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Washington Update
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White House and Congress Make Progress in Securing New Funds for Businesses Devastated by COVID-19, including WateReuse Member Businesses
Action Needed: Submit Your “Shovel-Ready” Water Recycling Projects for Stimulus Investment
Virtual Water Reuse Advocacy: Join Water Week Webinars on April 22 and April 29
Members of Congress Urge Moratorium on Water Utility Shut-offs and Federal Support for Water Utilities Amid Pandemic
Bureau of Reclamation Awards $400,000 to WateReuse Members for Drought Planning
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has chosen four projects to share $710,771 to develop and update drought contingency plans, including incorporating water reuse as a water management strategy.
Valley Water will use their $200,000 to develop a drought response plan to improve water supply reliability during times of shortage in Santa Clara County in Northern California. The water district provides water and other services to businesses, industrial and agricultural users, and approximately two million residents across 15 cities in Santa Clara County, California.
The Western Municipal Water District will use their $200,000 to convene a local task force to develop a comprehensive drought contingency plan that considers impacts to local water supplies and infrastructure that will help Western customers during the next drought. They are located in western Riverside County in California and serve more than 880,000 people.
Both utilities are matching their grant with $200,000. Reclamation also announced awards for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and the Pechango Band of Luiseño Indians.
COVID-19 Resources for Water Recycling Agencies, Businesses, and Institutions
Federal Agencies Provide Guidance on Water and COVID-19
WateReuse Members and Partners Provide COVID-19 Guidance
WateReuse Member Spotlight: COVID-19 Experiences and Responses
WateReuse Association members continue to provide resources and services to help the nation recover from the coronavirus pandemic, including engineering and technology firms.
- Carollo: Mel Butcher of Carollo Engineers shared how design concepts may help civil engineers during the COVID-19 Pandemic with American Society of Civil Engineers Plot Points podcast. Read More.
- Evoqua: Evoqua technologies helps company increase disinfection production tenfold during this pandemic. Read More.
Share Your Story!
Please submit your COVID-19 story or your company’s COVID-19 response (up to 50 words) for inclusion in a future issue of WateReuse Review. Email your information to info@watereuse.org by Thursday at 12 pm ET.
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: UC Berkley Expert, Kara Nelson, Says Water Reuse Treatment Kills COVID-19
Kara Nelson, an expert in waterborne pathogens at UC Berkley, says that researchers have a high degree of confidence in the ability of existing water reuse treatment to handle the COVID-19 virus. In an interview with the Public Policy Institute of California, Dr. Nelson explained that coronaviruses have a different structure from other viruses in wastewater, which makes them even easier to kill. Although these treatment processes are based on science and a regulatory approach developed over decades, Nelson indicated that researchers would like to see studies to confirm this. Several studies have been launched across the nation. Read More
California: West County Wastewater and East Bay Municipal Utility District Announce Recycled Water Partnership
California: Palmdale Regional Groundwater Recharge and Recovery Project Moves Forward
Although the Palmdale Water District offices are closed to public during the coronavirus pandemic, work continues on the Palmdale Regional Groundwater Recharge and Recovery Project. This effort will recharge local groundwater supplies with recycled water to fortify the community’s water resources. The District Board of Directors unanimously approved a contract last week for the first test well. Read More.
California: Stanford Researchers Track COVID-19 with Wastewater Surveillance
Stanford researchers are collecting wastewater across the Bay Area to understand how wastewater surveillance can help us better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 and potentially predict new flare-ups before they happen. In the absence of extensive testing or a vaccine, understanding where and to what extent cities have been impacted will be important. Wastewater surveillance allows researchers to identify COVID-19 in a sewer system based on the RNA present. Research labs are teaming with pandemic experts to validate and provide tools during this crisis in a timely fashion. Read More.
Colorado: Unique Mobile DPR Demonstration on Track for Symposium Debut
Colorado: Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program Moves Forward During Pandemic
WateReuse Association member Denver Water remains committed to their public health initiatives, by shifting focus to tasks that can be accomplished safely during the stay-at-home order. The Lead Reduction Program, aimed at removing lead service lines, had just gotten underway in early March. Denver Water is focusing on pre-work that can be done safely, such as collecting consent forms and tackling service lines not currently in use, such as schools and daycares. Read More.
Florida: Potable Reuse Rulemaking Included in Omnibus Water Bill; Governor Expected to Sign
WateReuse Members Support U.S.-Israel Team on $21.4M Center to Develop Water-Energy Efficient Technologies, including Reuse
WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources
Need to Illustrate the Value of Water Reuse Investment? Use Our Flyer and Infographic
Utilities must make a compelling case to ratepayers, policymakers, and other stakeholders that investment in water recycling is the right decision. Use our flyer and infographic to illustrate that Investment in water reuse builds communities that are modern, sustainable and stable—ready for families to flourish and businesses to grow. The infographic highlights examples of recycled water from coast to coast and documents the value they bring.
Conferences and Events
Webcast Series Provides Value Information and Resources on COVID-19
In response to questions and concerns surrounding COVID-19 and water recycling, the WateReuse Association has developed a series of webcasts to provide members with the answers and resources they need. From risk preparedness to stimulus funding and communicating about the safety of recycled water, WateReuse has assembled experts across multiple disciplines to share the latest information and analysis. The following webcasts are available and free to members:
America’s Water Infrastructure Act – Implications for Water Reuse and COVID-19
April 21, 2020 | 11 am PT | 2 pm ET
Are water recycling utilities well prepared to deal with the COVID-19 crisis and other potential future risks? The America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) requires all utilities serving 3,300 or more people to complete a risk and resilience assessment (RRA) for their water systems, followed by the completion of an emergency response plan. This presentation will begin with an overview of AWIA requirements, RRAs, and the role of water reuse in those assessments followed by a focus on risk and risk perceptions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register Now!
Guide to COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Packages: Survival Tips for WateReuse Member Businesses
April 23, 2020 | 11 am PT | 2 pm ET
In the weeks since COVID-19 took hold in the United States, Congress has passed a number of relief packages that have included paid leave provisions, paycheck protection loans, emergency disaster loans, and tax deferrals, among other tools. In this webcast, leading experts from national business associations will break down how recent legislation, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, can help WateReuse business members survive and recover from the disaster. Register Now!
What We Know: Communicating about Recycled Water in the Age of COVID-19
April 28, 2020 | 11 am PT | 2 pm ET
Communities embrace water reuse as a proven method to ensure a safe, reliable, and locally controlled water supply, but in the age of COVID-19 new questions are being asked about public health and worker safety. Researchers at the forefront of this issue will join us for an informative update on what we know about recycled water and COVID-19. Experts in water reuse communications will follow with guidance on risk communication and messaging. This is an essential presentation for anyone that communicates about recycled water. Register Now!
Upcoming Events
![A Framework for Permitting Innovation in the Wastewater Sector to Support Water Reuse](https://watereuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Permitting-webcast-cover-photo-e1719940660416-300x167.jpg)
11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
This webcast is free of charge.
PDHs: 1
This webcast, co-hosted by the U.S. EPA, will present the key outcomes of an expert workshop that sought to understand how the permitting process can better support innovative water resource management solutions, such as water reuse. The webcast will detail five characteristics to support a permitting process that is not a painful hurdle, but rather an opportunity for mutual creativity between regulators, regulated entities, and the engaged public. Webcast participants will learn about how this framework can be applied to their unique circumstances, work being done by EPA and partners, and how innovation can be better facilitated through permitting.
Speakers:
- Justin Mattingly, Water Reuse Program, U.S. EPA
- Michael Kiparsky, University of California, Berkley
- Dave Smith, Water Innovation Services
- Felicia Marcus, Stanford University
Add to Calendar
Please find below the 2024 schedule for the Legislative-Regulatory Committee. All in-person meetings will be held at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Sacramento offices located at: 1121 L Street, Suite 900, Sacramento.]
Both in-person and virtual meetings will occur from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Those indicated as virtual will occur over Zoom and a link will be provided on the agenda.
The 2024 WRCA Annual Conference will be at the: Hyatt Regency Orange County.
Please save the date for our 2024 meeting dates:
1. January 19 – in person
2. March 8 – virtual
3. March 22 – in person
4. April 12 – virtual
5. May 10 – in person
6. May 31 – virtual
7. June 21 – virtual
8. August 9 – virtual
9. September 16 – in person (at annual conference)
Our next meeting will be on August 13th at Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa Del Rey.
Please RSVP by Friday, August 2nd by filling out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/tkAibX4HnB.
Joint Meeting with Northern California chapter, time and location TBD.
The meeting will be May 17 at Mitchell Park Community Center 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. The topic is Commissioning, Operations and Compliance perspectives and we will have presentations from:
- Steven Garner, Director of Certification for AWWA Cal-Nevada will be presenting what it takes to get an AWTO Certification for purified systems
- Vincent Gruffat and Brandon Jacka, Engineer and Operations Managers for Natural Systems Utilities (NSU) will be presenting the perspectives from operating Onsite non potable water systems
- Derrick Mansell, Operations Manager of Orange County Water District will be presenting the challenges and lessons learned from operating the world’s largest IPR system