January 21, 2019
Submit a Proposal for a Place on the Podium at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium
Washington Update
Join WateReuse for the National Water Policy Fly-In
GAO Report Documents Impact of Title XVI in Advancing Water Recycling
Watch: Webcast Provides Insight into the 116th Congress
WateReuse Joins Water Sector in Asking Congress to Include Water Infrastructure in Any Infrastructure Package
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: Metropolitan Water District Approves $3.5 Million in Funding
WateReuse Association member the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s board of directors approved the funding of 15 projects across 11 Metropolitan member agencies. When combined with matching funds from the member agencies, and other local, state and federal resources, an additional $8 million will be infused into the projects. Selected projects include improving seawater desalination technology, using stormwater and recycled water to increase the development of local water supplies, analyzing a reverse osmosis process in brackish groundwater treatment, and piloting artificial intelligence technology in the control systems of a water treatment plant. Read More.
California: WRCA Funded Bioanalytical Monitoring Group Holds First Meeting
The WateReuse California (WRCA) funded Bioanalytical Implementation Advisory Group, administered by the National Water Research Institute, met for the first time on January 10, 2019, in Fountain Valley, California. More than 90 stakeholders participated. State Water Board staff also participated in the meeting and answered questions regarding the monitoring and implementation of the two new bioassays for potable reuse agencies. Two bioassays monitoring tests will be required in March 2020 for potable reuse agencies. The primary purpose of the group is to develop the Standard Operating Procedures for the tests. The advisory group will meet next in March or April. View Meeting Slides.
Texas: Wetlands Reuse Project Creates New Habitat, Community Education
WateReuse Association member the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is using water reuse to create a wilderness oasis just miles from Dallas. The East Fork Water Reuse Project near Seagoville is one of the largest water reuse projects in the country. Water from the East Fork of the Trinity River flows through the 2,000-acre wetland and is naturally filtered by plants and sunlight. The district is currently building a new pipeline and pump, Trinity River Main Stem Pump Station and Pipeline near Rosser that will add approximately 100 million gallons of water per day from the Trinity. Read More.
WateReuse Member Companies Recognized for Positive Impact
WateReuse Association members Natural Systems Utilities and Biohabitats were included in the Real Leaders list of Top 100 Impact Companies. The awards rank the top companies applying capitalism for greater profit and greater good. These companies are driving a dynamic segment of the economy, bearing a new vision of capitalism that demonstrates that every transaction is an opportunity for both growth and a better world. Read More.
Research Updates
Learn About Agricultural Use of Recycled Water
A just released Water Research Foundation study, Agricultural Use of Recycled Water: Impediments and Incentives (Reuse-15-08/4775), provides a global inventory of successes, delays, and setbacks experienced when switching from traditional agricultural irrigation sources to recycled water. Learn More.
Energy Department Offers Funding for Water Reuse Research
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy included Coal Plant Effluent Water Reuse as an area of interest in a recently announced funding opportunity for research and development projects. DOE will up to $4.8 million in federal funds to universities for up to 12 projects. Under the Coal Plant Water Reuse area of interest, DOE is interested in packaged, modular units that can accept cooling tower blow-down water, treat it as necessary for reuse as plant makeup water, and generate salts that have potential use as a saleable by-product. Read More.
WRF Seeks Proposals for Stormwater Harvesting Research
The Water Research Foundation is requesting proposals for a new project, Assessing the State of Knowledge and Research Needs for Stormwater Harvesting. The selected research team will evaluate the state of the knowledge and research needs through a combination of literature review, web search, and interviews with selected state regulatory agencies to better understand the variation of stormwater harvesting at regional and state levels. The proposal is due by 2 p.m. Mountain on Feb.27, 2019. The project budget is $12,000. Learn More.
Conferences and Events
Register for the 2019 WateReuse California Annual Conference
Registration is open for the 2019 WateReuse California Annual Conference to be held March 17-19, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, CA. The conference is designed for individuals, organizations, and agencies that are associated with or interested in the design, management, operation, and use of water recycling facilities and projects in California. Register Now!
Webcast: Community Engagement for Potable Reuse Success
Please join us on February 14, Valentine’s Day, to learn about the latest techniques in engagement and public education that will help your community fall in love with potable reuse. The water professionals on this panel have one common objective: to ensure a potable reuse project will be evaluated on its own merits and not dismissed as dangerous and too risky to pursue. The presenters will describe key elements that have helped their past efforts and discuss new outreach tactics they are relying on to take their outreach efforts to the next level. 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

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