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June 23, 2025

Industrial Water Solutions Kicks Off Today

The Industrial Water Solutions conference, hosted in partnership with the Water Environment Federation, kicks off today in Columbus, Ohio! The program is packed with insights on topics including policy, regulations, financing, intersectoral partnerships, and tech and innovation, providing a comprehensive look into industrial water management strategies.

If you won’t be joining us in person, follow along on LinkedIn as we share updates from the conference.

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Washington Update
WateReuse Cohosts Congressional Briefing on PFAS and Passive Receivers

Last week, the WateReuse Association partnered with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and several other organizations to cohost a congressional briefing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The briefing addressed the concerns of water and wastewater utilities that function as the “passive receivers” of PFAS which are created by chemical companies and end up in municipal water and wastewater.

Amanda Waters and Jason Dadakis of WateReuse members AlexRenew (Virginia) and Orange County Water District (California) testified about the role their utilities play in managing the PFAS substances that end up in their systems. The designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances, in the absence of a liability shield for utilities, could impact utilities' ability to provide essential public services.

WateReuse continues to advocate with Congress and the Administration for the creation of a liability shield for water recycling utilities. The Trump Administration has expressed its intent to ensure polluters, not utilities, are held liable for PFAS contamination; however, it has yet to outline how it will do so. On the legislative front, WateReuse continues to urge Congress to enact the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act (H.R. 1260).

Read the Briefing Fact Sheet
President Trump Announces Nominee for Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner

President Trump has nominated Ted Cooke, formerly of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, to be Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation within the U.S. Department of Interior. Cooke first joined CAP in 1999 and rose to become General Manager. The Bureau of Reclamation administers several programs that provide critical support to WateReuse members across the West. This includes the Title XVI Water Reuse Grants Program and the Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program. WateReuse looks forward to supporting Mr. Cooke's confirmation and working with him in his new role.

State Updates and Member Profiles
Welcome New WateReuse Member!

WateReuse Association and WateReuse Florida welcome the City of Vero Beach! Incorporated in 1919 and located on Florida’s east coast between Jacksonville and Miami, the City of Vero Beach is constructing a wastewater treatment facility that will recycle water for irrigation. Vero Beach is also undertaking a project to pipe recycled stormwater from Vero Beach to nearby John’s Island. With a water utility serving more than 37,000 people, the city is taking crucial steps toward reuse to protect local supply and ensure the health of its watershed.

City of Vero Beach
IL: WateReuse Illinois Featured in Article on Data Center Water Demand

Last week, Inside Climate News published an article on the water challenges posed by the data center boom in Illinois, highlighting WateReuse’s collaboration with state agencies to develop regulations for industrial reuse. WateReuse Illinois President Tim Gualandri shared his expertise on water recycling as a strategy to protect local water supply while supporting economic growth. “Where the data centers want to set up is not where we have great water resources [in Illinois], but we do have water reclamation facilities that generate water every day,” he said. “We just want to tap into that resource so that we can attract industries, grow our jobs and continue to grow economic development here.”

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ID: Nampa Celebrates Completion of Recycled Water Project

This month, WateReuse member City of Nampa celebrated the completion of a recycled water project, which included a $182 million expansion of its wastewater treatment facility to provide water for irrigation. With engineering and design services provided by WateReuse member Jacobs, the upgraded facility utilizes a sand filter and UV treatment and is expected to provide 11 million gallons of class A recycled water per day, meeting 15% of the city’s irrigation needs in the summer. The project is the first of its kind in the state and will service the broader Treasure Valley region in addition to Nampa through discharges to the Boise River, Indian Creek, and the New York and Phyllis Canals. Nampa held their ribbon-cutting at a decorative and functional outfall structure where the recycled water is delivered to the Phyllis Canal.

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TX: Governor Approves “Largest Generational Water Investment in Texas History”

At a ceremony in Lubbock last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that invests in water infrastructure, including a recurring $1 billion dedicated to water infrastructure for the next 20 years, pending voter approval this November. The state legislature also established a one-time investment of $1.7 billion in water funding to bridge the gap until the recurring funding begins. The funds will be distributed between developing new water supplies including treated oil & gas produced water, and the existing State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT). WateReuse Texas advocated with organizations across the state for more of the funding to go to the SWIFT fund, which includes potable and non-potable water reuse projects in the state water plan.

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TX: Marble Falls Breaks Ground on Direct Potable Reuse Project

Last month, the City of Marble Falls, Texas broke ground on its new wastewater treatment and reclamation facility, the first step of a three-phase plan to create a direct potable reuse system for the city. The next steps after the construction of the new treatment facility will be a pilot advanced water purification study and a full-scale advanced water purification facility. The new wastewater treatment plant will expand the city’s treatment capacity to 3 million gallons per day, and the advanced water purification facility is expected to recycle 70%, or about 2 million gallons per day, to support the city’s growing population. “The One Water project is more than just an infrastructure upgrade; it’s a long-term investment in the future of Marble Falls,” said Marble Falls Mayor John Packer.

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FL: Village of Wellington Wins Statewide Recognition for Recycling Plant

WateReuse member Village of Wellington won an Operations Excellence Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for both its water treatment plant and water reclamation facility, which recycles water for irrigation. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in plant operations, maintenance, innovative treatment, pollution prevention, recycling and regulatory compliance that exceed state requirements. Wellington’s reclamation facility has a capacity of 6.5 million gallons per day and operates a resource recovery program which also won recognition as the “Best Small Facility Class AA Dried Product Biosolids of 2025” by the Florida Water Environment Association.

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Member Resources and Benefits
Your Ready-to-Use Agricultural Reuse Explainer

Profiles in Reuse are easy-to-understand communications tools that can be shared with water customers, policymakers, and community stakeholders. The Profile on Agricultural Reuse discusses how recycled water provides a resilient water supply to support farmers. Visit our Agricultural Reuse webpage to download the flyer which outlines the many innovative ways communities are incorporating agricultural reuse to protect the environment, reduce energy use, and provide food security.

Read the Profile on Agricultural Reuse
WateReuse Events and Webcasts
Oregon Summer Summit & Social

June 26, 2025
Newberg, OR - Chehalem Glenn Golf Course

The WateReuse Association Pacific Northwest (PNW) section, in partnership with the City of Newberg, is hosting its fourth annual Summer Summit and Social. Participants will have the opportunity to network with colleagues, tour the Newburg Wastewater Treatment facility, and attend talks focused on technical topics and policy issues at this free event.

Register Here
2025 WateReuse Arizona Symposium

July 20-22, 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.

Register Here
2025 WateReuse Texas Annual Conference

September 16-18, 2025 | Houston, TX

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

Register Here
WateReuse at the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association Conference

September 14-17, 2025 | Portland, OR

The Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association 2025 Annual Conference & Exhibition (PNCWA2025) will feature a full-day track hosted by WateReuse Pacific Northwest on September 16, 2025. This year’s conference theme is Flowing Together: Stories of Dedication and Innovation.

Register Here
2025 WateReuse California Annual Conference

September 21-23, 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.

Register Here

Contact us at info@watereuse.org

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