News: Legislation for Passive PFAS Receivers, Onsite Reuse Spotlight and more!

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May 8, 2023

Washington Updates

Senators Express Support for PFAS Liability Protections Following WateReuse Advocacy; Legislation Would Protect Water Recycling Utilities

Late last month, WateReuse Association joined with water sector associations, local governments, and other organizations to send a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) urging that legislation be enacted to exempt "passive receivers" of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as water and wastewater utilities, from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Following delivery of the letter, Committee Ranking Member Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) expressed support for establishing a PFAS CERCLA liability protection for water and wastewater utilities. EPW leadership is currently developing a legislative package to advance PFAS cleanup through funding and research and advocates are hopeful that a liability shield would be included in the package.

In anticipation of the PFAS package, eight Republican senators led by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Water Systems Liability PFAS Protection Act. The bill exempts water and wastewater treatment facilities from CERCLA liability for releases of PFAS, and includes language drafted by WateReuse and partners to protect water recycling activities, provided such activities comply with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. WateReuse will continue to work with Congress to ensure that PFAS legislation effectively protects public health and the environment while not unintentionally undermining opportunities for water reuse.

To learn more about how water reuse technical experts are approaching future PFAS regulations, don't miss our Thursday, May 18 webcast: "Treatment Strategies for PFAS in Water Reuse."

Federal Government Funds Groundwater Desalination Research Facility

Last week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) announced a $12.6 million investment from the President’s Investing in America agenda to support the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, the state-of-the-art facility is used by government agencies, universities, and private sector companies for desalination research studies, pilot-scale projects, and small demonstration projects. “Investments in desalination, water treatment and reuse are critical as we work to safeguard community water supplies and expand access to clean, reliable drinking water for families, farmers and Tribes,” said Secretary Haaland.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Mid-Atlantic welcome The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). COG is a nonprofit association with a membership of 300 elected officials from 24 local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. Congress. Every month, more than 1,500 officials and experts connect through COG to develop solutions to the region’s major challenges and plan for the future. COG supports water quality initiatives to revitalize local waterways through wastewater and stormwater planning and ensure a safe, resilient water supply for the region. Additionally, COG issues monthly drought reports from May through October.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

AZ: Evaluating Direct Potable Reuse in the Phoenix Area

The City of Phoenix and Carollo Engineers are studying the feasibility of a regional advanced water purification facility. The city will evaluate the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant – owned by five neighboring cities, including Phoenix – to supply treated effluent for a direct potable reuse facility. The plant currently processes 230 million gallons per day, 60 of which would be diverted for potable reuse. The remaining effluent would continue to be reused for agricultural irrigation, environmental restoration, and cooling of the regional nuclear facility. The project could be completed as early as 2030.

CA: Australian News Channel Dives Deep on Potable Reuse in California

A 6-minute news report recently highlighted City of Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment's Terminal Island Reclamation Plant and Tillman Water Reclamation Facility for a story on potable reuse in the United States. The story explores potable reuse through the lens of drought and water shortage as well as drinking water access, noting that nearly 1 million Californians don't have access to safe drinking water. "We're trying to be independent and utilize the water that we have to its most optimal level," said Lance Thibodeaux, an environmental engineer at the Terminal Island plant.

Watch here

CA: The Guardian Taste-Tests Epic OneWater Brew

The Guardian’s Matthew Cantor recently wrote an article about water reuse in California. Cantor sampled Epic OneWater Brew for the story, a beer made by Epic Cleantec and Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company from recycled onsite greywater at one of Epic Cleantec’s projects in San Francisco. “If this were served at a bar,” Cantor writes, “I’d never guess where it came from.”

CO: WateReuse Colorado 2023 Conference Celebrates Major State Achievements

Last week, WateReuse Colorado’s 2023 Conference brought together local water leaders and visionaries for a day of presentations and networking. The conference comes on the heels of the state's new direct potable reuse rule and explored next steps for potable reuse in Colorado. Becky Mitchell, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, provided a keynote address about the strides Colorado has made related to building resilient landscapes with the concept of "One Water" planning front and center. "The longer we have a dependence on something that isn't there, the larger of a problem it becomes," Mitchell said. The event was conducted in collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder.

U.S. Visitors to Israel Get Inspired to Advance Water Reuse

Over the past year, multiple delegations of U.S. water leaders have visited Israel to learn about their water management practices and technologies. In October 2022, WateReuse Association led one such delegation. This month's issue of Journal AWWA includes a report on the visit authored by WateReuse members Hunter Adams of City of Wichita Falls , Erin Messner of the American Water Works Association , Eva Steinle-Darling of Carollo Engineers , Erika Crespo of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality , and WateReuse Association's Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi.

Read the report

More recently, state leaders from Utah also traveled to Israel. In addition to their challenges with fresh water supply, Utah water leaders have a specific interest in Israel's effort to preserve their famous saline lake, the Dead Sea, which faces similar issues to Utah's Great Salt Lake due to upstream diversions. The Utah Department of Natural Resources shared takeaways from the trip, including a goal to understand the opportunities for water reuse and desalination in the state.

Reuse in the News

Wall Street Journal Spotlights Onsite Reuse

The Wall Street Journal published a video last week about water reuse as a solution to water scarcity. The video takes a particular interest in building-scale onsite reuse, and features interviews with Paula Kehoe of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Aaron Tartakovsky of Epic Cleantec. "Most water managers and leaders in the world realize that there is just so much uncertainty that we have to be proactive in our planning," says Kehoe.

Watch here

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Water Reuse Glossary

Wondering how to talk about water reuse in your community? Or just trying to catch up on the lingo yourself? There is a growing body of research on the topic! Check out the water reuse glossary. The glossary includes common definitions and preferred terms for a variety of topics related to water reuse. Use this language as your starting point, but remember that terminology and effective language varies significantly from community to community, so understanding the sensitivities and preferences of your community is always recommended before adopting language related to your specific project.

Visit Glossary

WateReuse Event Calendar

WateReuse Webcast: Treatment Strategies for PFAS in Water Reuse

May 18, 2023 | 11 am PT | 2 pm ET
Free to WateReuse Members

Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a challenge to many water reuse applications due to concerns about potential contamination of soils and groundwater. Impending U.S. EPA rulemaking is making removal of PFAS for potable reuse projects particularly critical. Join our webcast on Thursday, May 18 to learn from the experts about the impact of PFAS on water reuse, potential mitigation strategies, and what you need to do to be prepared for new regulations.

In-Person Tour: Pure Water Soquel

May 25, 2023 | 11:30 am PT

Join WateReuse Central Coast for a tour of Pure Water Soquel in Santa Cruz, CA! The plant is in active construction and the tour will include a construction tour as well as presentations on water recycling technology and plans for the purified water. Lunch will be provided thanks to sponsorship by Black & Veatch, the project’s design-build contractor. Register by May 12 by following the link below and adding your name to the spreadsheet.