WateReuse News: Reuse Win in House Appropriations, 3M Settlement, and More

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

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June 26, 2023

Happy 4th of July!

WateReuse Association wishes you a happy 4th of July. In observance of the holiday, there will be no issue of WateReuse Review on Monday, July 3. We’ll be back in your inbox on Monday, July 10!

Washington Update

FY 2024 Appropriations Process Advances with Funding for Water Reuse Programs

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have officially begun their FY 2024 appropriations process, through which Congress will set discretionary spending levels for federal agencies and programs. Last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed its FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which funds programs administered by the Bureau of Reclamation.

WateReuse is pleased to report that the bill provides $20 million for Title XVI-WIIN water reuse competitive grants, along with $10 million for Title XVI legacy projects. The bill also includes a slight increase in funding for the Desalination and Water Purification Program. These levels track with our asks and represent a win, given that the bill reduces the overall Water and Related Resources account by six percent.

Senate Committee Releases Draft PFAS Bill, WateReuse is Preparing Comments

Last week, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) released a legislative package aimed at helping communities protect public health and the environment from polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). WateReuse has been discussing the package with EPW Committee staff since the fall of 2022. While the legislation directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize Maximum Contaminant Levels for certain PFAS, it is largely non-regulatory in nature. Instead, it aims to help address PFAS contamination by advancing technology and treatment solutions, supporting better risk communication, and helping to fill gaps in the science on PFAS.

Key congressional offices have indicated an expectation to WateReuse that the EPW Committee will seek to protect utilities from PFAS liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). It remains to be seen whether the Committee will integrate a CERCLA liability shield into the larger PFAS package, or whether it will seek a different legislative vehicle. WateReuse will be working through our national Policy Committee to develop comments on the draft legislation and will remain in regular communication with the EPW Committee. For full details of the draft package, you can view the section by section package here or the legislative text here. If you would like to submit your own individual comments alongside the WateReuse Association's comments, you can do so here by July 3.

Interior Department Initiates Colorado River Planning, Highlights Water Reuse Investments

The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced that it is initiating the formal process to develop future operating guidelines and strategies to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River. The new guidelines will replace the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which are set to expire at the end of 2026. In its press release regarding the effort, DOI highlights water recycling as part of its strategy to protect the Colorado River system, citing its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment of "$281 million for 21 water recycling projects that are expected to increase annual water capacity by 127,000 acre-feet annually." DOI's Bureau of Reclamation will host three virtual public meetings to discuss the process:

Reclamation requests that the public submit comments to crbpost2026@usbr.gov by August 15, 2023.

3M Reaches $10.3 Billion PFAS Settlement, Utilities Can Invest in Technologies Common to Water Reuse

Late last week, the chemical company 3M announced it will pay at least $10.3 billion to compensate water providers for pollution from per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). The agreement would settle a case that was scheduled for trial earlier this month involving a claim by Stuart, Florida, one of roughly 300 communities that have filed similar suits. The funds will be paid over 13 years and could reach as high as $12.5 billion, depending on how many public water systems detect PFAS during testing that EPA has required over the next three years. The payment will help cover the cost of filtering PFAS from systems where it has been detected, using technologies common in water reuse systems such as reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon.

Federal Task Force Recommends Cabinet-Level Agency on Water

A presidential council focused on infrastructure released a draft report on Friday calling on the Biden administration to set up a cabinet-level agency on water, with the Colorado River crisis as one of the major drivers. In its report, the President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council called for a Department of Water or "some other entity that stewards water at the cabinet level." The report recognizes that water issues have impacts on the economy, energy, agriculture, inland waterway transportation, flood control, and more. Water reuse projects are gaining traction nationwide as a multi-benefit solution to many of these challenges.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New WateReuse Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Mid-Atlantic welcome the Town of Centreville, Maryland. The town provides services to ensure safe drinking water and to enhance wastewater treatment. In 2004, the Town of Centreville published The Corsica River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS). This plan is supported by active stakeholder interests and sets forth a blueprint for the sustainable environmental health of the Corsica River. The initiative is nationally recognized for its Watershed Plan and restoration effort that continues to receive attention for its outstanding contributions in research, monitoring, and implementation.

Town of Centreville

AZ: Tucson Seeks Public Comment on Plan Covering Groundwater, Surface Water, and Water Reuse

Last week, Tucson Water released their draft One Water 2100 draft plan for public comment. The plan presents 40 strategies meant to better manage the city’s water supply through groundwater, stormwater, surface water and recycled water. Since the early 2000’s, Tucson’s total water use has declined despite significant population growth. The plan aims to continue that trend, including advancing water reuse and other alternative supplies to complement the city’s use of the Colorado River. “Public engagement is a distinguishing feature of the One Water approach,” said John Kmiec, Director of Tucson Water and WateReuse Association Board Member. Tucson residents may submit feedback on the plan until July 21.

CA: Sacramento Region Agricultural Reuse Project Gets $277.5 Million Grant

The California Water Commission on Wednesday awarded the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) $277.5 million to help construct the Harvest Water Program, a conjunctive-use project that will supply recycled water to agricultural lands that also provide habitat to wildlife in southern Sacramento County. California's Prop. 1, also known as the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, dedicated $2.7 billion for investments in the public benefits of water storage projects, and designated the California Water Commission as the agency responsible for allocating the funds through a competitive process.

CA: Operator of World’s Largest Potable Reuse Project Celebrates 90 Years of Leadership

Last week the Orange County Water District (OCWD) commemorated their 90th anniversary. Throughout its rich history, OCWD has played a vital role in managing the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which provides 85% of the water supply for 2.5 million people in the region. Due to OCWD's successful management of the basin over time, the annual output has doubled, allowing the District's 19 cities and retail water districts to pump more groundwater, which is less expensive and more reliable than imported sources. A central pillar to OCWD’s groundwater management strategy is the world's largest potable reuse project, the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), which produces 130 million gallons of pure water a day.

A group gathers at the WateReuse Oregon Summer Summit

OR: Tours, Libations, and Reuse Topics Abound at Summer Summit

Last week WateReuse Pacific Northwest celebrated their second annual Oregon Summer Summit and Social with a day of compelling presentations, tours, and an evening mixer. Clean Water Services hosted the event and provided tours of their Durham Water Resource Recovery Facility and the nearby Thomas Dairy Site wildlife restoration area. Participants heard presentations from State Representative Ken Helm and a variety of local and national water reuse experts.

Industry Update

Industrial Water Reuse Gets Engineering Spotlight

The online engineering publication GineersNow published an explainer last week on "Water Reuse and Recycling in Industrial Plants: Engineering Approaches for Sustainable Operations." The piece covers drivers, benefits, engineering methodologies, and case studies for industrial water reuse globally.

Industry Update

Spain: Longstanding Agricultural Reuse Program Gaining Broader Attention

For the past 23 years, Spain’s Murcia Region has been using recycled water to irrigate its crops. The region is a major exporter of fruit and vegetables. Murcia’s water reuse plants use sand filtration and ultraviolet disinfection, reusing around 98% of the region’s wastewater and meeting around 15% of agricultural water demands. In May, the Spanish government pledged to replicate these successes and increase the national rate of water reuse, releasing 1.4 billion euros for water reuse infrastructure.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Policy Brief: Climate Change and Water Reuse

Check out WateReuse Association’s policy brief: “Investing in Water Reuse for Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Economic Resiliency.” The brief outlines how water reuse is a multi-benefit solution for addressing climate impacts in terms of carbon footprint, local resiliency, green jobs, and environmental protection. The brief illuminates these benefits through five nationwide case studies.

Read the Brief

WateReuse Events and Webcasts Calendar

Webcast: The Road to DPR: State Policy Approaches and Outcomes

July 27, 2023
1 pm PT | 4 pm ET (1 hour 15 minutes)
Free to WateReuse members

Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) is the next frontier in sustainable water supply management. One of the biggest impediments to more widespread DPR is the lack of regulatory certainty – something that is beginning to change. Wherever DPR regulations are under consideration, WateReuse Association State Sections and members are leading the charge. Join us to learn about the advocacy efforts that are moving DPR ahead across the country, the unique challenges and approaches to DPR in several states, and an update on the status of regulations.