April 10, 2023

March 10-13, 2024 | Denver, CO

Be sure to mark you calendars to join us for the 2024 WateReuse Symposium!

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released state allotments for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) for fiscal year 2023. The funds come from both FY 2023 discretionary appropriations and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In total, the Drinking Water SRF allotment for FY 2023 is $7.13 billion, which includes BIL funding for addressing emerging contaminants and lead pipes. The Clean Water SRF allotment is $3.2 billion.

Of the $7.13 billion provided for the Drinking Water SRF, $1.13 billion comes from FY 2023 discretionary appropriations legislation and of that, $609 million is earmarked for congressionally directed spending projects.

Of the $3.2 billion provided for the Clean Water SRF, $1.64 billion comes from FY 2023 discretionary appropriations legislation. As with the Drinking Water SRF, the majority ($863 million) of the discretionary spending is earmarked for congressionally directed spending projects.

WateReuse has been urging Congress to fund SRF earmark projects in addition to and on top of base funding for the SRF programs rather than taking funding from the base programs in order to fund earmark projects. For now, this practice is not reducing overall SRF funding due to the BIL, but that increased funding will end in 2026. In order to continue to build upon these investments and ensure that the SRF programs are financially sound, Congress will need to fund earmarks on top of and in addition to base SRF programs.

Last week 14 U.S. Senators delivered a letter to the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee requesting full funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants, a top WateReuse Association priority for FY 2024. Each year, Congress determines how much discretionary funding will be provided for programs and agencies across the federal government. As part of that process, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees receive requests both from external stakeholders as well as Members of Congress. The Senator’s letter was led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) who is the current Chairman of the Water Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The 14 signatories represent states from the West, Midwest, and East Coast.

WateReuse is working closely with congressional champions and appropriators to secure funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants, which when funded will become the first nationwide program dedicated to advancing water recycling. In the coming weeks, the appropriations subcommittees will begin to draft appropriations bills, which will then be debated and presented to the full House and Senate Appropriations Committees. WateReuse members are encouraged to contact their Member of Congress to urge them to support full funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants and other water reuse programs in FY 2024 appropriations legislation.

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. This is an important week in Washington for the Association to raise awareness among federal lawmakers about the importance of water recycling to our membership and to water management in the United States. If you have questions about Water Week or need help setting up your hill visits, contact Greg Fogel. If you cannot join us in Washington for Water Week, we encourage you to plan events in your community about the importance of water reuse to your water management goals.  

The directors of the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority approved a major capital project last week. The project will include reuse priorities including biological treatment improvements, the renovation of a 3 million gallon recycled water storage tank, stormwater capture and reuse systems within the treatment plant grounds, and more. The tank rehab will expand availability of recycled water in northern Encinitas and southern Carlsbad.

La Plata County is considering adopting gray water regulation as a tool to conserve water and combat drought. The region uses approximately 30 more gallons of water per capita per day than the statewide average. The draft is under review by the county manager and would allow towns to opt-in to redirect laundry machine water toward landscaping irrigation rather than discharging it down a drain. The Colorado Water Conservation Board awarded funding to 4CORE to manage a pilot project installation of “laundry to landscape” – from design to demonstration to education. Notably, the project will create a design manual for operations and maintenance of laundry to landscape systems in residential settings.

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.

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.

March 10-13, 2024 | Denver, CO

Be sure to mark you calendars to join us for the 2024 WateReuse Symposium!

Gainesville, FL
April 27, 2023

Boulder, CO
May 2, 2023

Flagstaff, Arizona
July 24-26, 2023

Frisco, Texas
September 20-22, 2023

Tacoma, WA
September 11-13, 2023