WateReuse News: TX Legislation, TN Water Reuse Grants, and more!

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

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May 15, 2023

Get Engaged: Join a WateReuse Committee Today

Are you ready to become more involved with the WateReuse Association and share your water reuse expertise? Join one of our standing committees to drive industry thought leadership, access best practices, and network with colleagues. WateReuse committees focus on topics that include industrial and commercial reuse, onsite and distributed water recycling, international reuse, and policy. A new committee, focused on water reuse research, was recently established.

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Washington Update

Action Alert: 2024 Appropriations

Following the release of the President’s FY 2024 budget request in March 2023, Congress is now deciding how much funding will go to critical water recycling programs. The President’s budget request includes full first-time funding for the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program, the only nationwide water recycling grant program. Take action today! Contact your members of Congress and urge them to provide $25 million for the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program.

Calling Instructions

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Florida welcome Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities. The organization's mission is to employ the best management, operations, engineering, and financial practices necessary to produce and deliver safe drinking water; as well as treat and dispose of wastewater within environmentally safe regulatory standards, while offering competitively priced products and high-quality services for all Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities customers. The County and surrounding municipalities also provide the option for residents to hook into reclaimed water infrastructure.

Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities

CA: AECOM and Brown and Caldwell Selected to Lead Design and Construction for Pure Water Southern California

A joint venture of AECOM and Brown and Caldwell (AECOM-BC Team) has been chosen to provide program and project management support and engineering design services for the Pure Water Southern California program, one of the largest water reuse programs in the world. The innovative program, being developed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD), will produce up to 150 million gallons of high-quality, purified water per day for up to 15 million people by 2032.

The AECOM-BC Team will lead environmental compliance efforts and the design and construction of advanced purification facilities at LACSD’s Joint Water Pollution Control Plant. The venture also involves MWD member agencies, groundwater basin managers, and water agencies in Arizona and Nevada.

TN: State Water Infrastructure Grants Encourage Reuse

Last week, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced that the application process is open for competitive grants from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. TDEC set aside $50 million for water reuse and another $50 million for resource protection programs including stormwater capture and reuse.

TX: Water Reuse Advances in the 88th Texas Legislative Session

The 88th Texas Legislative session has seen unprecedented activity around water, and WateReuse Texas is collaborating with multiple Texas water organizations to take advantage of the budget surplus and interest in water infrastructure needs. There have also been several regulatory rule amendments and upcoming changes to share with the Texas reuse community.

The Texas House Water Caucus was formed earlier this session by the Texas Water Foundation (TWF) as a non-partisan collaborative focused on water issues. Membership has increased from 38 to 73 legislators and several educational sessions have already been held for legislators and staff. WateReuse Texas is one of the organizations listed in the legislative water caucus portal to contact with questions or for further education. The caucus is an exciting and much needed initiative since many water advocates have left the legislature. WateReuse Texas thanks the Texas Water Foundation for initiating this effort. Read more.

Research Update

WRF Announces New Research; Encourages Utility and Expert Participation

Last week, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) announced that it has allocated $4.8 million to fund 21 new research projects, including projects that will advance knowledge related to water reuse practices. Research projects include one on building successful interagency reuse projects, and another on integrated solutions for brine management.

WRF will release Requests for Proposals in late 2023 for the new research. In the meantime, utilities and subject matter experts are invited to get involved with these new projects as participating utilities or Project Advisory Committee (PAC) members. Utilities can enroll in the Utility Participation in Research program to serve as test facilities, provide samples, respond to surveys, loan equipment, or share staff expertise on research projects of interest. Each project will also have a volunteer PAC, which will oversee the project, providing technical review to ensure the project is scientifically valid and beneficial to the water community.

Learn more

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Explore Stormwater Capture and Reuse

Stormwater capture and reuse is a growing focus in the water reuse community. As climate change increases the unpredictability of weather, reusing our rain can offer many co-benefits including flood management, enhancing water supply and water quality, and cost savings. Visit our new Stormwater Reuse landing page for more information! WateReuse members can also download the Profile in Stormwater Reuse, a useful outreach and education piece for community stakeholders.

Learn more

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.