April 17, 2023

As many of our members prepare for their upcoming visit to Washington, DC for our 2023 Water Week Policy Fly-In, now is a great time to review our Policy Priorities for 2023. This year, WateReuse is focused on critical issues including helping the Biden Administration advance water recycling as a key resiliency tool across federal agencies, securing funding for important water reuse programs in FY 2024 appropriations legislation, and ensuring that utilities are not held liable for costs related to cleaning up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

For more information regarding Water Week, or to discuss any of the priorities detailed above, contact WateReuse Policy Director, Greg Fogel, at gfogel@watereuse.org.

Last week, the U.S. EPA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking requesting public input regarding potential future hazardous substance designations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This advance notice solicits public comment through July 12th on future PFAS designations, building off the September 2022 proposed rule designating PFOA and PFOS under CERCLA. The notice requests information on whether to designate additional PFAS, including HFPO-DA (GenX) and compounds that degrade in the environment by processes such as biodegradation, photolysis, and hydrolysis to form certain PFAS.

WateReuse will be reviewing in detail and providing a complete analysis. See the WateReuse Association’s comments to EPA on the initial PFAS CERCLA designation.

Last week, the Department of the Interior released a draft environmental analysis on the potential cuts to water deliveries to states relying on the Colorado River and establishing new guidelines for Colorado River Operations. The interim guidelines are set to expire at the end of 2026, and the seven western states impacted have been working toward their own agreement without a resolution. The draft report details a series of options to prevent water crisis in the drought-stricken states relying on the Colorado River, evaluating two proposals put forth by the states impacted. The first proposal supported by California would have the DOI cut water based on existing legal frameworks which will cut off new users’ water entirely before senior users. The second proposal supported by six of the seven effected states aims to spread the cuts equitably across all the users. The Administration chose not to indicate a preferred proposal, releasing the draft to put pressure back on the states to come to an agreement and prevent further deterioration of hydrological conditions and reservoir elevations. The draft economic analysis is open for public comment for 45 days and will inform an anticipated decision in August 2023 for operating procedures moving forward.  

The U.S. EPA recognized East County Advanced Water Purification's potable reuse project in East San Diego County, California as a 2022 PISCES exemplary project. The PISCES National Recognition program highlights excellence and innovation through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. The California project will treat water from the service area of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, the majority of the City of El Cajon, and three unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The advanced purified water will be recycled through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolent disinfection/advanced oxidation, and free chlorine disinfection. WateReuse congratulates our members on the exemplary project.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District completed construction last week on 1.4 miles of recycled water pipeline to serve irrigation customers in Encinitas. The project was funded by California state grants from Proposition 84 and Proposition 1, and is part of a suite of projects receiving funds from the US Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program.

The state of Iowa granted $8.3 million to five companies for water efficiency improvements including onsite reuse. The grant is intended to reduce industrial users’ reliance on Iowa’s surface and groundwater and decrease the pressure they place on local wastewater treatment plants. Some of the companies, including aluminum firm Arconic, will invest in filtration and reverse osmosis in their new Davenport plant; allowing them to reuse wastewater from their production process onsite. The grant program is part of a larger $100 million statewide effort and investment in Iowa’s water infrastructure.

The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced $250 million for water conservation efforts around Lake Mead. The Gila River Indian Community is expected to receive approximately $133 million of the funding, which they will use in part to construct a recycled water pipeline to offset current demands by 20,000 acre-feet per year. Funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Thursday, April 20, 2023 | 3:00-4:30 pm ET

Potable reuse, purified advanced treated water that augments drinking water supplies, is key to resilience in drought prone areas, as well as in other communities around the world that would benefit from potable reuse for other reasons. This webcast will feature key findings from two recent WRF research projects that can improve and streamline potable reuse implementation.

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.

Gainesville, FL
April 27, 2023

Boulder, CO
May 2, 2023

Tigard, OR
June 22

Flagstaff, AZ
July 24-26, 2023

Frisco, TX
September 20-22, 2023

Tacoma, WA
September 11-13, 2023