WateReuse News: Commenting on PFAS Regulations, Arizona Gray Water Spotlight, and more!

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

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April 3, 2023

2023 WateReuse Symposium On-Demand Launches in One Week!

The 2023 WateReuse Symposium On-Demand will offer over 70 hours of fresh, informative recorded sessions. Watch from the comfort of your home or office! The online portal will also include downloadable presentations, research posters, tools to claim your Professional Development Hours, and more useful content from the 2023 WateReuse Symposium.

Washington Updates

National Water Policy Fly-In

Washington, DC
April 25-26, 2023

Join us in Washington, DC to engage your congressional delegation and advance policy priorities for recycled water! Participate in plenaries and receptions with senior EPA and other government officials, as well as Members of Congress and key Hill staff, discussing the federal legislative and regulatory outlook impacting the water sector over the next year. If you have questions about Water Week or need help setting up your hill visits, contact Greg Fogel.

WateReuse Plans to Submit Comment Letter on Proposed PFAS Regulations

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Per- and Polyflouroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the federal register. WateReuse Association members that supply recycled water for potable use will need to comply with these new regulations. WateReuse will be engaging members to develop a set of comments ahead of the May 30 deadline. If you have comments or concerns about how the proposed drinking water regulations will impact water reuse and recycling projects, please reach out to Aliza Furneaux.

As previously reported, the proposed rule sets the first-ever legally enforceable Maximum Contamination Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS in drinking water. The rule proposes regulating:

PFOA and PFOS with an MCL of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for each individually
PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPA-DA (GenX) as a mixture with the MCL at 1.0 (unitless) Hazard Index

Following the 60-day public comment period, the EPA anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Once final, drinking water systems will have 3 years to comply with the new MCLs.

U.S. EPA to Hold Public Hearing on PFAS Regulations

May 4, 2023
11:00 am – 7:00 pm ET

At the public hearing, members of the public can register to attend and provide verbal comments to EPA on the rule proposal. Registration is required to attend and the last day to register to speak at the hearing is April 28, 2023. For questions related to public webinars, you can contact PFASNPDWR@epa.gov.

WateReuse Partners on Water Action Agenda Pledge at UN Water Conference

WateReuse Association participated at the United Nations Water Conference earlier this month to elevate the critical importance of water reuse. WateReuse collaborated with Xylem, Inc. and other partners on a contributing pledge to the UN Water Action Agenda during a session titled “Private Sector Investment Commitment to Water Innovation.” Seventeen global organizations pledged to invest $11 billion in water innovation over the next five years and help accelerate progress on UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 targeting Water and Sanitation. WateReuse also joined the International Desalination Association, U.S. EPA, Veolia and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss water reuse and desalination in the context of global water security during a separate event occurring that week.

View the UN Water Action Agenda

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Texas welcomes Water from Innovation Group Ltd. (WFI). WFI is headquartered in Israel and was founded in 2009 with a vision of “creating new value from water to enhance public health and sustainability.” The company aims to employ sustainable applications and technologies that minimize not only the eco-footprint of water treatment, but also operational expenses. WFI provides a range of services – to address wastewater treatment concerns, such as drought and pollution – including design, operations & managements, and financial tools.

WFI Group

AZ: Tucson’s Gray Water Pilot Program is Gaining Statewide Attention

A successful gray water program administered by Tucson Water and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is now paving the path for conversations about a statewide effort. Tucson Water’s ordinance requires new homes to have gray water systems that reuse water from showers and sinks in toilet bowls. The program also offers rebates for older homes. Senator Sundareshan of Arizona’s 18th District spoke with a local ABC affiliate expressing support for expanding these efforts to multi-level residential houses or commercial buildings.

CA: Turning Wastewater into Beer

A recent ABC7 News Story explored the benefits and applications of onsite recycling systems for apartment complexes, featuring WateReuse member Epic Cleantec. The projects highlighted in San Francisco currently use their drinking-quality onsite recycled water for non-potable purposes. While regulations aren’t in place for the water to be used in the buildings’ potable systems, Epic Cleantec is brewing beer with it to spread the word. "We make beer out of recycled water, because we're trying to change the conversation,” says CEO Aaron Tartakovsky.

Career Opportunity

Technical and Regulatory Program Manager

WateReuse Association | Washington, DC

The Technical and Regulatory Program Manager is responsible for developing technical program content, developing general web content, and managing the Association’s regulatory portfolio.

Apply

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Reservoir Center for Water Solutions

Did you know that WateReuse is a member of the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions? Reservoir is a multi-stakeholder collaboration center for global water issues located along the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. As a member of WateReuse you have access to the Reservoir Center too. If you’re in Washington DC for Water Week 2023 or any other time, you can reserve hot desk for the day, a conference room to host a meeting, or even plan an event in the facility at no cost!

Learn more

WateReuse Event Calendar

Water Research Foundation: PFAS Communications Workshop

Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 9:00-11:30 am ET
Reservoir Center | 301 Water St. SE, Washington DC

Join the Water Research Foundation for a workshop to assist water, water resource recovery, and water reuse utility staff involved with public communications on PFAS. The workshop will draw from WRF’s recent completed project: PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals and is taking place as part of the Water Week Fly-In in Washington DC.