February 27, 2023

On Friday, February 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published FY 2023 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program state allotments for funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This is the second year of BIL funding for the SRF programs. In total, EPA is awarding $2.4 billion in Clean Water SRF BIL funding to the states in FY 2023. Of that amount, $225 million will be available for projects that address emerging contaminants, including Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Last year, EPA provided $1.9 billion in BIL funds for the Clean Water SRF. EPA will soon be announcing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund allocations for FY 2023, pending completion of the seventh Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment.

The WateReuse Association, in collaboration with our partner organizations, is collecting information from across the water sector about planned water recycling projects in the U.S. Please complete our very brief survey which is different from the member survey sent earlier this month. The survey asks for simple information about current and potential water recycling projects expected to be undertaken within the next five years. Thank you for helping us better understand the extent to which communities are planning to integrate water reuse in their water resources management operations!

The South District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Miami Dade County is receiving a $600 million investment in infrastructure and capacity expansion. This upgrade is expected to increase the county's treatment capacity by 16 percent, from 112.5 to 131 million gallons per day (MGD). Additionally, Mayor Daniella Levine Cara announced a new industrial water reuse strategy that aims to increase the usage of recycled and treated wastewater to provide cooling to buildings within the treatment plant and within its service area. Almost half of the $600 million investment comes from low interest loans from the U.S. EPA, which are expected to save ratepayers millions of dollars compared to other financing options. "With these critical projects that future-proof our infrastructure, we are safeguarding the public's health and positively positioning our county's economy and environment to thrive today, and decades to come." says Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department Director, Roy Coley. Read more

Water reuse was in sharp focus throughout this week’s Arab Water Convention in Dubai. Officials and experts from more than 20 countries convened to address water scarcity and the issues driving it – especially in the most water-stressed countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Dr. Martina Jaskolski, a climate security consultant with the United Nations, stressed the important role that governments can play in establishing robust rules, good management practices, and encouraging research and education. “We are throwing really good water down the drain. It goes into a sewer and it doesn't have to. Even in the household, the water from your shower or kitchen isn’t all that dirty, so why is it going in the sewer?” asked Jaskolski. Read more.

Boulder, CO
May 2, 2023

Flagstaff, Arizona
July 24-26, 2023

Frisco, Texas
September 20-22, 2023

Tacoma, WA
September 11-13, 2023

Indian Wells, CA
November 5-7, 2023