Reuse Regulations in Focus at the Global Water Summit and more

News from the Leading Advocate for Water Reuse

May 26, 2026

Get Comprehensive Insights on Data Center Reuse at Industrial Water Solutions 2026

The proliferation of data centers and artificial intelligence, and securing the water needed to sustain them, is one of the most pressing issues for businesses, communities, and water agencies. At Industrial Water Solutions 2026, we’ve curated four sessions addressing community partnerships, regional strategies, technical solutions, and regulatory trends to drive sustainable solutions. Data center-focused sessions include Powering Central Ohio’s Tech Boom with Circular Water, Community-Centric Approaches for Successful Data Center Partnerships, How Water Fuels the AI Revolution, and Liquid Cooling 101. Join us for comprehensive, cross-sector insights from policymakers, major industrial players, engineers, nonprofit leaders, and more.

Washington Update

House Appropriations Committee Advances FY 2027 Appropriations Legislation

Each year, Congress must determine how much funding to dedicate to federal agencies and programs, including water reuse grant and loan programs. Last week, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee released FY 2027 funding bills for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Bureau of Reclamation and the programs they administer. The WateReuse Association has been advocating this year for an increase in funding for the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants and the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Grants Program. The FY 2027 appropriations bills released last week meet our requests for both programs—increasing funding for Alternative Water Source Grants from $2 million to $5 million and increasing funding for the Title XVI Water Reuse Grants Program from $12.5 million to $41 million.

Water Reuse Featured at House Natural Resources Committee Hearing

The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing last week examining the operations and programs of the Bureau of Reclamation, including Reclamation’s support for water reuse across the West. Acting Reclamation Commissioner Scott Cameron testified at the hearing along with Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and president elect of WateReuse California.

“It’s pretty clear that more water recycling is part of the future of the Colorado river,” Cameron stated regarding the crisis facing the Colorado river basin. Water reuse was featured numerous times throughout the hearing. Deshmukh also spoke at length about the critical role that water recycling plays not only in Southern California, but throughout the western United States. In exchanges with multiple members of the committee, he explained the importance of reauthorizing both the Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program as well as the Title XVI Water Reuse Competitive Grants Program, both of which expire at the end of 2026. WateReuse thanks Shivaji and Metropolitan for highlighting the importance of water recycling and the need to reauthorize these programs by year’s end.

Watch the Hearing Here

U.S. EPA Takes Action on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published two proposed rules related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The first rule provides an optional extension to the deadline by which regulated entities must comply with established Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS. The second proposed rule rescinds drinking water standards for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA (GenX), and the mixture of these three PFAS plus PFBS. EPA requests public input on whether these latter PFAS should be regulated individually rather than as a group. Public comments on the proposed rules are due to EPA by July 20, 2026. Concurrent with the publication of the rules, EPA announced a new round of funding for Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantage Communities Grants.

Our full blog post includes more detailed information on the two proposed rules as well as information about how to submit comments.

Association Update

WateReuse Executive Director Bruno Pigott Weighs in on Regulation at the 2026 Global Water Summit

Last week, WateReuse Executive Director Bruno Pigott participated in a panel on regulations for water reuse at the 2026 Global Water Summit in Madrid, Spain. Pigott shared that while some see regulations as roadblocks to innovation, in the water reuse space they often provide the clarity and guidance needed for a project to move forward. "Regulations can stimulate markets and drive innovation," he told the audience. Pigott participated in the discussion alongside experts including Roberta Maffettone from the European Commission Joint Research Centre, D'Ato Faizel Rahman from the National Water Services Commission of Malaysia, and Teodoro Estrela from Júcar River Basin Authority in Spain.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New WateReuse Member!

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Colorado welcome Highlands Ranch Water and Sanitation District! Founded in 1981, Highlands Ranch water serves approximately 110,000 residents and 47,000 residential and non-residential customers.

Highlands Ranch Water

FL: WateReuse Florida Celebrates Water Reuse Week with Annual Summit

Last week, nearly 100 water reuse professionals gathered at JEA’s new H2.O Purification Center in Jacksonville for the WateReuse Florida Annual Summit. The event featured tours of JEA’s Wetland Project, an overview of regional water reuse initiatives, an exploration of drivers and challenges in North Florida, and legislative updates. The Summit was the marquee event of Florida’s Water Reuse Week, which highlights the importance of developing alternative water supplies to meet growing demand on traditional sources. The new purification center will purify one million gallons per day of reclaimed water to drinking water standards, which will be used to replenish the aquifer. The full-scale facility features state-of-the-art educational exhibits for students and the public as well as a training facility for JEA operators.

UT: City of Orem Announces Operation of New Non-Potable Reuse Facility

Last week, KUER highlighted the City of Orem’s new water reclamation facility, which came online this spring and saves the city 175 million gallons of potable water annually. The plant currently distributes recycled water to a multi-field athletic complex and a golf course for irrigation in addition to returning water to Utah Lake. The system manages nutrient loads by removing phosphorus from the water that replenishes Utah Lake, while retaining phosphorus to enhance fertilization when distributed for irrigation. “Our reuse water is better than most communities that have secondary water and just treat from or use water straight from the river,” City of Orem Public Utilities Director Reed Price told KUER.

WateReuse Member Resources and Benefits

Explore Stormwater Capture and Reuse

Stormwater capture and reuse is a growing focus in the water reuse community. As climate change increases the unpredictability of weather, reusing our rain can offer many co-benefits including flood management, enhancing water supply and water quality, and cost savings. Visit our Stormwater Reuse landing page for more information! WateReuse members can also download the Profile in Stormwater Reuse, a useful outreach and education piece for community stakeholders.

Read the Profile

WateReuse Events and Webcasts

2026 Industrial Water Solutions: Powering the Circular Water Economy

June 8-10, 2026 | Chicago, IL

Industrial Water Solutions, co-hosted by WateReuse 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.

Webcast – Advancing Water Reuse in Kansas: Projects, Policy, and Opportunity

June 16, 2026
Free to everyone

Join the WateReuse Kansas Section for an introductory webcast exploring the evolving landscape of water reuse across the state. This session will provide a high-level overview of current state legislation and regulatory developments, along with insight into the Kansas section’s goals to advance water reuse and strengthen collaboration among utilities, industry, and policymakers.

2026 Oregon Summer Summit and Social

June 18, 2026 | Hermiston, OR

WateReuse Pacific Northwest and the City of Hermiston, Oregon invite you to the fifth annual Summer Summit and Social at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Tour the Hermiston water recycling plant, get updates from Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, meet WateReuse members from across the Pacific Northwest, and more.

Webcast – Stakeholder Engagement for Purple Pipe Systems

July 16, 2026
Free to WateReuse members

Non-potable water reuse systems have a long history of supplying “the right water for the right use” through systems of purple pipes. One of the most common uses is for landscaping, including city parks, golf courses, commercial landscaping, and more. Utilities need specialized outreach efforts to engage the stakeholders who use this water. Their outreach teams must be prepared to speak about water quality, cross connection prevention, regulatory paperwork, and public perception. Join our panel of communications professionals to hear about their successes and challenges in non-potable water reuse outreach.

2026 Arizona Water Reuse Symposium

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.

Learn More

2026 WateReuse California Annual Conference

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.

2026 WateReuse Texas Conference

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!

Learn More

Unsubscribe from WateReuse Review, Staff, Board of Directors -- Association

Opt out of all WateReuse email

610 Madison Street, Suite 101
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States