February 2023 Newsletter

WateReuse Texas invites reuse professionals to share their latest research, innovation, and experiences with the reuse community by submitting an abstract or presentation proposal for the 2023 WateReuse Texas (WRTX) Conference. Submissions are due by April 17. 

Presentation format can be either a 30-minute technical presentation or an interactive 60-minute panel discussion. We encourage submissions from presenters which include a diversity of voices including water and wastewater utility representation (especially from small utilities, young professionals, and graduate students).

The annual WateReuse Texas conference, to be held September 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency Frisco, brings together industry leaders in water reuse for education, conversation, and networking to promote the growing water reuse industry in Texas. Planned activities include a reuse-related tour, networking reception, plenary sessions, and technical tracks on various reuse-related topics. 

Specialty Sponsors: Garver

Platinum Sponsors: Carollo Engineers, CDM Smith, Plummer, Prime Controls, Gupta and Associates

Silver Sponsors: Lloyd Gosselink Attorneys at Law

Sponsorship and tabling opportunities are still available - please view our sponsorship prospectus or contact Noelle George for more information.

On February 15, 2023 WateReuse Texas and WateReuse Association gathered the four Texas delegates of the 2022 Israel Delegation to share their perspectives about the trip and what they learned from Israel's water management.

With a special introduction by Israeli officials and moderated by Paula Paciorek from City of Houston, this webcast highlighted similarities and differences between Israel and Texas when it comes to desalination, reuse, regulation and more.  

The replay is available to all members and includes presentations from the following: 

• Introduction by Omer Bab, Director of Trade and Regulatory Policy, Embassy of Israel
• Eva Steinle-Darling, Water Reuse Technical Practice Director, Carollo Engineers
• Kobe Nagar, CEO and Co-Founder, 374 Water
  
• Erika Crespo, Assistant Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
• Hunter Adams, Environmental Laboratory Supervisor, City of Wichita Falls – Cypress Environmental Laboratory
• Closing by Danny Greenwald, Senior Deputy Director General for Regulation, Israel Water Authority

To learn more, download the presentation materials and/or watch the replay! If you have ideas for future WRTX webcasts, please contact Noelle George. 

Advance Registration ends this Sunday, February 26 for the 2023 WateReuse Symposium.

The 2023 WateReuse Symposium will feature unparalleled opportunities to convene and network with water reuse experts at the Exhibit Hall, Welcome Reception, party at the Georgia Aquarium, and more! You can also take advantage of nearly 70 professional development hours worth of educational content when you attend in-person, register to stream session recordings from the comfort of your home, or both!

WateReuse Texas has been active in several coalitions and targeted advocacy efforts since the legislative session has begun.

First, we are continuing our involvement in the Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA) Rulemaking Petition to amend TCEQ Rule 321P to enable building-scale treatment and reuse of wastewater (what we typically call onsite reuse) by eliminating the requirement that the owner of the reclaimed water treatment facility also be the owner of a wastewater treatment facility and have a TPDES or TLAP permit. TWCA has received informal feedback on the petition from TCEQ and WRTX is providing input on possible solutions to address that feedback.

Given that Texas is experiencing a record surplus in expected available funding during the next biennium, WRTX has also joined a coalition of seven organizations to spearhead the Water Infrastructure Funding one-pager. The coalition is using the document during conversations with legislators to advocate for water infrastructure funding, and many more organizations have signed on to this effort. If your organization is interested in being listed, please use the contact information on the document.

In addition to the proposed budget which includes $3 billion for water infrastructure, WRTX is also following the developments of Senator Perry's proposed Water for Texas fund (SB 837) as well as looking at other opportunities to advocate for reuse funding.

Please contact Noelle George if you have any comments or concerns about our advocacy efforts, or to join our policy committee.

NEWS

Water Reuse Spotlight: Enviro Close-Up
WateReuse Association's Patricia Sinicropi gave a wide-ranging interview on the global state of water reuse on a program called Enviro Close-Up. The program is syndicated on the Denver-based Free Speech TV to cable and satellite networks nationwide. The discussion touched on projects by WateReuse members including Orange County Water District and El Paso Water. "Recycling really is about transforming the way we think about our water resources" Sinicropi said, "it's a One Water system - if we think holistically about it, we can sustain our future." Watch now.

EVENTS

February 27, 2023: WRTX Representatives will attend Texas Water Day in Austin, hosted by the Texas Water Foundation.

April 12, 2023:Annual WRTX Membership meeting at Texas Water followed by a reuse happy hour co-hosted with the WEAT Reuse Committee. All WRTX members are encouraged to join and participate in electing new board members as well as an update on our accomplishments over the past year. Please check the Texas Water program for location information.

September 20-22, 2023: The WateReuse Texas Conference will return this year at the Hyatt Regency in Frisco, Texas. Plans include a reuse-related tour, networking reception, and two days of exciting content. Sponsorship and tabling opportunities are limited, please contact Noelle George for more information.

Noelle George, Managing Director
ngeorge@watereuse.org | (832) 619-9496