WateReuse News: U.S. EPA’s Bruno Pigott, Scottsdale Water Plan, International Roundup

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

September 3, 2024

U.S. EPA’s Bruno Pigott on Regulations to Advance Industrial Water Reuse

The tide is turning toward large-scale adoption of water reuse in industrial processes in the United States. But federal regulations, incentives, and collaboration will play an important role in making industrial recycling the new norm.

This November, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Bruno Pigott, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, will take the stage for a keynote address: “Regulatory Perspectives on Industrial Water Reuse.” Pigott’s address will anchor a week of impactful conversations during the 2024 Industrial Reuse Conference: The Road to Water Positivity, November 19-21, 2024 in Indian Wells, California.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from and engage with the leading administrator of water issues in the United States government, as we envision a future where government and industry work hand-in-hand to achieve water positivity.

Learn More and Register Today

2025 WateReuse Symposium: Become a Sponsor!

2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the WateReuse Symposium! In 1985, water professionals first convened in San Diego to envision water reuse technologies and strategies. Today, water reuse drives prosperity, sustainability, and public health for communities worldwide. In Tampa, Florida, March 16-19, 2025 we will bring together utility leaders, businesses, manufacturers, and water reuse experts to turn the tide toward the next 40 years of water reuse. Join us in celebrating 40 years by becoming a Symposium Sponsor today!

View the Sponsor Prospectus

Washington Update

WateReuse Continues Hill Advocacy Over August Recess

With both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate set to return from their five-week-long recess on September 9, WateReuse has been hitting Capitol Hill to influence year-end policy and funding decisions. One of the final orders of business that Congress must complete before the end of the fiscal year on September 30 is the enactment of appropriations legislation to extend funding for the Federal Government and its programs. We expect Congress to pass a funding extension known as a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the Government open and give itself more time to negotiate final funding levels for FY 2025.

As we have previously reported, House appropriations legislation for FY 2025 protects funding for the Title XVI Water Reuse Grants Program and includes first-time funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants but proposes deep cuts to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs. In contrast, the Senate version of the legislation protects funding for the SRF Programs but excludes funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants and proposes to reduce overall funding for the Title XVI program by 33 percent.

WateReuse has been meeting with congressional staff over the August recess to ensure that final FY 2025 appropriations legislation protects funding for the Title XVI program and SRF programs and includes funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants. We also stepped up our effort to secure a federal investment tax credit to support industrial water recycling. We met with staff for nearly every Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee, facilitated a virtual constituent meeting with the Committee’s tax policy staff, and worked with Senate legislative counsel to develop draft legislative language.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New WateReuse Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse California welcome Grundfos. Grundfos pioneers solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improves the quality of life for people. As a leading pump and water solutions company, Grundfos promises to respect, protect, and advance the flow of water by providing energy and water-efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications for water utilities, industries, as well as residential and commercial buildings. In the US, Grundfos has a large footprint of 1,600 employees across 15 sites, including subsidiaries, enabling the organization to be closer to its customers. With US roots dating back to 1973, Grundfos US has a long history and has grown to be the company’s top market by revenue.

Grundfos

AZ: Scottsdale City Council Approves Plan for Water Reuse

At its August 21 meeting, Scottsdale’s City Council unanimously approved the Scottsdale Water Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030. The comprehensive plan includes measures that could allow Scottsdale Water to augment potable water supplies with purified recycled water in just over two years. “As Scottsdale’s Colorado River water allotment faces significant reductions when the Colorado River’s drought response principles change in 2027, the need to implement Advanced Purified Recycled Water is critical to maintaining Scottsdale’s drinking water supply for our residents and customers,” the plan states.

Industrial Update

Spotlight: Three Companies Leading in Water Reuse

A recent article in Water Technology Magazine spotlighted three facilities that are models for industrial water reuse:

Carlsberg’s Fredericia Brewery (Denmark), which was named a Global Industrial Water Reuse Champion by WateReuse and partner organizations in 2023.
L’Oréal’s Warsaw Water Recycling Station (Poland), which halved its water consumption by reusing water for clean-in-place processes and co-production processes such as cooling.
PepsiCo’s Vallejo Production Facility (Mexico), which is approaching water positivity in response to dire water limitations in the Mexico City region. PepsiCo’s Christopher Simoglou will speak about the company’s water positivity efforts at the 2024 Industrial Reuse Conference: The Road to Water Positivity.

International Update

Australia: Sydney Water Launches Bid to Implement Indirect Potable Reuse by 2032

Grappling with water shortages and fast population growth, Australia’s largest city has released a water plan that includes indirect potable reuse. Purified recycled water is already in use in the Australian city of Perth, and other cities around the world. The proposal’s first stage is focused on building public trust and understanding.

Mexico: Tijuana Looks to Quench Its Thirst with Recycled Water

Baja California’s water agency, CESPT, recently outlined a plan to pipe 7 to 12 million gallons per day of highly treated recycled water from two regional treatment plants to a surface water reservoir, which would be Mexico’s first indirect potable reuse project.

Taiwan: Major Expansion of Industrial Water Reuse Plant

The city of Tainan announced last week that a major water recycling plant expansion should be complete by the end of August. The expansion will increase Yongkang Reclaimed Water Plant’s output from approximately 2 million gallons up to 4 million gallons per day. The water serves industrial demands at the Southern Taiwan Science Park.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Blog: Bridging the Data Gap – Digital and Physical Twins to Advance Water Reuse Operations

WateReuse Association partnered with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) to publish original content exploring the value of digital and physical process twins in water reuse operations. The research was conducted by NAWI and researchers at the University of California, Irvine. “By leveraging the strengths of both digital and physical twins, we can create a comprehensive model that accurately reflects real-world conditions. This enables us to optimize processes in ways that were previously unimaginable, ensuring that water reuse facilities can operate more sustainably and cost-effectively," says Diego Rosso, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Irvine.

Read the Article

WateReuse Events Calendar

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

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!

Learn More

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