News: WateReuse Briefs Congress on Industrial Reuse, and more!

January 16, 2024

2024 WateReuse Symposium: Interactive Workshops

On Monday, March 11, the 2024 WateReuse Symposium will kick off with interactive workshops where you can build core knowledge areas and meet other professionals with similar experience and interests. Workshops are included in the cost of Symposium registration and don’t require a separate sign-up. Learn more about two of the workshops, the Communications Intensive and Water Reuse 101, below:

Communications Intensive

How can you build trust and passion for water reuse in your community? The WateReuse Communication Intensive is an interactive session designed to share best practices to strengthen your network of water reuse communicators. Join us to discuss communications strategies for five member utilities that are at the cusp of launching new water reuse efforts.

To help inform the Communication Intensive discussion, we invite you to complete this 4-question, open-ended survey with your thoughts on water reuse communications tactics that work – and those that don’t!

Communication Tactics Survey

Water Reuse 101 Boot Camp

If you are new to water reuse or just need a good refresher, the Water Reuse 101 Boot Camp is the perfect way to begin the Symposium. Join us for an A-to-Z discussion of the drivers, challenges, and opportunities for reuse and walk away with a basic understanding of the key steps to planning and implementing a successful project. Topics will include current practices, communications considerations, facility operations, and the various end uses for recycled water.

Washington Updates

WateReuse Members Brief Congress on Industrial Water Reuse

Last week, WateReuse Association held a congressional briefing on industrial water recycling which was sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and held in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Room. Jon Freedman, Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs for Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions, and chair of the WateReuse Policy Committee, moderated the panel, which included Fawn Bergen, Global Sustainability Director for Intel; Kendra Sveum, Director of Water Reclamation for Loudoun Water; Bob Salvatelli, Director of Water Origination for NextEra Distributed Water; and Tom Darrah, Director of the Global Water Institute at The Ohio State University. The briefing was very well attended by congressional staff from both the Senate and House of Representatives. Following the briefing, WateReuse will be working with congressional offices to develop policy that supports greater industrial and commercial water recycling.

Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox to Step Down from U.S. EPA Office of Water

On January 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox will be leaving her post as head of the Office of Water after three years. During her time at EPA, Fox oversaw the implementation of the largest ever federal investment in water infrastructure. Fox’s implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) helped advance water reuse projects across the United States. Fox also oversaw the evolution and implementation of the National Water Reuse Action Plan and the Federal Interagency Working Group on Water Reuse. WateReuse thanks Assistant Administrator Fox for her service and wishes her well in the future.

U.S. EPA Takes New Steps to Limit and Monitor PFAS

In January, The U.S. EPA took two new steps related to PFAS manufacturing. First, the U.S. EPA announced seven additional PFAS chemicals to be added to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), resulting in a total list of 196 for Reporting Year 2024. Annual reporting of TRI data provides publicly accessible context on how these chemicals are being managed and where further intervention or accountability may be needed. Forms are due in July 2025.

EPA also moved to limit companies from beginning or resuming the manufacture of 329 types of inactive per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Inactive PFAS are defined in the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA) as chemicals that have not been manufactured, imported, or processed in the U.S. since 2006. The typical use cases for these inactive PFAS include surfactants, sealants, and binding agents. This significant new use rule (SNUR) requires any company looking to manufacture or process these chemicals to undergo an EPA review and complete associated risk assessments.

State Updates and Member News

Welcome New WateReuse Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse California welcome Proteus Waters. Proteus is a Canadian water and wastewater treatment company with international offices located in Europe, India, and the United States. Proteus’ modular potable & sewage treatment systems come as turn-key packages including regulatory, engineering, design, equipment installation, commissioning, service, and support. They focus on water recovery and reuse economic business models that also deliver leading-edge environmental sustainability. Proteus uses the best available technologies from around the world that carry warranties and global leading regulatory certifications and provides free training and monitoring for life.

Proteus Waters

CA: San Deigo Begins Installing Pure Water Pipeline

The City of San Diego, a WateReuse member, is preparing to install a new underwater pipeline at its Miramar Reservoir as part of the Pure Water San Diego Program. This will be the final segment of a pipeline project that will convey purified water from the North City Pure Water Facility to the reservoir. Pure Water San Diego is the City’s phased, multi-year program that will provide nearly half of local water supply by 2035.

CA: Water Treatment Company Receives Small Business Innovation Grant

U.S. EPA announced a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant of $100,000 to Water Illumination Inc. in Irvine, California. The recipient is working to create a PFAS destruction technology for wastewater that is free of harmful byproducts. The innovative project is looking to use UV light on saline wastewater streams such as leachate, industrial waste, and reverse osmosis concentrate.

NM: State Considers Non-Potable Reuse of Produced Oil and Gas Water

On December 27, 2023, The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Water Protection Division petitioned the Water Quality Control Commission to consider a proposed rule that would allow the treatment and reuse of “produced water,” a product of oil and gas extraction, to be used for certain non-potable uses. The proposed rule is an outcome of the Produced Water Act, passed in 2019, which prompted NMED to develop regulations on reuse of treated produced water in New Mexico.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Visit the WateReuse Webcast Library for On-Demand Technical Education

In December, WateReuse hosted webcasts on Carbon Based Advanced Treatment Technologies, and on Localizing Water Reuse Communications Strategies. If you missed these engaging sessions, you can view them now on the WateReuse Webcast Library along with over 100 other recorded webcasts available exclusively to members. Create your member login today to see them all! WateReuse presents webcasts on water recycling technology, operations, research, and policy issues and archives them for member use. And while you’re there, register for this Wednesday’s webcast on the 2024 Water Reuse Policy Outlook.

WateReuse Webcast Library

WateReuse Events Calendar

Webcast: National Water Reuse Policy Outlook

January 17, 2024
12 pm PT | 3 pm ET (1 hour)
Free to WateReuse Members

Join us on January 17 to hear from Washington insiders about the current legislative and regulatory landscape and what we might expect for the coming year in Congress and from the Administration. Top Washington lobbyists will discuss the status of key water reuse-related legislation and regulations and how election-year politics may impact advocacy opportunities. Whether you plan to participate in the 2024 Water Week Policy Fly-In in April or are interested in learning more about opportunities to advance water reuse policy, this webcast will help get you up to speed.

New Mexico Webcast: CECs in Reuse: Monitoring, Treatability, and Regulations

January 24, 2024
11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
Free to WateReuse Members

Join WateReuse New Mexico for an overview of the different types of advanced treatment systems (e.g., membrane-based, advanced oxidation, etc.) as well as the different types of reuse. The discussion will look at the status of reuse regulations, with a focus on New Mexico, with a high-level look at PFAS and other emerging contaminants. The webcast will also address desktop Treatability Screening Analysis and the importance of monitoring.

2024 WateReuse Nevada Symposium

January 29, 2024 | Las Vegas, NV

Join us for a full day at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. This year’s focuses are water reuse in both Northern and Southern Nevada, inland water reuse, scientific advances in reuse, and water reuse in industry.

Partner Event: The 2024 Corporate Water Industry Update

February 20, 2024
Austin, TX

Corporate Water Connection conferences are designed for executives and focus on the business environment that surrounds water management. This one-day event will showcase the latest business trends in full-cycle water management for those managing water sourcing, reuse, recycling, and disposal in water-intensive sectors including manufacturing (semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, automotive, etc.), data center operations, food & beverage, and other large scale applications (non-utility). There are plenty of great conferences covering the technical side of industrial water. Here industry leaders and executives will gather to discuss the business side of water.

2024 WateReuse Symposium

Removing Barriers, Elevating Opportunities
Denver, CO
March 11-14, 2024

The 39^th Annual WateReuse Symposium is a celebration of a unique moment for water reuse. New funding, new collaborations, and new regulatory frameworks are elevating opportunities for reuse projects nationwide. As water reuse practitioners, we have reached this summit together. Together we can remove barriers and empower safer, more resilient, and more sustainable communities and businesses with water reuse.

2024 WateReuse Arizona Symposium

July 28-30, 2024 | Flagstaff, AZ

The annual Arizona Symposium is hosted by the AZ Water Association and the Arizona section of WateReuse and brings together industry leaders in water reuse for education, conversation, and networking in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Symposium included a tour, a networking reception and water balloon fight, plenary sessions, and technical tracks.

Learn More

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