Are you new to water reuse and unsure of how to start? Or could you use a good refresher course on planning and operating a successful water recycling program? The 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium begins on Sunday, September 9 in Austin, TX with the Water Reuse 101 Boot Camp, a comprehensive 3.5 hour workshop covering all things water reuse from how to finance a water recycling program to how to build public support. The Boot Camp is included in your full conference registration so register today!

The Water Reuse 101 Boot Camp is just the beginning of an incredible four-day learning experience. A keynote address by U.S. Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly is followed by more than 90 technical presentations that examine the details of planning, implementing, operating, and managing a successful water reuse program. In addition, seven plenary sessions explore broader policy, regulatory, and planning issues with prominent leaders in the water reuse sector.

Advanced registration ends August 24 for the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium so reserve your space now.

WateReuse sent a letter to Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), urging swift passage of the Senate WRDA bill. The EPW committee advanced its WRDA legislation in May and it is now awaiting consideration by the full Senate. The committee made further changes to the committee-passed version and the Barrasso-Carper substitute amendment will be considered by the  Senate when it returns from a short recess in late August or early September.

The legislation includes several sections that would facilitate greater adoption of water reuse including a key section that was advocated by WateReuse to advance stormwater reuse and aquifer recharge efforts. Other important sections include the reauthorization of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, language requiring assessment of a product’s water quality impacts before receiving a WaterSense label, the authorization of a program to allow states to access WIFIA loans for SRF backlogs, WIFIA loans for Bureau of Reclamation-recommended water reuse projects, and more.

The Senate passed its second Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 minibus appropriations package on August 1 by a 92-6 vote. Included in this four-bill minibus is the Interior-Environment appropriations bill that funds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Senate bill proposes $1.69 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, $1.16 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and $63 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program – all level funding from FY18 (with a slight increase of under $1 million for both SRFs).

The Senate and House will have to work out differences in the spending bills during conference negotiations once the House returns from its August recess after Labor Day weekend. The Senate and House EPA funding bills include different funding levels for the SRFs and WIFIA. WateReuse will advocate for the Senate levels for the SRFs and the House level of $70 million for WIFIA during conference.

Congress is passing appropriations bills faster than in recent years, hoping to send nine of the twelve appropriations bill to President Trump’s desk before the September 30 government funding deadline and pass a stopgap funding bill for the remaining three bills. However, President Trump has threatened a government shutdown if he is not satisfied with Congress on border security, immigration, and funding for a border wall, potentially creating more challenges to enacting these funding bills.

Andrew Wheeler, Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), participated in his first Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing as head of the agency on August 1. In his testimony, Wheeler outlined EPA’s priorities including its “prioritization of certainty” in three areas: 1) certainty to states and local government, 2) certainty within EPA programs such as permitting and enforcement actions, and 3) certainty in risk communication. He spoke about working more collaboratively with states and local governments that are the primary implementers and enforcers of environmental laws, including the Federal Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and regulations. Wheeler also spoke specifically about bringing more certainty to EPA’s permitting processes and said the goal is to make permit decisions within six months and to make enforcement actions in a timelier manner. Lastly, Wheeler emphasized the need to ensure EPA’s communication to the public about environmental and health risks is clear and understandable.

The committee did not delve into water issues and mostly focused comments and questionings around Wheeler’s previous lobbying activities, hopes for better leadership of the agency after the resignation of controversy-laden former Administrator Scott Pruitt, and various other hot-button policy issues such as the renewable fuel standard.

The WIFIA program has issued its third and fourth loans to WateReuse Association members Orange County Water District (OCWD) and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

OCWD’s $135 million loan will finance nearly half of the cost to expand its existing 100 million gallons per day (MGD) Groundwater Replenishment System. The project will purify treated wastewater from the Orange County Sanitation District to produce an additional 30 million gallons per day of drinking water. This additional drought-proof drinking water supply reduces the county’s need to import water, benefits the environment through reduced discharges into the ocean and increases recharge of the local groundwater source. OCWD expects to save up to $16 million by financing the project with a WIFIA loan and create 700 jobs.

Learn more about this project by visiting the project website or reading the project factsheet.

SFPUC’s $699 million loan will finance nearly half of the cost to replace its existing, outdated solids treatment facilities with new biosolids digester facilities. The new facilities will produce up to 24,000 dry tons of Class A biosolids annually by 2045. SFPUC expects to save up to $398 million by financing the project with a WIFIA loan and create 3,300 jobs.

Learn more about this project by visiting the project website or reading the project factsheet.

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), administered by the U.S. EPA, provides low-interest loans for up to 49% of the cost of construction for water, wastewater, stormwater and water reuse projects.

WateReuse Association members Delta Diablo (CA) and Napa Sanitation District (CA) are being recognized for their transformational work in water reuse as part of the Utility of the Future Today recognition program. The program celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from the traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and resilience of the communities they serve. WateReuse member Clean Water Services (OR) is also being recognized for its work in energy efficiency and Toho Water Authority is being recognized for its transformational work in partnering and engagement.

Utility of the Future Today was launched in 2016 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 32 utilities being recognized this year will be honored during an awards ceremony at WEFTEC 2018 – WEF’s annual technical exhibition and conference. Read More.