Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – January 20, 2020

Not to Be Missed: 35th Annual 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!

Washington Update

New Legislative Package Includes Significant Investments in Water Recycling

On January 10, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) released a legislative package covering a wide range of water policies and programs including water recycling. The 125-page bill incorporates a number of bills that had been previously introduced by members of the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Environment, which Huffman chairs. One of the bills included in Congressman Huffman’s legislation is H.R. 1162, the Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act, which reauthorizes the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, and was introduced by long-time water recycling champion Grace Napolitano (D-CA).

In addition to the $500 million that would be invested in Title XVI-WIIN through H.R. 1162, Chairman Huffman’s bill establishes a Bureau of Reclamation Infrastructure Fund, which would invest an additional $100 million per year through Title XVI-WIIN. The legislation also provides funding for brine management research, and incorporates Representative Mike Levin’s (D-CA) Desalination Development Act (H.R. 3723), which increases funding for desalination projects through the Bureau of Reclamation.

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House Democrats Plan Release of Infrastructure Package

Over the last three years, there has been a great deal of talk from Congress and the White House regarding the need to invest heavily in America’s infrastructure. Last week, House Democratic leaders announced their intentions to release a new infrastructure plan at the end of the month. It is not yet clear what the scope of the plan will be, or whether it will take the form of actual legislation or a list of priorities. Whatever its form, however, Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, noted that he would like it to include water infrastructure investments. This sentiment has been echoed by other members of the House, both Democrats and Republicans, in recent days.

While the scope and nature of the House plan remains unclear, we do know that the Senate plans to pass a narrowly focused surface transportation bill, which will not address broader water infrastructure needs. Also at play is the next Water Resources Development Act, which the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction are aiming to complete this year.

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Save the Date: Join Us for Water Week 2020 to Advance Water Recycling

Make plans to join the WateReuse Association in Washington, DC for the National Water Policy Fly-In during Water Week 2020, April 26-May 1. Water Week is the only national policy event of the year that draws together water professionals from across the country to advocate for the unique needs of recycled water, drinking water, and clean water utilities. Water Week is an opportunity to advance policy priorities for water utilities, including greater federal investment in water infrastructure, and a celebration of the role utilities play in communities nationwide. WateReuse encourages our members to participate so that we can ensure that recycled water is an integral part of the Water Week message.

Member Profiles

California: Epic Clean Tec Tests Onsite Reuse in San Francisco High Rise

WateReuse Association member Epic Clean Tec is conducting a six-month onsite water recycling pilot study in a new 754-unit luxury apartment building in San Francisco. The pilot captures the water used in 55 units and treats it for non-potable applications. The city of San Francisco recently passed an ordinance requiring water recycling in all new commercial buildings larger than 250,000 square feet. Epic Clean Tec also treats the solids captured in the building with a chemical process to make fertilizer. Read More.

Florida: Potable Reuse Commission Issues Final Regulatory Framework Report

The Florida Potable Reuse Commission (PRC) has released its final report, Framework for the Implementation of Potable Reuse in Florida, which is the result of a two-year consensus-based effort by water professionals and a diverse stakeholder group. The PRC, comprised of eleven members with the president of WateReuse Florida serving as the chair, has already begun using the report as an advocacy tool. Legislation that follows the recommendations of the report was filed in the Florida House of Representatives on November 20. A separate bill makes an appropriations request of $500,000 for WateReuse Florida to educate the public on potable reuse. To view the report, click here. To learn more about the development of the report, join us for a webcast on February 5 at 2 pm ET.

Georgia: Master Plan to Bring Recycled Water to Northeast Athens, University of Georgia

WateReuse Association member Athens-Clark County Public Utilities last week presented an update to the Mayor and Commission on a plan to pipe non-potable recycled water to industrial areas in northeast Athens and to parts of the University of Georgia. The county’s demand for water will exceed its maximum withdrawal limit from Bear Creek Reservoir by 2050. To address this, ACC Public Utilities Department completed the design of a “reuse system master plan” in 2018. Read More.

New York: Environmental Group Calls for a Water Reuse Roadmap for Long Island

The Seatuck Environmental Association is calling for a Long Island water reuse roadmap to ensure a sustainable water supply. Although there has been increasing concern over the years about chemical contaminants in the island’s water supply, Seatuck notes quantity is an equivalent problem as the groundwater reservoir is the sole source of potable water. Existing water recycling on Long Island includes a golf course in Suffolk. Read More.

DuPont Expands Water Reuse Technology Portfolio

WateReuse Association member DuPont Water Solutions has completed its acquisitions of four water recycling technology companies. With its recent acquisitions, DuPont adds to its portfolio of water purification and separation technologies, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins. The four companies acquired by DuPont are GmbH, Memcor, Desalitech and OxyMem Limited. Read More.

WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources

Need to Illustrate the Value of Water Reuse Investment? Use Our Flyer and Infographic

Utilities must make a compelling case to ratepayers, policymakers, and other stakeholders that investment in water recycling is the right decision. Use ourflyer and infographicto illustrate that Investment in water reuse builds communities that are modern, sustainable and stable—ready for families to flourish and businesses to grow. The infographic highlights examples of recycled water from coast to coast and documents the value they bring.

Conferences and Events

Webcast: Developing Regulatory Frameworks for Potable Reuse

Today’s technology allows us to treat virtually any source of water to meet any need including drinking, but many states lack regulations to allow potable reuse projects to move forward. Join us on February 5 at 2 pm ET to learn how WateReuse Association State Sections are taking the lead in collaborating with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to develop regulatory frameworks to implement potable reuse. Representatives from WateReuse Colorado and WateReuse Florida will discuss their recent efforts to facilitate the implementation of potable reuse. Register Now!

Upcoming Events

Dec

Fri

2020 4th Quarter Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tickets

Dec 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Categories: Board Meetings

Dec

Tue

Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Zoom Video Conference

Tickets

Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcOypqjgsHtwmGaUIM0hd5mvgjfwX4pgY

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Categories: Los Angeles WateReuse California

Dec

Wed

Water Reuse in Palestine: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability, Food Security, and Economic Growth

Tickets

Dec 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Join Dr. A. Rasem Hasan, a professor and researcher at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, to learn about recent challenges, social and technical, and proposed solutions to increase water recycling in Palestine.

Register Now!

Join Us!
1:00 – 2:00 pm Eastern | 10:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Although a small country with many water resource challenges, Palestine relies on agriculture as a critical component of its economy. About 50 percent of the land is designated agricultural yet only 7 percent is irrigated, creating an opportunity for water reuse to play a key role in water conservation, food security, and economic growth. Join Dr. A. Rasem Hasan, a professor and researcher at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, to learn about recent challenges, social and technical, and proposed solutions to increase water recycling in Palestine.

Dr. Hasan will present research on how to overcome funding limitations to develop water reuse projects of varying sizes in a semi-arid to arid region. The presentation will discuss rural wastewater management and reuse, industrial wastewater management, brackish water desalination for drinking and irrigation, and climate change adaptation.

Join us for a presentation organized by the WateReuse International Committee that will offer insight into the unique experiences of communities where low funded projects can have significant impact on society.

Moderator

Dr. Zoreh Movahed, WATEK

Presenter

Dr. A. Rasem Hasan is currently the Director of Water and Environmental Studies institute, and faculty member of Civil Engineering Department, at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. He has as a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami, Florida, USA, MSc in Water Engineering from Birzeit University, Palestine, and B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Mutah University, Jordan. Dr. Hasan received several academic awards and has 20+ years of work experience as consultant and academic in the fields of water and environmental engineering. His research interests are water desalination, wastewater treatment and management, water reuse, and hazardous waste management.