Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – April 29, 2019

One Week Left to Nominate a Leader for the Annual WateReuse Awards for Excellence

Now is the time to get recognition for your water recycling program, creative collaborations, innovative technology, or to salute a colleague that that is demonstrating leadership in advancing water reuse. Submit a nomination for the Annual WateReuse Awards for Excellence by Monday, May 6 to be considered for the most prestigious award in the water reuse sector. The WateReuse Association’s annual awards program recognizes innovations and leadership that advance greater adoption of water reuse. Winners will be honored at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium, September 8-11, 2019 in San Diego, CA. Submit your nomination today.

Learn about the Latest Water Reuse Research at the Annual WateReuse Symposium, Register Today

How will the latest water reuse research change the way communities incorporate water recycling into their water management strategies? Learn about the latest in reuse research and imagine the future at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium, September 8- 11, 2019 in San Diego, California. This year’s Symposium includes a research track featuring key findings from essential research led by the Water Research Foundation. Register today to reserve your space at the nation’s premier conference on water reuse.

Washington Update

ACTION NEEDED: Co-Sponsors for House Water Infrastructure Legislation with Increased Funding for Water Reuse

The WateReuse Association is asking our members to reach out to your Congressperson and request him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 1497, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act, introduced last month by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chairwoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and John Katko (R-NY). The bill reauthorizes the Program for Alternative Water Source Projects at $75 million per year for five years. Under this program, EPA would be able to fund projects that meet critical water supply needs by conserving, managing, reclaiming, or reusing water, wastewater, or stormwater, or by treating wastewater or stormwater. The same bill reauthorizes the Clean Water State Revolving Fund at $4 billion per year, State Management Assistance at $300 million per year, Watershed Pilot Projects at $120 million per year, and includes a four-year extension of the combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflow and stormwater recapture and reuse grant authority.

The bill currently has 30 cosponsors, including three Republicans. One of the most effective ways to build momentum for a piece of legislation is to build its cosponsor list. You can help move this critical reauthorization effort forward! If your representative is not already on the cosponsor list linked above, please call them now and ask them to sign on!

To take action, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask for your representative, and once the operator connects you to the office, ask for the staffer who handles water. Let them know who you are and where your entity operates, and then make your ask! Be sure to briefly describe why this bill is important to you and your agency/company. If the front office transfers you to the staffer’s voicemail (which is common), leave a message!

Show less

WateReuse Advocates for Reuse in FY 2020 Budgeting and Appropriations

Last week, the WateReuse Association submitted appropriations testimony to the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee urging the inclusion of robust FY 2020 funding for two Bureau of Reclamation programs: $100 million for the Title XVI WINN program and $20 million for the Desalination and Water Purification Program. This was the last of four subcommittees to which we submitted requests as part of the annual congressional budgeting and appropriations process. Appropriators are beginning to write their individual appropriations bills, including bills to fund the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Each year, the House and Senate Budget Committees develop top-line spending caps which guide congressional appropriators as they write annual appropriations bills. House and Senate leaders are currently in negotiations regarding budget caps for FY 2020, though it remains unclear whether and when they will reach an agreement. If they cannot unify around common figures, each body would have to write appropriations bills to separate numbers, which would make the process of conferencing appropriations bills extremely difficult. It would also mean that automatic discretionary budget caps are reinstated. These caps were set as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011, are quite severe, and have been on hold during the last two years under a previously agreed-to budget deal. Our hope is that an overall budget deal will be reached, caps will be raised relative to budget control levels, and robust funding will be included in FY 2020 appropriations legislation for key water recycling programs.

Show less

Maui County Reacts to EPA’s Clarification on the Clean Water Act, Resurrects Reuse Program

At the urging of the environmental advocacy organizations suing the County of Maui, Hawaii, the Maui County Council is considering a resolution that would allow the County to settle an injection wells case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. This action follows the release of a clarification statement from the Environmental Protection Agency indicating the Clean Water Act (CWA) does not require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for groundwater discharges. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced that he would be resurrecting the county’s longtime water reuse program, which has been on hold due to the injection wells case. In February 2018, the Ninth Circuit held that the County of Maui’s injection of highly treated effluent into an underground aquifer violated the CWA. The WateReuse Association joined with twelve other associations in submitting an Amicus Brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s decision.

Show less

State Updates and Member Profiles

California: Santa Barbara Improves Treatment for Recycled Water

WateReuse Association member the City of Santa Barbara unveiled its newly renamed El Estero Water Resource Center last week, celebrating recently completed improvements to the treatment process. This year, El Estero received $31.4 million in loans from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to upgrade its facilities. The plant currently treats 6 million gallons and converts about 2 million gallons into recycled water daily and uses it to irrigate landscapes and flush toilets. Read More.

Maryland: Secretary of Defense Honors NSA Campus for Recycled Water Use

A National Security Agency (NSA) campus at Fort Meade, Maryland has been awarded the 2019 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for its use of recycled water to meet one of the largest water cooling demands of any campus within the Intelligence Community. NSA partnered with Howard County, Maryland to develop and build a 5 million gallon per day capacity pumping station, 1.5 miles of water pipe, and a 1 million gallon storage tank. This system provides cooling support for critical IT infrastructure that is vital to national security, including high-performance computer systems as well as their human counterparts. Read More.

Evoqua Wins Digital Award Company of the Year for Remote Monitoring System

WateReuse Association member Evoqua Water Technologies has been named Digital Water Company of the Year by Global Water Intelligence. Evoqua was selected for its Water One® platform, which digitizes water systems management and remotely monitors customer sites, identifying maintenance issues before they occur. Winners of the Global Water Awards were announced at the Global Water Summit in London. Read More.

Association Update

WateReuse Members Can Seek Utility of the Future Designation

Utility of the Future Today recognition celebrates the achievements of 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. WateReuse Association members are encouraged to apply to receive this valuable designation. If you would like more information before applying, a May 2 webinar featuring WateReuse members will describe more about the program and the application process. Register now for this free event.

Conferences and Events

Webcast: Bioanalytical Screening Tools for Recycled Water – An Emerging Technology to Assess Complex Mixtures in Aquatic Environments

What’s the next big thing in monitoring recycled water quality? Please join us May 15 at 2 p.m. eastern to learn how In vitro cell-based assays have shown promise as bioscreening tools to assess environmental mixtures and prioritize sites requiring further investigations. These assays are designed to respond to groups of chemicals. As such, they offer an integrative approach to complement conventional chemical and toxicity testing. Learn More.

Register for the 8th Annual Water Reuse in Texas Conference

WateReuse Texas, Water Environment Association of Texas, and Texas American Water Works Association will host the 8th Annual Water Reuse in Texas Conference, May 23-24, in McAllen, Texas. The program will present the latest on operations, financing, planning, and water quality. Pat Sinicropi, Executive Director of WateReuse Association, will provide a keynote discussion on the future of water reuse, Texas’ role as a reuse pioneer, and EPA’s upcoming Water Reuse Action Plan. Learn More.

Webcast: Innovative Strategies for Municipal Water Reuse

As the municipal water reuse market experiences unprecedented growth and geographic expansion, where are the best opportunities? Please June us on June 5 at 2 pm to gain insight into the evolving municipal water reuse market, learn how utilities can see a return on their investment in reuse, and get the latest forecasts on how the market is poised to take off on a large scale. Learn More.

Upcoming Events

Dec

Thu

Orange County Chapter Meeting @ TBD

Tickets

Dec 19 all-day

Categories: Orange County Chapter WateReuse California

Integrating Onsite Water Reuse with Centralized Treatment Systems

Tickets

Dec 19 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: WateReue & AWE Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

Can onsite water reuse systems be successfully integrated with a community’s centralized treatment system? New legislation is being adopted around the country to remove barriers to onsite water reuse and communities like San Francisco are leading the way in demonstrating how onsite non-potable water systems can supplement centralized treatment and extend water supplies. This presentation will discuss important lessons learned in San Francisco, which has been requiring onsite water reuse in new large developments for seven years. You will also learn how model legislation developed by the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems is being adopted across the country to encourage the use of alternative water supplies. The presentation will also provide a preview of the National Blue Ribbon Commission’s new training manual for onsite reuse, which will be released in early 2020, and discuss future research priorities aimed at advancing more widespread adoption of onsite non-potable water systems.

Moderator:
Mary Ann Dickinson
President and CEO
Alliance for Water Efficiency

Presenter:
Paula Kehoe
Director of Water Resources
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Categories: Webcasts

Jan

Wed

National Advocacy Opportunities for Water Reuse in 2020

Tickets

Jan 8 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

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

Register Now!

Congress enters 2020 with the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in its sights. Hearings and discussions have begun in earnest within the committees of jurisdiction in both the House and Senate. A number of important bills that were introduced or debated in 2019 may see further consideration in 2020 in the context of development of the next WRDA. At the same time, the Trump Administration will release its FY 2021 budget request as early as February, prompting Congress to launch the FY 2021 appropriations cycle.

Please join us January 8 at 2 p.m. ET for a webcast with Washington insiders to examine what’s on the congressional agenda for 2020 and how you can position your utility or company to have a voice at the table. Top Washington water sector lobbyists will discuss the status of key legislation and explain the opportunities to advance a water reuse policy agenda. Whether you plan to travel to Washington for Water Week in the Spring or are just interested in what to expect from Congress in 2020, this webcast will be a national advocacy primer for water professionals.

Presenters

Moderator:
Greg Fogel, Policy Director, WateReuse Association

Mia O’Connell, President, O’Connell & Dempsey, LLC
Mia’s focus for three decades has been in the water resource and environment arenas. Mia has focused her efforts for her public agency and water clients on Corps of Engineers, EPA and Department of Interior projects. Mia works with the Corps in the flood protection, ecosystem restoration, navigation and water supply areas.

Geoff Bowman, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates
Having spent large parts of two decades as a staff member on the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Geoff Bowman offers clients an insider’s perspective on the policy, players, and politics involved in those issues.

Categories: Webcasts

Jan

Thu

Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter Meeting

Tickets

Jan 16 all-day

Categories: Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter WateReuse California

Feb

Tue

Los Angeles Chapter Meeting

Tickets

Feb 11 all-day

Categories: Los Angeles WateReuse California

Mar

Sun

2020 WateReuse California Annual Conference @ Hyatt Regency San Francisco

Tickets

Mar 15 @ 8:00 am – Mar 17 @ 5:00 pm

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.

Categories: Conferences Featured WateReuse California

Apr

Fri

Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter Meeting

Tickets

Apr 24 all-day

Categories: Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter WateReuse California

May

Mon

2020 WateReuse Pacific Northwest Conference @ Brightwater Center

Tickets

May 18 – May 20 all-day

Mark your calendars for May 19-20, 2020 for the WateReuse Pacific Northwest annual conference. This year’s conference will be held at King County’s Brightwater Center, an environmental education and event center located on the Brightwater Treatment Plant campus. An impressive conference program is being planned featuring innovative reuse projects, research, education and community outreach, new regulatory directions and an operator session tailored to reuse facility operations.