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April 12, 2021

WRAP Update: Join EPA Administrator for Water, Radhika Fox, and Expert Panelists on April 29 for a Discussion about the Future of Water Reuse

Washington Update

President Biden’s 2022 Budget Request Increases Federal Spending on Water Programs

On Friday, April 9, President Biden released a summary of his FY 2022 budget request. The request includes $11.2 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a $2 billion or 21.3-percent increase from the 2021 enacted level. The request provides a total of $3.6 billion for water infrastructure, an increase of $625 million over the 2021 enacted level. These funds could be used to advance water infrastructure improvement efforts for community water systems, schools, and households, as well as broader efforts to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The request includes approximately $75 million to accelerate toxicity studies and research to inform the regulatory development of designating Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances and setting enforceable limits for PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This funding would also provide grants for technical assistance as state and local governments deal with PFAS contamination. WateReuse expects to see the full budget request in the coming weeks, and will report on additional details, including funding levels for the Bureau of Reclamation, at that time. 

EPA Administrator Speaks in Support of Biden Water Infrastructure Plan; WateReuse Advocates for Investment in Water Recycling

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, spoke in support of President Biden’s plans to invest in water infrastructure during a virtual roundtable last week with water utilities and community leaders. Administrator Regan highlighted the need for a stronger federal partnership in helping communities modernize their water infrastructure to build climate resilience. President Biden released the American Jobs Plan late last month. The plan calls for an investment of $2.25 trillion over eight years for water infrastructure, public transportation, high-speed broadband, manufacturing, and child and elderly care. The Administration spent last week building the case for its proposal and is expected to begin talks with Congress in the coming weeks. At this point it is not yet clear how congressional leaders will proceed; however, WateReuse is working closely with allies on the Hill to ensure that water recycling remains a key piece of any infrastructure package.

U.S. EPA Announces nearly $2.5 Million in Small Business Innovation Research; Water Reuse Companies Selected  

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $2.5 million to small businesses to develop environmental technologies, including four companies focused on innovative technologies for water reuse and desalination. Faraday Technology, Inc. (Ohio) is developing a modular water reuse system to address contaminants of emerging concern. Photon Systems Inc. (California) will develop an in-situ sensor for microbial monitoring in water reuse systems and Pure Blue Tech Inc. (Washington) is exploring a novel membrane design to reduce fouling and promote efficient water reuse. Triangle Environmental Health Initiative (North Carolina) focuses on water and energy recovery by eliminating brine and producing a three output streams system. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides awards in two phases. Phase 1 provides up to $100,000 for a six-month proof of concept and phase 2 provides up to $400,000 for further product development. The full list of awards address air quality, clean and safe water, homeland security, land revitalization, sustainable material management, and safer chemicals.  See the full announcement here.

Water Week 2021: Join Us April 25 – May 1 in Elevating Water Recycling as a National Priority

State Updates and Member Profiles

CA: Homebuilders Hall of Fame Recognizes Water Reuse Practitioner

When El Dorado County experienced a drought water emergency, developer William R. Parker and his team developed one of California’s largest water recycling projects. The project saves a billion gallons of fresh water per year by irrigating golf courses and landscaped public areas with recycled water. Parker’s long career in innovative community development earned him recognition in the California Homebuilding Foundation Hall of Fame. Read more.

CA: Purple Pipe Helps Qualcomm Meet Corporate Sustainability Measures  

Following a corporate climate assessment of warming scenarios around the globe, water stress came to the top of list of concerns for Qualcomm, a multi-national technology company. In San Diego, the company built out reclaimed water connections to the city’s purple pipe system, allowing the facility to reduce their potable water use by more than 80 million gallons annually. The facility utilizes the reclaimed water for industrial and irrigation purposes. Read more.

WI: New Research & Development Facility Leads by Innovation Example with Water Reuse

Biotech company, Promega, uses a rainwater collection system to provide 1 million gallons of reclaimed water annually for toilet flushing and cooling towers at its new 280,000 square foot Kornberg research center. The building reduces its energy use by nearly 65% utilizing additional sustainability measures such as double-walled construction, radiant heath and cooling with geo-exchange, and photovoltaic panels. The facility’s sustainable structure is home to innovative research on molecular systems and cellular responses. Read more.

International Update

European Union Wants the Public to Tour Water Recycling Systems from their Smartphones

The European Union’s water industry is exploring the use of augmented reality (AR) for designing future projects with simulations and as a public outreach tool. AR combines computer-generated images with real world images, allowing for an immersive “real-life” experience.  Researchers are beta testing an app that would allow the public to see inside a closed box water recycling system on their smartphones. Read more.

Member Resources and Benefits

Activity Booklet Provides Water Reuse Education for Late Elementary and Early Middle School Students

Looking for a resource to engage late elementary to early middle school students? Use the new Water Reuse Activity Booklet from WateReuse and Project WET to introduce students to the world of water reuse with fun activities that develop math and science skills. Students will learn about the urban water cycle, the treatment processes that make water safe to use again, and much more! Check out the booklet highlights in this short video.

The booklet is available on the Project WET store. WateReuse members interested in ordering 250 copies or more through April 30, 2021 will receive a 20% discount using the coupon code: WATEREUSE.

Job Opportunity from the WateReuse Career Center

  • General Manager, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Lakewood, CA

Member Engagement Opportunity

Get Recognition for Your Water Reuse Program: Utility of the Future 2021 Applications Open

The Utility of the Future Today recognition program honors forward-thinking, innovative water utilities that are providing resilient value-added service to communities, particularly in community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. Public and private water sector utilities of all sizes that can demonstrate achievement of the application requirements are encouraged to apply by May 14 at 5 p.m. EDT. Applicants must have no major permit violations in the year prior to the submission date of their applications. WateReuse partners with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), and the Water Research Foundation (WRF) in leading this program, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). Since 2016, 183 utilities have received recognition under this innovative program.

Conferences, Webcasts and Events

Webcast: From Across the Globe: The Many Facets of Industrial Water Reuse

April 14, 2021
9 am PT | 12 pm ET

Join the co-editors of Sustainable Industrial Water Use: Perspectives, Incentives and Tools, Eric Rosenblum and Cheryl Davis, as they discuss global perspectives with industry experts. In this 90-minute webcast, four different authors will summarize their articles featured in the book, describing the challenges they confront planning, financing, designing and implementing water reuse to conserve water and reduce industrial pollution. Register here.

Webcast: Panel Discussion – California’s Draft DPR Regulations

April 14, 2021
11 am | 2 pm ET

Join WateReuse California (WRCA) for a brown bag lunch panel discussion of draft criteria for Direct Potable Reuse regulations.  The release of the criteria is the culmination of a decade advocacy, legislation and research by WRCA and its members. WRCA will use this discussion to develop comments for the Water Board and the DPR Expert Panel to consider as they further develop the regulations.  Register here.

Webcast: Digital Platform, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Potable Reuse Projects

June 1, 2021
11 am PT | 2 pm ET

In this webcast, our presenters will introduce how digital platforms including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be used to improve asset management strategies, operational efficiencies, enhance source control, validate unit process performance, predict product water quality and making sound decisions for assessing suitability of product water for human consumption. Register here.

Upcoming Events

Dec
5
Tue
WRCA Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Santa Monica
Dec 5 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Santa Monica Institute Meeting Room

330 Olympic Drive

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  • Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. Thank you to our lunch sponsor, Woodard & Curran.
  • The formal meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure above the meeting room.
  • A tour of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) will follow the formal meeting, starting at 1:15 p.m. Please wear closed-toed shoes.
  • There will also be an option to participate in the meeting virtually. A Zoom meeting registration link will be sent out with the agenda about one week prior.
  • Whether you plan to attend in person or via Zoom, please RSVP by Friday, December 1st by filling out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/6B7UknVNmz. Please indicate if you plan on joining for lunch, the formal meeting, and/or the tour, so that we may get an accurate count. This meeting will have a capacity limit of 50 people.
Dec
7
Thu
San Diego Chapter Meeting @ San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa
Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Save the date for our December chapter meeting!

Please save the date for our last chapter meeting of the year on Thursday, December 7 at 3 p.m. This meeting will be held in person at the San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa, followed by a happy hour at Khan’s Cave

The meeting will include a presentation from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District on their recycled water project, 2024 officer elections, regulatory updates, and more! We look forward to seeing you all there.

 

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Dec
8
Fri
Meeting of the Board of Directors – Fourth Quarter 2023
Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Friday, December 8, 2023

11:00 am to 2:00 pm ET (Remote)

Dec
12
Tue
Orange County Chapter Meeting @ Virtual
Dec 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Dec
13
Wed
WateReuse Florida December Board Meeting
Dec 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dec
14
Thu
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer
Dec 14 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer

11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

With water supply limitations driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change, along with more stringent regulatory requirements for wastewater discharges, direct or indirect potable reuse is becoming increasingly essential to address water resiliency issues. Carbon Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) has increasingly been adopted as a treatment solution to treat municipal effluent to provide a safe, reliable augmentation of drinking water supplies.

CBAT involves the use of biologically activated carbon (BAC) usually with ozone, followed by granular activated carbon (GAC) to achieve advanced treatment of water. It may also include flocculation/sedimentation and UV disinfection. Join a panel of experts to explore the various combinations of this process, and get updates on key case studies using CBAT for potable reuse.

Moderator:

TBD

Speakers:

  • Andrew Newbold, Principal Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer
  • Gaya Ram Mohan, PhD, PE, Environmental Engineer, Hazen & Sayer
  • Erik Rosenfeldt, PhD, PE, National Drinking Water Practice Leader, Hazen & Sawyer
Inland Empire Chapter Meeting
Dec 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

We will hold an inperson meeting at Western Municipal Water District.

 

Please RSVP HERE for this meeting by Thursday, December 7th

Dec
15
Fri
Arizona Water Reuse 2024 Symposium – Call for Abstracts Deadline
Dec 15 all-day
Dec
19
Tue
Pacific Northwest Section Meeting
Dec 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Dec
20
Wed
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy
Dec 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy

10:00 am PT | 1 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

Across the country, more and more communities are exploring reuse as part of a larger water management strategy. But even the best public projects live and die by community acceptance, and history has shown this is doubly true for water reuse projects. Community engagement is a vital element to designing and launching plans that will create lasting impact. Community engagement is not, however, a one-size-fits-all endeavor. What motivates communities in Seattle will not be the same as Boise, or rural Oregon. In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of localizing a communications and engagement strategy to reflect the values, culture and drivers of each specific community. We will look at two Pacific Northwest case studies from Boise and the WateReuse Oregon Subcommittee that demonstrate effective, local engagement approaches.

 

Moderator:

Holly Tichenor, Management Consulting National Practice Leader, Brown and Caldwell, WateReuse PNW Board President

Presenters:

  • Natalie Monro, Communications Coordinator, City of Bellingham, WateReuse PNW Board VP
  • Haley Falconer, Environmental Division Senior Manager, City of Boise
  • Jared Kinnear, Reuse Program Manager, Clean Water Services

 

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