WateReuse News: Imagine a Day Without Water

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

October 15, 2024

Imagine a Day Without Water

This Thursday, WateReuse Association is proud to participate in the annual tradition: Imagine a Day Without Water. This campaign, led by the US Water Alliance, invites you to share how you’re contributing to a water secure future: use the hashtag #MyDropInTheBucket to tell your story.

As communities across the Southeast recover from two devastating hurricanes, #ImagineADayWithoutWater hits close to home for those who have temporarily lost municipal water service. WateReuse Association stands ready to support recovery, and encourages you to review FEMA’s Hurricane Milton After the Storm Toolkit and share it with those in need.

Hurricane Milton Toolkit

Your Drop in the Bucket Showcased at 2025 WateReuse Symposium

WateReuse thanks our members for helping to build resilience and enhance water resources through innovative water recycling programs. Join us in Tampa, Florida in March 2025 to discover how all these efforts are Turning the Tide Toward Water Reuse! Following its recovery from two hurricanes, Tampa will be the perfect location to exemplify and honor the power of resilience. Today is the final day to secure the lowest members-only registration rate! Register today and become a Super Saver!

Become a 2025 WateReuse Symposium Super Saver

2024 Industrial Reuse Conference

Spotlight: Cocktails and Conversations

When you attend the 2024 Industrial Water Reuse Conference, November 19-21 in Indian Wells, CA, you’ll have the chance to engage on key industrial water reuse topics in small-group roundtables during the cocktails and conversations happy hour! Topics include:

How Do We Ensure the Journey to Net Zero Includes the Journey to Water Positivity? (Grundfos)
Identifying Research Needs to Advance Industrial Reuse (WRF)
Industrial Reuse Pretreatment Enhancement in Preparation for Water Reuse (JEA)
PFAS in Industrial Water Reuse: Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities (Veolia)
Recycled Water: Balancing Quality, Reliability, and Cost (West Basin Municipal Water District)
Squeeze Every Last Drop: Enabling the Highest Recovery of Membrane Systems Through Scaling and Fouling Mitigation (American Water Chemicals)
Water Reuse in Mining (AECOM)
Industrial Reuse and Carbon Management/Decarbonization - the Water Energy/Nexus (Black & Veatch)

Learn More: Topics & Facilitators

Washington Update

CDC Publishes Water Reuse Webpage

At the end of last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a new webpage explaining the safety of recycled water for drinking. The webpage explains how recycled water is treated and points out that drinking water must meet federal drinking water standards and regulations regardless of the source of the water. WateReuse Association provided feedback on the draft of the webpage, which CDC developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The webpage was created as part of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (Action 8.6 - Develop Water Reuse Communication Tools).

View the Webpage

AMWA and AWWA File Brief Challenging PFAS Rule

Last week, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) filed their opening brief for the U.S. Court of Appeals in litigation involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its recently finalized drinking water regulation for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). AMWA and AWWA initially filed suit in June of this year, arguing that EPA failed to follow the Safe Drinking Water Act when promulgating the rule. EPA finalized the drinking water regulation in the spring of this year, establishing maximum contaminant levels for several PFAS. Communities that exceed the new limits have five years to reduce PFAS within their systems.

Read AMWA/AWWA’s Joint Statement

Conference Update

WEF and WateReuse Join Forces for Industrial Water Solutions Event

Last week on the WEFTEC mainstage, WateReuse Association and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) announced a joint initiative working together on a new event in 2025 created for industrial water users. Our respective events, WateReuse Association's Industrial Water Reuse Conference and the WEF Circular Water Economy Summit, emphasize collaboration between public and private entities, including industry, utilities, and regulators. Our new partnership will build on these successful events to serve the industrial water community more effectively, providing a space to build connections and share knowledge on water and wastewater resource recovery, operational resiliency, and water stewardship.

Further details regarding next year’s joint conference will be finalized in the coming weeks. We thank you for your continued and look forward to sharing more updates soon.

Read the Announcement

State Updates and Member Profiles

WateReuse Members Awarded Utility of the Future Recognition

Seventeen WateReuse Association members were among the honorees for the 2024 Utility of the Future Today (UoTF) Recognition Program. The program seeks to reach deeply into the water sector to form and motivate a community of like-minded water utilities engaged in advancing resource efficiency and recovery, developing proactive relationships with stakeholders, and establishing resilient, sustainable, and livable communities. WateReuse partners with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), and the Water Research Foundation (WRF) in leading this program, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE).

Meet the Winners

CA: West Basin Seeks Bids for Recycled Water Operations

Last week, WateReuse Member West Basin Municipal Water District released a request for proposals for the operation and maintenance of its recycled water facilities: the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, the Juanita Millender-McDonald Carson Regional Water Recycling Plant, the Chevron Nitrification Treatment Plant, the Torrance Refinery Water Recycling Plant, and the Hyperion Secondary Effluent Pump Station. The solicitation process is expected to conclude in late winter, with a new contract projected by summer 2025.

NV: South Tahoe Takes Next Step in Recycled Water Strategic Plan

WateReuse member South Tahoe Public Utility District will hold a public meeting on October 24 about the ongoing development of a Recycled Water Strategic Plan. The District recycles 100 percent of its wastewater, pumping an average of 3.9 million gallons per day of recycled water to Woodfords, California where it is stored in Harvey Place Reservoir and released in summer months to be used by ranchers and the District for irrigation. Due to advances in water reuse technology and public perception, the District is investigating local uses of recycled water.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Visit the WateReuse Webcast Library for On-Demand Technical Education

WateReuse Association’s recent webcasts have highlighted topics including the untapped potential of stormwater reuse, strategies for reliable potable reuse implementation, and unique solutions for reuse in the inland Southwest. 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 upcoming webcasts on Arizona Water Reuse Policy and Mutual Benefits of Industrial Reuse.

Webcast Library

WateReuse Events Calendar

Webcast: Federal and State Water Reuse Policy: an Arizona Perspective

October 17, 2024
1:30 pm ET | 10:30 am PT
Free to WateReuse Members

Join WateReuse Arizona’s current president Erin Young in conversation with WateReuse Director of Government Affairs and Policy, Greg Fogel. This presentation will cover the current state of water reuse policy, including legislative and regulatory policy at the federal and state levels. We will also discuss the congressional schedule for the remainder of the year and the implications of the upcoming federal elections for water reuse policy and programs.

Hosted by WateReuse Arizona

Webcast: Leveraging Industrial Reuse Opportunities for Mutual Benefit

Tuesday, October 22, 2024
2:00 pm ET | 11:00 am PT
Free to WateReuse Members

Industrial water demands are increasing throughout the US with data centers and semiconductor manufacturing at the forefront. While these industries present great economic growth opportunities, they have substantial water needs that haven’t always been planned for by the communities where they operate. In many US communities, conventional drinking water supplies are not sufficient to meet these rising demands. Both municipalities and industry must work to ensure all parties have safe and sustainable water supplies. This webcast will highlight water reuse opportunities that are available to industry, the potential for water conservation through industrial reuse, and common pitfalls and challenges associated with industrial water reuse adaptation. It will also highlight some ways that communities and utilities can incentivize industries to implement reuse projects.

Sponsored by Arcadis

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

Super Saver Registration Deadline: October 15, 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!

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