference on water recycling — attracting more than 800 water professionals globally for knowledge-sharing, networking, and intriguing discussions! The event is planned in collaboration with The Water Research Foundation and will include engaging sessions on the latest reuse-related research projects.

Learn More

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