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April 23, 2018

Washington Update

Water Week 2018 Makes a Splash in Washington DC

Water Week 2018 ended with a resounding success last week. This year’s Water Week drew hundreds of water professionals from across the country—including nearly 70 WateReuse Association members—for a week of meetings, policy education, networking, and the two-day National Water Policy Fly-In which included visits to Senate and House offices.

WateReuse hosted a congressional briefing the morning of Thursday, April 19 on the economic value of water reuse to communities. Four WateReuse members shared stories of how recycled water brings value to their communities and sustains the local economy. The briefing was livestreamed with 130 people tuning in online. A recording of this briefing can be found here.

The National Water Fly-In began on Tuesday, April 17 with an opening plenary session. David Ross, the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water, spoke about the importance of embracing a more integrated and holistic approach to water management, the need to break down silos between the various water categories, and key drinking water-related issues such as lead and perfluorinated compounds.

The opening plenary was followed by more intimate conversations with EPA Office of Water staff who discussed the increased funding available for the state revolving funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. EPA staff emphasized the great potential of WIFIA due to its strong investment leveraging ability and the broad applicability of the program to all types of clean water related projects. EPA staff also spoke about a planned review of the 1997 affordability guidance document, their interest in collaboration and regionalization issues, the upcoming regulatory review of the groundwater conduit theory for discharges under the Clean Water Act, and the Agency’s review of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, among other issues.

There was also a smaller issue breakout session on water reuse covering the Title XVI program and potential intersection issues with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act for potable reuse projects. Grayford Payne from the Bureau of Reclamation and Peter Grevatt from EPA lead the discussion and answered questions. The issues discussed included the impact that recycled water can have on affordability in some communities, the impact of decentralized and onsite water reuse, and the challenge of public education around water reuse.

Congress was the focus of the second day of the Fly-In. WateReuse President Paul Jones moderated a panel discussion in which staff from key congressional committees provided their perspectives on infrastructure, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and Western water supply issues. WRDA is proceeding on a separate track from a broader infrastructure initiative with the goal of passage this year. The House aims to keep this year’s WRDA bill “skinnier” than previous WRDA bills, with a sole focus on Army Corps projects. The Farm Bill contains conservation programs that also can be used to help protect source water quality. As these programs can encourage more partnerships in addressing agricultural pollution, protecting the funding of these programs needs to be a priority of the clean water community. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is also working on Western water bills that address water supply and title transfers for Bureau of Reclamation facilities.

Gilbert Trejo, WateReuse Vice-President, represented WateReuse at a joint association preparatory briefing before sending everyone off for meetings with Members of Congress. Trejo highlighted WateReuse’s Water Week priorities of requesting $60 million for Title XVI in FY19 and educating Members about the value of water reuse.

The Fly-In concluded with a Congressional Reception at the Library of Congress, which included remarks from Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI), representing Flint, MI, who spoke about the important work the water sector does and the importance of taking a proactive approach to ensuring we have clean and safe water. The reception also featured bottles of purified recycled water provided by Orange County Water District, which were a hit and an exciting topic of conversation among reception attendees.

WateReuse thanks all its members that came out to Washington DC for Water Week as well as members that hosted or participated in Water Week events in their local communities. We’re interested to hear stories about your experience, feedback on your congressional meetings, and any suggestions for improving Water Week in the future. Please email Amber Kim at akim@watereuse.org with any comments.

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State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association thanks the following new member:

RFN3 Solutions LLC

California: Department of Water Resources Awards $3 Million to Develop Plans for Sonoma County Groundwater

The California Department of Water Resources awarded $1 million each to three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) in Sonoma County to support development of plans for each of the basins. The GSAs were formed in 2017 to ensure that there is a balance in the amount of water that is going out of and coming into groundwater basins. The groundwater plans will include recommendations for groundwater recharge, recycled water, new incentives for water conservation and sustainability, and regulations for groundwater use. Learn More.

Colorado: Bills Pass Allowing Reclaimed Water for Edible Crops, Toilet Flushing

Colorado’s legislature passed two bills that allow for new uses of reclaimed water In Colorado. HB-1093 adds edible crops as a new use and HB-1069 adds toilet flushing. Both are now headed to the Governor for his signature. This is a big year for water reuse in Colorado’s legislature with two additional bills making their way through the house and senate that would allow reclaimed water to be used for industrial hemp irrigation (SB18-038) and marijuana cultivation (HB18-1053). Many members of WateReuse Colorado have worked on bill language and amendments and have come out in force to testify at key hearings. Details on bill language and status can be found here.

Colorado: Proceeds from Denver Water’s Recycled Water Beer Will Go to Charity

Denver Water is partnering with a local green certified brewery to produce beer brewed with purified recycled water for its 100th Anniversary. When customers of the Declaration Brewing Company order this unique Pilsner, they will be supporting scholarships for careers in the water industry and related infrastructure. The purified water comes from the PureWater Colorado Demonstration Project – a purification system that converts used household water into drinking water that meets all state and federal drinking water standards. Learn More.

Association News

2017 Annual Report Highlights Successes

The WateReuse Association released its 2017 Annual Report highlighting a year of success, including strong federal and state advocacy, new member education tools, and a fifth straight year of member growth. Nationally, there is more interest than ever in water recycling and the WateReuse Association is taking this opportunity to educate and advocate. View Annual Report.

New Handout Developed for Water Week, Local Advocacy

The WateReuse Association created a handout, Water Reuse: Transforming Water, Sustaining Our Future, explaining the benefits of water reuse on one side and illustrating the economic value of recycled water for communities across the country on the other side. The document was developed for Water Week 2018 in Washington, DC and for members to use in local advocacy.

Applications Open for Utility of the Future Today Recognition Program

The Utility of the Future Today recognition program returns for a third year to honor water resource recovery facilities for community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. A webinar is scheduled for utilities wishing to learn more about the program and the application process on April 25. The deadline to apply for recognition this year is May 30. Learn More.

Conferences and Events

Webcast: Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration: Outlook for Water Reuse and Potential Impacts on Distribution Pipes

What is the current state of water reuse in unconventional oil and gas? And what are the impacts of fracking and crude oil contaminants on water distribution pipes? Join us on Wednesday, May 9 at 2 p.m. EDT to hear results from two Water Research Foundation studies on unconventional oil and gas that cover opportunities and challenges for water reuse and protection of public health. Learn More.

Advance Registration Ends Today for the 2018 Water Research Foundation Conference

The latest research addressing the challenges of integrated water management and water reuse will be presented at the 2018 Water Research Foundation Conference in downtown Atlanta, GA on May 6-8, 2018. The Research Conference is designed to help communities prepare for the future with a comprehensive program offering innovative approaches and creative solutions for managing our water resources. Learn More.

Register for the Pacific Northwest WateReuse Conference

Learn the latest on state and federal policy at the 2018 Pacific Northwest WateReuse Conference in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18, 2018. Policy sessions will cover Washington State’s new reclaimed water rule, updates on federal funding programs, and a robust panel discussion on state regulation with representatives from Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Learn More.

Webcast: Developing Regulations that Grow and Support Water Reuse: The Regulator Perspective

States are taking the lead in developing regulations to support implementation and growth of water reuse. Please join us on Wednesday, June 13 at 2 p.m. EDT to learn about the latest regulatory developments in four states across the country at varying stages — from states with a long history of water reuse to states in the early stages of assessing reuse needs and strategy. Regulators from California, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Minnesota will discuss the latest developments in their states. Learn More.

Save the Date: 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium

Learn “What’s Working, What’s New, and What’s Next in Water Reuse” at the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium, September 9-12, 2018, at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas. The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the nation’s premier conference on water reuse and the only conference dedicated solely to advancing the policy, technology, innovation and public acceptance of recycled water. Registration opens in May! Learn More.

Upcoming Events

Apr

Wed

WateReuse Pacific Northwest Meeting

Tickets

Apr 15 all-day

Categories: WateReuse Pacific Northwest

Webcast: Breaking Down Implementation Barriers for Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems

Tickets

Apr 15 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Presented in partnership with The Water Research Foundation, this presentation will cover key components of successful onsite non-potable water systems.

Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members and WRF Subscribers: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

Across the nation, onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS) are becoming increasingly common as a means to conserve and recycle water. Ensuring consistent implementation is one of the principal challenges for ONWS programs, particularly when multiple, new stakeholders are involved. Water Research Foundation project 4909 sought to identify key knowledge gaps and provide the resources needed to aid in the smooth implementation of ONWS. Through interaction with the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, the project team identified common pitfalls that have impacted the design, operation, permitting, and implementation of ONWS.

This presentation will cover key components of a successful ONWS program including: (1) treatment goals that control public health risk, (2) effective design of both treatment and non-treatment (i.e., management) barriers, (3) strategies for effective operation and monitoring of ONWS systems, and (4) frameworks for regulating and permitting ONWS. The goal of this presentation is to convey the importance of stakeholder knowledge for consistent protection of public health at ONWS installations. This information will be presented through a survey of the projects two main deliverables: the comprehensive guidance manual and interactive training modules.

Presenters

Brian Pecson, Ph.D., P.E., Principal Engineer, Trussell Technologies
Brie Post, P.E., Senior Engineer, Trussell Technologies
Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Categories: Featured Webcasts

Apr

Tue

Webcast: America’s Water Infrastructure Act – Implications for Water Reuse and COVID-19

Tickets

Apr 21 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Are water recycling utilities well prepared to address the COVID-19 crisis and other potential future risks?

Join Us!
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

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 (ERP). The RRA’s are part of an overall effort to improve the ability of water systems to prepare for and respond to events from water resource limitations to cyber attacks, from extreme weather to an assault on the utility, and from contamination to treatment and distribution infrastructure, among others. In short, it is an all-hazards approach to managing risk.

This webcast will discuss how water reuse interacts with the RRAs and highlight some the ways that risks are viewed and managed from an AWIA perspective. It will also discuss how we are interpreting and acting upon risk in the midst the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and how we can use RRAs to prepare for future risks. This webcast will offer a fresh look at risk and resilience through the lens of preparation and response. The 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.

Presenters

Dr. Ben Stanford is an Associate Vice President with Hazen and Sawyer in the Denver office where he leads the implementation of innovations in water, wastewater, and water reuse. He is currently leading or supporting over a dozen risk and resilience projects in FL, NC, TX, CO, AZ, and CA.

Dr. Douglas Crawford-Brown is Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was Founding Director of the Institute for the Environment, and at the University of Cambridge, where he was Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research.