
Washington Update

Save the Date: Join Us for Water Week 2020 to Advance Water Recycling
House Passes PFAS Legislation that Could Impact Water Recycling Facilities
Reclamation Awards $1.6 Million for Water Reuse Research
State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:
- City of Leesburg (Florida)
- Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation (Wisconsin)
California: WRCA and NWRI Release SOP Guidance Document for Bioassays
WateReuse California (WRCA) and the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) released the first guidance document for developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for bioanalytical testing for potable reuse. This document is intended to assist potable reuse agencies in complying with the bioassay monitoring requirement that will begin in 2020. In 2018, the State Water Board amended the Recycled Water Policy to include bioassay monitoring requirements for indirect potable reuse. View Guidance Document.
California: West Basin and Suez Renew Water Recycling Partnership
WateReuse Association member West Basin Municipal Water District has renewed its contract with SUEZ North America, also a member, to operate and maintain the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo, CA, and its three satellite plants. The five-year renewal, worth a total of $75 million, began January 1 and runs through the end of 2024. The Edward C. Little facility is one of the largest water recycling operations of its kind in the United States, producing about 40 million gallons of water every day. Read More.
Florida: New Legislation Would Provide $500,000 for Potable Reuse Education
Florida House Bill 2547, introduced by Representative Randy Maggard, makes an appropriations request of $500,000 for WateReuse Florida to implement a statewide education program to help educate the public regarding what is potable reuse and how it can help Florida meet future water demands of the public and environment as an alternative water supply. This appropriation request is in addition to the $250,000 that was granted to WateReuse Association member the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the current fiscal year that is being used to develop a message on potable reuse.
Oregon: Clean Water Services Receives Approval to Provide Purified Water to Commercial Brewers
WateReuse Association member Clean Water Services received approval from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to provide purified water from its mobile treatment facility to commercial brewers and distilleries to produce alcoholic beverages for sale to the general population. The mobile treatment system—known as the Pure Water Wagon—uses a four step process of ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection and advance oxidation to produce high purity drinking water. This decision broadens DEQ’s approval in 2015 to allow home brewers to use this same process in a competition for distribution at trade shows. Read More.
Members Recognized as Influential Women in Water
Water leaders from three WateReuse Association member organizations were presented with the Top 10 Influential Women in Water Award during the inaugural Women of Water Summit, hosted by Mazars USA on Jan 9. Christine Boyle of Xylem, Inc., Nadine Leslie of Suez Water, and Karen Pallansch of Alexandria Renew Enterprises were honored during the ceremony. Pallansch, a WateReuse Association Board member, also joined WateReuse Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi for a panel discussion on water reuse during the summit.

Nadine Leslie of Suez , WateReuse Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi, Karen Pallansch of Alexandria Renew Enterprises, and Jon Freedman of Suez.
WateReuse Customer Communications Tools and Resources
How Can You Offer Recognition to Your Recycled Water Customers? Participate in the Recycled Water User Network
Are you interested in recognizing recycled water customers as community water stewards or offering an incentive for new customers to come onboard? Participate in the Recycled Water User Network, a members-only network for businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations that use recycled water, including customers of water utilities and organizations that recycle water onsite. The network gives businesses, governments and nonprofits that use recycled water the opportunity to receive a green designation, Water StarTM, and access to information and resources on recycled water. Learn More.
Conferences and Events
Call for Abstracts: 2020 WateReuse Symposium
The WateReuse Association invites technical abstract submissions for the 35th Annual WateReuse Symposium, September 13-16, 2020 in the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado. The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the nation’s premier conference on water recycling – attracting water professionals for several days of knowledge sharing, networking, and fun! The 2020 Symposium is being planned in collaboration with The Water Research Foundation and will include presentations on the latest reuse-related research. Abstracts are due February 18, 2020. Submit an Abstract Now!
Register for the WateReuse California Annual Conference by Friday for the Best Rates
WateReuse California will host its 2020 Annual Conference March 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco! Register by Friday, January 17 to take advantage of early bird discounts. The conference includes a comprehensive technical program focused on the design, management, operation, and use of water recycling facilities and projects in California. Register Now!
Upcoming Events

11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
The Four Corners region includes the arid western states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. These four states have several common challenges to providing reliable water supplies including: rapid population growth, severe long term drought conditions, and dwindling or overallocated natural water sources. Indirect potable reuse is currently being practiced in these states, often through managed groundwater replenishment or incidental means. Is engineered potable reuse the next step to building safe, reliable, and resilient water resource portfolios?
While water utilities in the Four Corners states are taking steps toward direct potable reuse (DPR), each of these states face different implementation challenges. This panel discussion delves into the progress and issues regarding DPR in the region.
Speakers:
- Brian Biesemeyer CITY OF SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Robert Fowlie REPRESENTING THE VILLAGE OF CLOUDCROFT, NM
- Steve Gallegos CITY OF RIO RANCHO, NM
- Raymond Garrison CITY OF SOUTH JORDAN, UT
- Tyson Ingles CO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
- Sarah Page UTAH DIVISION OF DRINKING WATER
- Austa Parker BROWN AND CALDWELL
- Javier Setovich CITY OF GOODYEAR, AZ
- Katie Vanyo BROWN AND CALDWELL
- Matt Benak, TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK, CO
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11 am ET | 8 am PT (1 hour)
WateReuse Members and Florida Water Reuse Week Registrants: Free; Others: $49
Registrants for Florida Water Reuse Week will receive a discount code for free webcast registration
PDHs: 1
Florida reuses 34 percent of its wastewater compared to the national average of about 7 percent. A recent statewide survey showed that 75 percent of Floridians are familiar with the concept of using reclaimed water for irrigation, industrial uses, and other non-drinking purposes. However, as the state is undergoing record-setting growth and rulemaking for direct potable reuse, additional education and outreach is needed to gain public acceptance. Water professionals and utilities from across the state are working collaboratively through WateReuse Florida to develop and implement consistent messaging on how reuse will safely supply Florida’s future. As Florida celebrates Water Reuse Week May 15-21, join us to hear about the latest education and outreach efforts happening to support traditional and potable reuse at the local and state level.
- Robyn Felix, Communications & Board Services Bureau Chief, Southwest Florida Water Management District
- Tamara Richardson, P.E., Director of Polk County Utilities
-
Shea Dunifon, Education Coordinator, Pinellas County Utilities, Florida
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