On Thursday, September 7, six WateReuse Association members shared their experiences with membrane technology to treat and recycle water and desalinate ocean water to produce potable water during a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Department of Interior and on Capitol Hill during a Congressional Briefing.

Co-hosted by the WateReuse Association, the American Membrane Technology Association and the Water Environment Federation, the day’s events highlighted how membrane technology can help address the nation’s water supply and quality challenges.

The Department of Interior roundtable included an overview of the function and application of membranes, a discussion of how utilities are addressing emerging contaminants of concern, and use examples from utilities. WateReuse Board Member Michael R. Markus, General Manager of the Orange County Water District, discussed the role of membranes in shaping his district’s award winning indirect potable reuse project. Other members invited to share their experiences included:

• Christine Owen, Water Quality Senior Manager, Tampa Bay Water, FL
• Hector Gonzalez, Government Affairs Manager, El Paso Water Utilities, TX
• Cedella Beazley, Commercial Director for the Americas, Dow Water & Process Solutions
• Ben Soucy, General Manager of Memcor Products, Evoqua Water Technologies
• Geert-Henk Koops, Technology Leader UF/MBR, GE Water and Process Technologies

The roundtable also included representatives from the Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Congressional Research Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.

The second event of the day, a briefing on Capitol Hill, afforded an opportunity for participants to discuss their successes and challenges with Members of Congress and congressional staff. The conversation focused on current and future initiatives in membrane technology while challenging participants to consider how membrane technology can help address the nation’s water supply and quality challenges and the role the federal government plays in addressing those challenges. The roundtables are part of the Association’s efforts to elevate the importance of water reuse and recycling to the nation’s water management systems to policymakers in Washington, DC.