There are just three weeks left until the 41st Annual WateReuse Symposium, taking place March 8-11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California! The last day to take advantage of the Super Saver rate is this Wednesday, February 18. Registration will be available online at the onsite rate after the deadline has passed and during the Symposium. We look forward to seeing you in LA! 

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Illinois welcome the City of Lockport. Incorporated in 1853, the City of Lockport currently provides water and sewer services to approximately 25,000 residents. The utility draws its water supply from a combination of six shallow wells and one deep well that tap into high-quality aquifers. Last week, the City approved an Alternative Water Source Study to explore water supply options for the city’s future.

Last week, WateReuse member Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors completed its environmental review for Pure Water Southern California, clearing the way for decision-making on phasing, funding, design, and construction. The environmental review included reviewing the impacts of proposed purification facilities in Carson and distribution pipelines throughout the region. The project, undertaken in partnership with WateReuse member Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, will utilize the A.K. Warren Water Resource facility in Carson to purify and recycle water which is currently discharged to the ocean. “Under the leadership of Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega, Pure Water Southern California has been grounded in strong partnerships and consensus. From the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, groundwater basin managers and our member agencies to the Central Arizona Project and Southern Nevada Water Authority, this project has been sustained by the support of partners who see the promise in a resilient local supply of recycled water,” said WateReuse California President Elect and Metropolitan General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh.

Last week, LAist highlighted the efforts of WateReuse members LA Sanitation & Environment and Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) to engage and educate young people and replace a retiring water workforce. “Not only are we investing in new infrastructure, but we have aging infrastructure, so we are in dire need of technical skill sets to operate, maintain everything from treatment plants to pipelines, to pump stations,” Joe Mouawad, WateReuse board member and general manager of EMWD, told LAist. The article highlights EMWD’s Youth Ecology Corps program, launched in 2013, and its newer effort: a two-year pre-apprenticeship Environmental Water Resources program at a high school in the district. The new apprenticeship program has already graduated 200 students, and many of the graduates of the Youth Ecology Corps went on to careers in the water workforce.

The 41st WateReuse Symposium, happening March 8-11, 2026 in Los Angeles, will highlight opportunities to educate and train operators of onsite and decentralized water systems as part of its Planning, Maintenance, Management, and Operations track.

Last week, Water Online interviewed Lance Thibodeaux, division manager for the Terminal Island water reclamation division at WateReuse member LA Sanitation and Environment, on the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant’s industry-leading reuse program and partnership with WateReuse member Xylem. The facility began recycling five million gallons per day in 2006, and a 2018 upgrade expanded its capacity to 12 million gallons per day, making it the first publicly owned treatment works to reuse its entire flow. The plant uses an advanced oxidation process from Wedeco, a Xylem brand, which is a first-of-its-kind custom solution validated through pilot-scale testing at the plant. Thibodeaux concluded by looking forward to the next ten years of water reuse strategy at the plant, sharing Terminal Island’s focus on optimizing advanced treatment operations by improving uptimes, developing staff, and maintaining compliance.

As the number of data centers across the United States continues to grow, so too does the industry’s need for water and power. California is home to the third highest number of data centers in the country, behind only Virginia and Texas. A new report from UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment explores what state and local governments in California are—and could be—doing to protect public health and the environment while meeting the needs of the data center industry. The report summarizes the state of knowledge on data center water use, maps the policy and regulatory framework for direct data center water use in California, and lays out recommendations. Read more about how state and local governments and the tech industry can increase transparency, conserve water resources, and protect local communities while enabling sustainable growth of the digital economy.

For over half a century, water reuse has helped meet the water needs of Colorado communities. In the 1960s, Aurora and Colorado Springs each began irrigating green spaces with non-potable recycled water. In the 1980s, Denver Water helped advance the science on water reuse by operating the nation’s first municipal-scale direct potable reuse pilot system. Today, nearly 30 Colorado cities recycle water. Check out the WateReuse Colorado Profile in Reuse with simple facts, figures, and case studies about reuse in the state – and share it with everyone from policymakers to students.

March 8-11 | Los Angeles, CA

Don’t miss the premier conference on water recycling — attracting water professionals and water reuse practitioners globally for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration. The 41st Symposium features over 100 hours of technical content and a transformative keynote from Philippe Cousteau, Jr. 

April 12-15, 2026 | Washington, DC 

The 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 jointly host the cornerstone event of Water Week 2026 – the National Water Policy Fly-In.

On Tuesday afternoon, attendees will gather for a federal policy briefing featuring senior leadership from EPA and other key agencies, along with remarks from prominent Members of Congress. Following the program, participants will have the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and network across the sector at the Water Week 2026 Reception. Wednesday will be dedicated to meetings on Capitol Hill, where attendees will engage directly with congressional offices, and with key federal agencies to advocate for critical water policy priorities. 

May 4-5, 2026 | Denver, CO 

WateReuse Colorado has invited colleagues from New Mexico and Utah, bringing together water leaders for a themed discussion on “reuse from the Rockies to the Desert Southwest.” Representatives from each state will facilitate discussions on reuse opportunities, challenges, and innovation in Colorado and across the Southwest. Water reuse professionals will unite to share their latest research, innovation, and experiences.

May 20, 2026 | Jacksonville, FL 

The Annual WateReuse Florida Summit will spotlight speakers and conversations about water reuse in the Sunshine State. 

June 8-10, 2026 | Chicago, IL

Save the date! Industrial Water Solutions, co-hosted by The WateReuse Association and the Water Environment Federation, is the essential conference for professionals who provide, treat, manage, use, or regulate water in industrial settings to find solutions that turn waste streams into value streams. Join industry thought leaders to collaborate, network, and share strategies to empower industries and the communities they call home.

July 19-21, 2026 | Flagstaff, AZ

The annual Arizona Water Reuse Symposium, hosted by WateReuse Arizona and the AZ Water Association, brings together industry leaders for education, conversation, and networking in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The call for abstracts is open now! Submit a presentation by February 20.

August 24-26, 2026 | San Francisco, CA

WateReuse California's 2026 Annual Conference will include insights from leading practitioners of water reuse in California, opportunities to learn about San Francisco’s leadership on onsite water recycling, and networking events to facilitate connections with colleagues new and old in a fun and focused setting.

The call for abstracts is open now! Submit a presentation by March 20.

September 15-17, 2026 | San Antonio, TX

Mark your calendar! The Annual WateReuse Texas conference brings together industry leaders in water reuse for education, conversation, and networking to promote the growing water reuse industry in Texas. The conference includes interactive workshops, networking events, and rich technical content including presentations about reuse-related research, funding, case studies, treatment technologies, planning, communications, advocacy and more!