Los Angeles Wildfires Impact WateReuse Members; 119th Congress Gets Underway

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

January 13, 2025

WateReuse Members Impacted by Deadly Wildfires in Los Angeles

WateReuse Association continues to track the deadly and historic wildfires impacting the Los Angeles region. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the staff of our many member organizations who live and work in the region, many of whom are now actively responding to the emergency situation. WateReuse stands ready to help our members and their communities however we can. Please see FEMA’s Wildfire Action page for more information.

2025 WateReuse Symposium: Driving the Future of Onsite and Decentralized Reuse

When you attend the 2025 WateReuse Symposium, March 16-19 in Tampa, FL, you can dive into the Onsite & Decentralized Water Reuse Systems track all day Monday and Tuesday of the conference. The track concludes with a Wednesday morning mainstage plenary panel on Integrating Onsite and Centralized Water Reuse Systems to Meet Community Water Management Goals, sponsored by Veolia. The onsite water reuse track will feature utility leaders, consulting engineers, and regulators, sharing updates, research, and case studies from California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Texas, Quebec, and other regions. Are you interested in implementing and accelerating onsite and decentralized water reuse in your community? Click here for a full session listing of the annual WateReuse Symposium's largest-ever focus on the topic.

Washington Update

119th Congress Gets Underway: Read Our Detailed Roundup & Join Our Policy Webcast

On January 3, new and returning Members of Congress descended on Washington DC to begin the 119th Congress. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was reelected as Speaker of the House by a party-line vote of 218–215. House Democrats and both parties in the Senate elected their leaders prior to the holidays. In addition to electing party leaders and swearing in newly elected Members of Congress, congressional leadership announced a series of new appointments to key House and Senate committees. The House, Senate, and incoming Administration have been hard at work mapping out a legislative strategy for the coming months. Heading into Spring 2025, Congress faces a complex fiscal policy landscape involving the need to renew or extend discretionary spending by March 14, the expiration of the debt limit suspension in the late spring, and the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 at the end of the year.

To understand how these changes affect water reuse and the efforts of our members, read our detailed roundup.

Read the Roundup

To learn more about the legislative and regulatory policy landscape and what to expect in 2025, join us this Thursday, January 16 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time for our 2025 Water Reuse Policy Outlook webcast.

U.S. EPA Adopts WateReuse Recommendations in Updated Groundwater Discharge FAQ

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regarding its Draft Guidance for the Supreme Court Decision on County of Maui vs. Hawaii Wildlife Fund. This case addressed whether discharges of treated effluent to groundwater should be permitted as surface water discharges if said discharges eventually reach a jurisdictional surface water. The Supreme Court decided that if the discharge is the “functional equivalent” of a direct surface water discharge, it requires permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA). When the Draft Guidance originally came out in late 2023, WateReuse recommended that EPA clarify that groundwater recharge and recovery projects are restoring and enhancing water supplies and are not likely to need a surface water discharge permit under the ruling. The new FAQ states that groundwater recharge projects, along with correctly designed water management systems, are not likely to result in equivalent discharges and therefore would not be required to secure NPDES permits. EPA is unlikely to issue final guidance on the Supreme Court case before the new Administration takes over.

Read Draft Guidance and FAQ

EPA Releases Resource on PFAS and Potable Reuse

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a two-page FAQ in December 2024 on Potable Reuse and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This resource outlines the types of treatment technologies employed in water reuse projects, how these technologies remove PFAS and prevent chemicals from reaching drinking water sources, the new National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for six PFAS, and examples of potable reuse systems throughout the U.S. The document highlights the key role of enhanced source control and stopping PFAS before they enter commerce. WateReuse Association members may find the resource helpful when communicating with stakeholders about the safety of recycled water.

Read the FAQ

State Updates and Member Profiles

AZ: Arizona Call for Abstracts Closes Wednesday

The 2025 Arizona Water Reuse Symposium will be co-hosted by the AZ Water Association and WateReuse Arizona July 20 – 22, 2025 in Flagstaff, AZ. Submit your presentation abstract on a water reuse topic today! The deadline is this Wednesday, January 15. The following topics are encouraged: Advancing Reuse in Outlying Areas, Communicating DPR, Industrial Reuse, Operations, Perspectives from Four Corner States, Planning & Funding your Reuse Vision, Public Outreach, Regulations & Permitting, Research & Innovation, and Workforce Sustainability.

Submit an Abstract

KS: WateReuse Kansas Established, Business Members Welcome

The WateReuse Board of Directors approved a charter agreement during their December 16, 2024 meeting establishing Kansas as the twelfth WateReuse section. Congratulations to the founding members of WateReuse Kansas! If your business is an existing WateReuse member and you want to participate in the section during its first year, you can add a membership to the Kansas section for $750/year by contacting membership@watereuse.org. Joining the Kansas section will allow your staff to serve on the Kansas board of trustees, participate in local events, and much more!

Association Updates

Join Us: WateReuse Communications Coordinator

WateReuse Association is growing! We’re hiring a Communications Coordinator to support our organization’s communications and marketing strategy, and our members’ education and outreach goals. The candidate will craft informative and compelling content and materials for a myriad of channels including website, thought leadership articles, e-newsletter, e-mail marketing, social media, and presentations, ensuring a high level of quality and consistency. WateReuse Association also plans to hire new Section Liaison staff in the months to come. Please share this opportunity with any interested candidates.

Learn More and Apply

Partner News

Flood & Stormwater: Planning Workshop & Awards Program

Workshop: The National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) is seeking participants for an Emergency Evacuation Planning workshop in February and their Innovative Water Projects Awards Program. Their Emergency Evacuation Planning for Flooding and Forecasting Meeting will take place February 26-27 in Sacramento, CA in collaboration with the California Central Valley Flood Control Association.

Learn More & Register

Awards: NAFSMA is also seeking submissions for its 2025 Awards Program. Utilities will be recognized in two categories: Excellence in Communications and Innovative Water Projects. Submissions are due March 1, 2025.

Learn More & Submit

Global Commission Report Calls for Acceleration of Water Recycling

A report from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water from October 2024 calls for the significant acceleration of water recycling. “We must establish a circular water economy that captures the full value of every drop,” the report states. “For example, breakthroughs in membrane and solvent-based technologies are driving down costs of water recycling, enabling a future where each drop of used water can eventually yield another drop.” WateReuse Association will continue to engage with international efforts to develop water reuse technologies and best practices, such as our recent two-part Global Dialogue on Water Reuse, presented with the International Desalination and Reuse Association.

Read the Report

WateReuse Events and Webcasts

Webcast: 2025 Water Reuse Policy Outlook

January 16, 2025
2 pm ET | 11 am PT

Join us to hear from Washington insiders about the implications of the 2024 elections and the legislative and regulatory landscape heading into 2025. Top Washington lobbyists will discuss what a second-term Trump Administration and unified control of the Federal Government means for key water reuse-related policies and programs. Whether you plan to participate in the 2025 Water Week Policy Fly-In or are interested in learning more about policy making under single-party control, this webcast will help get you up to speed.

Partner Webcast: Diversifying Water Portfolios Through Stormwater Capture and Use

January 23, 2025
1pm ET | 10am PT

The Water Research Foundation will present a webcast on urban stormwater capture and reuse, based on their research project #5236: Diversifying Water Portfolios through Stormwater Capture and Use: Contributing to a Water Resilient Future. The research report provides adaptable and streamlined methodologies to navigate each water utility’s unique geographical, economic, and volumetric landscapes when considering the incorporation of stormwater as a water resource development strategy.

2025 WateReuse Nevada Symposium

January 27, 2025 | Reno, Nevada

Join WateReuse Nevada for the annual Nevada Symposium, taking place in Northern Nevada. Learn about state-of-the-art water reuse efforts in Nevada for both non-potable and potable reuse, and pathways for future potable reuse in the state. Hear a keynote presentation from Melanie Mow Schumacher of Soquel Creek Water District (CA), and get local project updates from Southern Nevada Water Authority, University of Nevada, Reno, and a panel discussion on “Pathways to Potable Reuse.”

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!

Water Week 2025

April 6-12, 2025

Water Week is a week of federal advocacy for water and wastewater infrastructure.

National Water Policy Fly-In | April 8-9, 2025
The American Water Works Association (AWWA), Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), The Water Research Foundation (WRF), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and WateReuse Association are proud to present the cornerstone event for Water Week 2025 – the National Water Policy Fly-In.

2025 WateReuse Colorado Conference

May 5, 2025 | Denver, CO
Colorado State University SPUR Campus

Implementing Reuse: Opportunities, Challenges, and Innovation: Join us to discuss ongoing and emerging reuse topics at the 2025 WateReuse Colorado Conference! This year’s theme is “implementing reuse” which will focus on reuse opportunities, challenges, and innovation in Colorado and across the country. Water reuse professionals will unite to share their latest research, innovation, and experiences. WRCO is pleased to conduct this event at the beautiful Denver CSU SPUR campus. So be sure to mark your calendar! This conference presents a great opportunity to network, learn, and engage in discussion with local water reuse experts, while enjoying the beautiful SPUR campus.

2025 WateReuse Arizona Symposium

July 22-25, 2025
Flagstaff, AZ - High Country Conference Center

Water Professionals from across the state of Arizona, including state departments, utilities, consultants, contractors, regulators, equipment manufacturers and laboratory services, and guests from neighboring states, will convene to hear presentations and engage in conversations regarding water reuse in Arizona.

Save the Date: 2025 WateReuse California Annual Conference

September, 2025 | San Diego, CA

Save the date for the premier water recycling conference in California. Hear from a wide range of expert speakers and tour local San Diego-area water reuse projects.

Save the Date: 2025 WateReuse Texas Annual Conference

September 16-19, 2025 | Houston, TX

Come together to learn about water reuse in Texas including major advances in direct potable reuse, produced water, and much more.

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