September 19, 2022

Super Saver registration for members kicks off today, September 19! WateReuse members can register at our extremely discounted rate of just $750 for the 2023 WateReuse Symposium now through Sunday, October 9. Reserve your spot today to access sessions that will highlight how cities, utilities, and businesses nationwide can benefit from water reuse, including how water recycling is delivering benefits to underserved communities.

WateReuse is excited to host water professionals from around the world in Atlanta, GA March 5-8, 2023! Georgia and the Southeast are quickly emerging as water recycling hotspots. New water treatment approaches are not only creating new water sources, they’re creating tools to manage heavy storm water flows and ease pressure on aging legacy infrastructure. In addition to the 2023 WateReuse Symposium’s extensive technical program and plenaries featuring industry leaders and experts, you can also purchase tickets to tour facilities and projects highlighting the region’s unique approach to water recycling. Don’t miss your opportunity to see these innovative water reuse approaches in action!

Book Your Room

A block of rooms at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta has been reserved at a discounted rate of $164 for government employees or $259 for general booking, plus fees and taxes.

The deadline to book your room at the discounted rate is February 10, 2023. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking early is recommended.

We'll see you in Atlanta!

Late last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announced the first round of FY 2022 State Revolving Fund (SRF) capitalization grants for 18 states. These 18 states can now begin the process of awarding grants and loans to communities for a range of infrastructure projects including water recycling projects. The $1.1 billion is the first distribution of SRF money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provides a total of more than $23 billion in base funding for the SRF programs over five years. Under the IIJA, water infrastructure projects will be required to comply with Build America, Buy America provisions unless they are eligible under the recently finalized SRF Buy America waiver. As previously reported, the SRF Buy America waiver applies to projects that have initiated project design prior to May 14, 2022 and eligibility will be determined by the SRF state authorities. The grants announced today cover states that have submitted and obtained U.S. EPA’s approval of their plans for funding, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

Last week, WateReuse and water sector partners delivered a letter to White House Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan detailing the water sector’s request for clear and concise implementation guidance addressing Build America, Buy America requirements for manufactured products and the inconsistent applicability of proposed waivers between federal agencies and within agencies that administer water and wastewater infrastructure programs. WateReuse is developing a similar letter to be delivered to the Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation. Read full letter here. 

U.S. EPA developed two new resources to support implementation of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The first, Funding Drought Resiliency Projects with CWSRF, is a factsheet describing eligible projects that can increase resiliency to drought. Projects that foster drought resiliency include reuse and recycling of wastewater, stormwater, or subsurface drainage; distribution systems to support effluent reuse; assessment of a system’s vulnerability to drought impacts; and water conservation and efficiency projects. Community case studies highlight WateReuse members Orange County Water District (CA), City of Wichita Falls (TX), and City of Safford (AZ).

The second resource, Frequently Asked Questions for the CWSRF Emerging Contaminants Supplemental Appropriation, covers what types of projects are eligible, what funds are available for planning, monitoring, and assessment efforts, and how states determine eligibility. Water reuse projects, potable and non-potable, that may apply advanced treatment to remove PFAS or other emerging contaminants are eligible. The FAQ shares examples of water reuse project applications from WateReuse members including the City of Tucson (AZ) and Upper Occoquan Service Authority (VA).

U.S. EPA awarded $2 million to the University of California, Berkeley to develop a cost-benefit tool to support enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) as a viable, safe, and cost-effective water management strategy. Through the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grant, UC Berkeley will conduct a life-cycle review of EAR looking at geochemical and physical considerations, legal and institutional considerations, and cost-benefit analysis and life-cycle assessment. The research is expected to create an EAR Lifecycle Map for water managers and other decision-makers to assess cost and benefits of implementing EAR projects. Read more.

U.S. EPA announced an $18 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Helix Water District in San Diego County, California. The Drinking Water Reliability Project will expand water reuse opportunities and reduce reliance on imported water through the loan. The Helix Water District expects to replace 30% of its water needs with the alternative source of purified water which will be conveyed from the East County Advanced Water Purification project. Read more.

Last week the cities of Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Grover Beach held a joint city council meeting to provide a public update on their regional reuse project, Central Coast Blue. Project partners Water Systems Consulting supported the presentation. The project will use advanced purification processes to treat 990 acre-feet of recycled water per year for aquifer injection as a seawater intrusion barrier. Construction is set to begin late next year and the facility could be running in 2025. Read more.

The Tampa City Council voted to stop planning efforts on the city’s PURE project, which was investigating options for the advanced purification and reuse of 50 million gallons per day of municipal water. The city will hold a workshop in February 2022 to address public comment on the project and explore options for treatment and reuse. Read more.