Q2 2026 Newsletter

WateReuse Texas committee volunteers are busy reviewing abstracts and curating a three-day lineup that features groundbreaking reuse research and innovations, educational opportunities, and in-depth dialogue with leading experts around issues that really matter. Get ready to reconnect at the biggest reuse event in Texas September 15-17 at the Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk. 

1. Early-Bird Registration Opens in June 

Registration for the 2026 WateReuse Texas Conference will open in June. Discounted early-bird pricing will be available through July 31 and will range from $25 for students through $500. WRTX members must be signed in to access member pricing.

Group deals for five or more attendees from one utility are available, as are utility sponsorships. Check whether your company is a member and if not, join us!

2. Award Nominations Are Now Being Accepted

Nominations for the 2026 WRTX Awards are now open. WRTX honors leaders in the Texas reuse community with two awards presented annually at the WRTX Conference: The Archuleta Award and the Reuse Impact Award. These awards recognize water agencies, businesses, recycled water users, and individuals that demonstrate innovation and leadership in advancing the practice, science, adoption, or public acceptance of water recycling. Nominations must be received by July 15 to be considered for #WRTX2026. 

3. Poster Proposals Requested

WRTX is accepting proposals from both current students and non-students through July 15 for the technical poster display at #WRTX2026. Posters should focus on reuse technology, financing, or other reuse-related topics. Poster proposals from student research are highly encouraged, and prizes for top student entries will be awarded by the WRTX Research Committee at the conference.

4. Conference Room Block Now Available 

Secure your stay in the heart of the conference action and take advantage of the special #WRTX2026 room rate. A limited number of guest rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at the discounted base rate of $219* at the Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk. Book directly through the button below or call 800-362-2779 and reference code CES925.

_{*Room rate and reservation details: $219 plus 1.25% tourism fee and 0.525% recovery fee will show up front on the booking page, and taxes will be added upon checkout.}  

5. NEW! Conference Program and Awards Committee 

WRTX just launched a new committee that will specifically focus on curating content and selecting award recipients for #WRTX2026. The new Conference Program and Awards Committee, chaired by Laura Rodriguez-Gonzalez, PHD, of Carollo, will work to deliver the best in Texas reuse—from innovative, cutting-edge research to thought-provoking panels. Interested in working with this group to create the biggest reuse event in Texas? Join us!

TCEQ is looking for licensed engineers to participate in administering the beneficial reuse program within the Water Quality Division. Job responsibilities include administering reviews of plans and specifications for wastewater treatment and collection systems and completing the engineering and technical analysis of authorization applications for beneficial reuse of treated wastewater.  

Tackle one of the hardest parts of a successful reuse project: Getting the science of communications right. Whether you’re just starting your reuse journey and wondering how to engage your community around a potential project or working to build public understanding and trust for an existing program, this expert panel will provide key takeaways on what actually works.

Watch WRTX research committee vice chair Eva Deemer, PhD moderate panelists Anna Gitter, PhD, and Karla Mendez, PhD, MPH, of UTHealth Houston; Diana Leonard, CPSM, of Carollo Engineers; and Scott Reinert of the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Group and El Paso Water having an in-depth discussion on everything from modeling and water planning to best practices for crafting messages that resonate.

The webinar recording will be posted on the WRTX website by May 18 and is free for members to access. 

The Reuse Roundtable at Texas Water was a huge success, with speakers from the reuse track and other subject matter experts joining us for discussions about research, treatment, funding, planning, policy, and outreach.  

A special thanks to these WRTX committee chairs for participating in the discussions relevant to their committee topics: Nathan Vassar from Lloyd Gosselink for the policy discussion, Martin Bartlett from Consor for the outreach discussion, and Dr. Keisuke Ikehata from Texas State University for the research discussion. And a big thanks to our additional committee chairs, board members, and moderators who represented companies like Plummer, Garver, CDM Smith, El Paso Water, and Carollo.  

Here are a few key takeaways from several of the discussion groups:  

Outreach: this group talked about challenges in public communication, including that the public doesn't know what reuse is or what purple pipe means. They also brainstormed possible tools WRTX could create to help with public communication and outreach. Our outreach committee will be discussing those items at our next meeting and prioritizing things to work on going forward.  

Policy: this group discussed challenges in implementing onsite reuse, stormwater and rainwater collection and capture, regional water planning, produced water, and more. They also touched on data centers and other technology entities as large water users and how utilities can work with those users while meeting the water needs of the community.  

Planning: the planning table discussed drivers for water recycling and how that helps with acceptance, as well as some thoughts on funding, cross-training for operators, and ways that WRTX can step up and provide resources for our utility members to educate and communicate during the planning process. 

Research: this group discussed emerging needs related to water reuse research in Texas, including challenges and opportunities associated with growing water demands from semiconductor manufacturing facilities and data centers. The group also discussed advancing institutional reuse, including potable water reuse, through collaboration among utilities, industry, and academia, as well as the role of water reuse in addressing water supply stress and regional disparities in water rates. 

Funding: the group discussed the various state and federal loan and grant programs that exist for water reuse projects, including WIFIA, SRF, SWIFT, and various funding programs offered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.  Topics centered on pros/cons of each program, which BOR funding program(s) are applicable at each project stage, and a brief discussion on some lesser-known funding opportunities that don’t get as many applicants. 

Thanks to all those that participated in this year's Roundtable, including our co-hosts the WEAT and TAWWA Reuse Committees, and a special shoutout to our committee liaisons Quentin Geile of Plummer (WEAT) and Rowdy Dailey from Southwest Fluid Products (TAWWA). Also, a special thanks to all the folks from TCEQ who attended and participated in various discussions. Your contributions were invaluable!

Get engaged with our work and share ideas with colleagues by joining a committee! Each committee works on projects related to the committee topic, gives feedback on WRTX goals and objectives, and receives relevant updates during committee meetings.

WateReuse Texas has four standing committees:

• NEW! Conference Program and Awards Committee (meets monthly)
• Outreach Committee (meets bi-monthly)
• Policy Committee (meets quarterly when not in session)
• Research Committee (meets bi-monthly)
• Events Committee (meets monthly and more often in August)

*All meetings are virtual unless noted otherwise, and times are in the Central time zone.

Our committees allow member organizations a direct way to engage in specific reuse-related areas. Any individual employed by a WRTX member is eligible to join. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, please contact Noelle George.

This paper presents selected findings from the water quality data collected during the verification and operational phases of the City of Wichita Falls DPR treatment facility, which operated from July 2014 to July 2015 and was implemented under emergency conditions without existing DPR regulations. (The City of Wichita Falls worked closely with TCEQ throughout 2013 to craft rules and regulations for the facility.) 

Given the scarcity of full-scale water quality data from operational DPR facilities in scientific literature, this study provides valuable insight into DPR system performance. The system operated for just over one year with zero operational failures or violations, proving the reliability of DPR as an option for reuse. Additionally, the paper discusses observed process performance and explores how design and operational decisions might differ if the DPR treatment facility were constructed today, considering present-day industry standards and the evolving regulatory landscape.

A recent episode of Tap Talk, The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast, featured a conversation with WRTX Utility Board Member Hunter Adams, who is also the Water Source & Purification Superintendent for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas. They discuss the importance of getting involved with the water industry outside of your own utility and Hunter weighs in on the advancement of water reuse.  

At Texas Water, WRTX Managing Director Noelle George, TAWWA Executive Director Daniel Nix, and WRTX Board Member Hunter Adams got an exclusive tasting of Texas' own special reserve - San Marcos Pure Water. This water was produced by a new 1-gpm full advanced treatment (UF-RO-UV AOP) pilot system using wastewater at the City of San Marcos Wastewater Treatment Plant. While the water is not permitted for public consumption due to the small scale of the pilot system, we jumped at the opportunity to highlight that the output from this system is potable water that is safe to drink! 

A special thanks to our Research Committee Chair, Keisuke Ikehata, from Texas State University for the sampling opportunity.  

The Advancing Water Reuse Act, the Senate companion to H.R. 2940 in the U.S. House of Representatives, proposes establishing a 30 percent investment tax credit to help manufacturers and other industrial entities scale up their use of recycled water in lieu of other freshwater supplies.

A recent Wall Street Journal article quotes WateReuse Association executive director, Bruno Pigott, in a positive piece about this key national initiative, supported by a coalition of Fortune 500 companies who are committed to increasing the use and acceptance of recycled water.