May 2024

Message from WateReuse Florida President Michael Sweeney

There is a lot going on in the WateReuse Florida Section!

The WateReuse Association Symposium was a sell out with more than 900 in attendance in Denver! Of those 900+, 52 Floridians were among the registrants. The world’s top experts in water reuse and recycling convened to explore the current trends and innovative solutions in global water recycling, policy approaches and operational strategies for building sustainable communities. The 2025 Symposium will be held in Tampa, FL from March 16-19. We look forward to welcoming utilities and businesses from all across the country to Florida.

Water Week 2024 – The Annual DC Fly-In happened the week of April 8. WateReuse Association (WRA) President Bart Weiss, past WateReuse Florida (WRFL) president and current board of trustees member, represented the Association and joined our partners from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and The Water Research Foundation (WRF) in several meetings with EPA leadership and Congressional leaders on critical legislative and regulatory challenges. 

WRFL Summit Meeting – We’re busy finalizing the plans for our annual Summit Meeting set for May 22 at the University of South Florida. More information and highlights are found below.

Water Reuse Week – WRFL is once again leading Water Reuse Week on May 19-25, partnering with utility organizations across Florida and commemorating the importance of water reuse within our region. Every year, WRFL joins Florida’s water management districts, private sector innovators, local governments, public utilities and water users to celebrate and get the word out about maximizing the beneficial use of reclaimed water as an alternative water supply. The use of reclaimed water continues to help meet current and future water supply needs in our growing region and is a vital component of the regional water supply plans.

Thanks for your continued passion and interest in water reuse, preserving our most precious resource.

Michael Sweeney, Ph.D. 
WateReuse Florida President 

Please join us on May 22, 2024, at the University of South Florida. The overall theme this year is “Preserving Water’s Timelessness: Ensuring Availability Through Reuse.”

The meeting will take place at the Marshall Student Center Rm 4200 Student Government Chamber from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

This year’s Summit features a variety of water reuse topics and speakers. The Summit topics incorporate One Water concepts, current research, potable reuse, PFAS, public policy and regulations, and grant funding opportunities. It’s the premier meeting to share and learn all about beneficial reuse of reclaimed water as part of celebrating Water Reuse Week in Florida during the week of May 19-25. Student research presentations were a highlight last year and are making a return. Registration includes 4 PDHs for engineers licensed in Florida.

Featured Highlights and Speakers:

• Mayor Jane Castor, City of Tampa
• Overview of Southwest Florida Water Management District Initiatives, Brian Armstrong
• WateReuse Association National Update – Pat Sinicropi and Bart Weiss
• One Water Commission
• One Water Research Update
• Student Presentation Contest
• State of the Reuse Regulations Panel
• Reuse Project Spotlight
• EPA Water Project Funding

FREE to members/$50 for non-members

Lunch and networking breaks are included

Free parking

4 PDHs available for Florida-licensed engineers

Sponsorships available!

Nearby hotels include the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa USF Near Busch Gardens and Hyatt Place Tampa/Busch Gardens.

The Tampa Bay Times published a wide-ranging article outlining the history, drivers, and potential future for water reuse in the region. The Times worked with WateReuse Association and cited interviews with WateReuse members including Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department, Plant City, City of Tampa Water Department, and Pasco County Utilities. Recycled water is deployed extensively throughout the region for non-potable uses such as irrigation and industry, though some providers have faced challenges in reaching full utilization and customer adoption. Under Florida’s SB 64, communities are now working to find additional beneficial uses of recycled water. Discussing the move to potable reuse, Plant City’s Lynn Spivey posed the question: “can we really afford not to do this now?”