WateReuse News: New Funding for Ag Reuse, Next Steps for DPR in CA, and More

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

August 19, 2024

Deadline Extended: 2025 WateReuse Symposium Presentation Proposals Due Tuesday, August 20

Submit a proposal to present at the 2025 WateReuse Symposium by Tuesday, August 20 at 11:59 pm ET! Share water reuse best practices, lessons learned, innovations, and emerging research at this landmark 40th anniversary WateReuse Symposium. This year's theme, Turning the Tide Toward Water Reuse, explores the latest trends, regional challenges, and forward-thinking ideas that are driving growth in water recycling. Please offer your proposals that showcase the wide range of water recycling applications including municipal, industrial, commercial, stormwater, agricultural, onsite, and more.

Submit a Presentation Proposal

Global Industrial Reuse Champions Award Nominations Closing August 31!

The Global Industrial Reuse Champions Award honors Fortune 1000 companies that have prioritized and found successful & impactful ways of incorporating water recycling and water stewardship into their business models. It is presented in collaboration between the WateReuse Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veolia, University of Pennsylvania Water Center, and International Desalination and Reuse Association. The deadline to submit award nominations is August 31, 2024. The award will be presented at the International Desalination and Reuse Association World Congress in December 2024.

Submit an Award Nomination

Washington Update

WateReuse Delivers Letter Supporting New U.S. Army Corps Mission Area

WateReuse joined a letter along with the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Water Resources Association, National Water Supply Alliance, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Association of California Water Agencies supporting the addition of “water supply” as a mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps). As we reported in our July 29 newsletter, the U.S. House of Representatives included the new mission in its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which it passed last month. The addition of water supply as an Army Corps mission area would likely lead to more Army Corps projects involving water reuse, recharge, and reclamation.

Read the full letter here

U.S. Department of Agriculture Invests $400 Million in Water Conservation Strategies Through Western Water Framework

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to invest up to $400 million under the Western Water Framework, which aims to help producers manage water supplies and mitigate impacts of climate change. The funding will help irrigation districts and farmers adopt innovative water savings technologies and farming practices, including water reuse. USDA has preliminarily selected 18 irrigation districts in 13 states (follow link below for the list of awardees) and is working to finalize agreements that will include the details of each district’s water-saving strategies. USDA will allocate up to $15 million per district based on the need for water supply management intervention.

U.S. EPA Requesting Small Entity Representatives for Input on Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts for NPDWR Revisions

Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would be putting together a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel comprised of Small Entity Representatives to provide an opinion on revisions to the Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts rules under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. There are several rules that fall under this category, including Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants Byproducts Rules, the Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, and the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. These rules protect public health and limit amounts of microbes, disinfectants, and disinfection byproducts in drinking water. Nominations for Small Entity Representatives to serve on this panel are open until August 23, 2024.

State Updates and Member Profiles

California Takes Next Key Step: Implementing Direct Potable Reuse

Following years of research, collaboration, and public engagement, California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved OAL File No. 2024-0624-02S – the Direct Potable Reuse Regulations (DPR) – and filed with the Secretary of State on August 6, 2024. This is the next critical step in the evolution of using recycled water as a safe and reliable water supply for Californians. The regulations will take effect on October 1, 2024.

Adopting the DPR regulations has been a long-term goal for WateReuse California, which has been steadily advocating for DPR regulations since 2010.The regulations were adopted unanimously by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) on December 19, 2023.

For more information, please email Rosario Cortés, WateReuse California Manager of Regulatory Affairs, at RCortes@watereuse.org. Please see links to additional resources below.

Summary of Major Provisions

Summary

WRCA Infographic

Infographic

State Board's FAQs

FAQs

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Fact Sheets and Infographics: Find and Share Information on Innovative Uses of Recycled Water

Check out the Types of Water Reuse section of the WateReuse website to find big-picture information on the most common applications of recycled water. Follow links to a growing roster of sub-pages highlighting Agricultural Reuse, Onsite Reuse, Industrial Reuse, Potable Reuse, Stormwater Reuse, and Environmental Restoration. Each page provides definitions, case studies, and the latest resources on each topic. Download easy-to-share, plain language flyers on each highlighted application of reuse.

Types of Reuse

WateReuse Events Calendar

Partner Webcast: Incorporating Academic Research into the Coordinated National Research Strategy for Water Reuse

August 20, 2024
1 pm PT | 4 pm ET
This webcast is presented free to the public

The Water Research Foundation is presenting this webcast as part of WRAP Action Item 7.2, which is identifying research to support all modes of water recycling, including onsite and centralized water reuse, potable and non-potable water reuse, agricultural reuse, and stormwater capture and use. The webcast will focus on project 5262, Developing a Coordinated National Research Strategy on Water Reuse, which is designed to synthesize this extensive input to create a prioritized research agenda for the next phase of water reuse project development and operations.

Webcast: Realizing the Untapped Potential for Stormwater Capture and Reuse Across the U.S.

August 22, 2024
12 pm PT | 3 pm ET

The WateReuse Association – in collaboration with the Pacific Institute and the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance – invite you to learn about the national landscape and potential opportunities to advance stormwater capture and use. We will discuss the importance of advancing stormwater resilience, the national stormwater runoff potential, and the permitting and funding processes. The webcast will conclude with recommendations from our expert presenters and will offer time at the end for audience questions.

Water Reuse at PNCWA

September 8-11, 2024 | Boise, ID

The 90th Annual Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association Conference and Exhibition will feature a special track arranged by WateReuse Pacific Northwest, and the WateReuse Pacific Northwest Awards for Excellence.

2024 WateReuse Texas Conference

September 9-11, 2024 | Austin, TX

The WateReuse Texas Annual Conference includes three exciting days of programming including tours, networking, plenaries, and workshops.

2024 WateReuse California Conference

September 15-17, 2024, 2024 | Garden Grove, CA

The WateReuse California Annual Conference welcomes over 700 water professionals for three days of networking, technical sessions, and panels on the most pressing water reuse issues in the state. The conference includes the Annual California Reuse Awards of Excellence ceremony and much more.

2024 Industrial and Commercial Water Reuse Conference

November 19-21, 2024 | Indian Wells, CA

The engines of industry, from Fortune 1000 companies to local businesses, are traveling down The Road to Water Positivity. The 2024 Industrial Reuse Conference is your ticket to ride. Panel discussions, breakout roundtables, and three keynote presenters will examine how water reuse can help businesses ensure operational resiliency and meet water management goals.

2025 WateReuse Symposium

March 16-19, 2025 | Tampa, Florida
Call for Presentations Deadline Extended: August 20, 2024

The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the premier conference on water recycling — attracting water professionals and water reuse practitioners globally for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration. This year's theme, Turning the Tide Toward Water Reuse, explores the latest trends, regional challenges, and forward-thinking ideas that are driving growth in water recycling. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the WateReuse Symposium!

Submit a Presentation Proposal

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