April 23, 2018
Washington Update
Water Week 2018 Makes a Splash in Washington DC
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
Webcast
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pacific; 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Fee: WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Singapore is a small island nation and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. In the early years of its nation building, with limited land to collect and store rainwater, Singapore faced drought, floods and water pollution. These challenges inspired the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s National Water Agency, to strategize and seek innovative ideas, develop capabilities and secure a sustainable supply of water. Today, PUB has developed a diversified and sustainable water supply strategy for Singapore with the Four National Taps. The Four National Taps are local catchment water, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water.
This Webinar focuses on Singapore’s third National Tap, NEWater. NEWater refers to the high-grade reclaimed water that is produced using advanced membrane and ultraviolet technologies. It is primarily supplied to non-domestic sectors such as wafer fabrication plants, petrochemical plants, manufacturing industries and commercial buildings for industrial and air-conditioning purposes. A small percentage of NEWater is also injected into the reservoirs before being treated at the waterworks for drinking water supply. Participants of this Webinar will learn about the development of NEWater in Singapore, including R&D efforts and strategies to overcome various operational challenges.
Presenters
Bingrui Liu has been the Operations Engineer at Kranji NEWater Factory since 2017 after graduating from Boston University with a BA(Hons) in Chemistry.
Joelyn Tan joined the Operations team at Bedok NEWater Factory (BNF) in 2018, bringing along her technical knowledge as well as experience with the latest industry innovations.
Melanie Tan was the Plant Manager for Bedok NEWater Factory from 2010 – 2013 and will be facilitating the session. She currently serves as the Northern California Reuse Practice Leader for Kennedy Jenks.
Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
This webcast will summarize the California Environmental Flows Framework and its application in the Los Angeles River. Across the country, state and local agencies are promoting water reuse and recycling to conserve water resources. Reuse and recycling of treated wastewater can result in a reduction of instream flow and can impact existing and future instream beneficial uses, setting up potential conflicts between policies aimed at promoting reuse, protecting water quality, and managing ecological resources. Agencies in California have come together to develop a statewide environmental flows framework that can be used to establish seasonal flow criteria. This framework is currently being applied in the Los Angeles River watershed to better evaluate the cumulative impacts of potential flow reductions associated with several water reuse and water capture projects. The project will provide a science-based approach for assessing flow necessary to sustain beneficial uses. The project outcomes will be used to help establish technically sound flow recommendations and evaluate the consequences of alternative flow scenarios for the LA River. This project may also serve as a model for assessing similar situations in other river systems across the state.
Presenter
Dr. Eric Stein is a head of the Biology Department at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). Dr. Stein oversees a variety of projects related to in-stream and coastal water quality, bioassessment, hydromodification, watershed modeling, and assessment of wetlands and other aquatic resources. His research focuses on effects of human activities on the condition of aquatic ecosystems, and on developing tools to better assess and manage those effects.
WOW! Wonders of Water Brownie Journey Jumpstart
Our event is a series of activities and presentations for Brownie Girl Scouts to earn a badge called Wow! Wonders of Water Journey – LOVE Water. Girl Scouts can sign up through the council events page. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Erica Marti (erica.marti@unlv.edu).
Overview of activities:
- learning about the water cycle through active movement and visual demonstration
- learning about water pollution, especially how our community is affected by stormwater runoff
- learning about the unique water system in the Las Vegas Valley
Our event is now posted on the Girl Scout events page. Please share with anyone who has a Girl Scout (2nd, 3rd grades).
The Annual WateReuse California Conference brings together utilities, businesses, policymakers, and large water users from across the state to examine the latest issues and technologies in water recycling.