Washington Update
Coalition Releases Statement in Support of Water Recycling and Other Priorities
Last week, a coalition of water sector associations, companies, and organizations, including the WateReuse Association, released a set of joint legislative policy priorities, which will be communicated to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
The document highlights the importance of reauthorizing and funding the Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program and the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program in upcoming legislation. It also calls for the creation of a federal Interagency Working Group of Water Reuse to facilitate coordination of reuse-related activities across federal departments.
Bureau of Reclamation Announces Availability of $20 Million for Water Reuse Projects
On July 10, the Bureau of Reclamation published the 2021 funding opportunity announcement for congressionally authorized Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects. Applications are due on September 10, 2020, at 4 p.m. MDT. Reclamation anticipates that it will award $20 million to 6-10 projects. The recipients must provide at least 75% cost-share. Funding opportunity announcement number BOR-DO-20-F008 is available on grants.gov.
EPA Releases Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a tool to help water utilities assess the financial impact of COVID -19 on operations. The tool provides information about the financial and operational health of water utilities. The financial impact tool was developed by the EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center. Visit the EPA website to access the Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool.
State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Members!
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:
California: WateReuse Participates in Conversation with Tom Steyer
California: State Awards $15 million to Water Recycling and Reuse Projects
The California Department of Water Resources has awarded more than $15 million in grant funds to advance several regional water projects in San Diego County, ranging from water recycling and reuse to water conservation.
The San Diego County Water Authority submitted the funding request on behalf of the San Diego Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, a program that aims to improve water resources planning in the region.
The funding supports water recycling projects for several WateReuse Association members including the City of Oceanside, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, the City of San Diego, and the Fallbrook Public Utility District. Read More.
Florida: New Law Provides $40 Million for Reuse, Mandates Potable Reuse Regulations
Nevada: Water Reclamation Featured in “Nevadans at Work” Video Series
Last week, the Clark County Water Reclamation District’s water recycling facility was profiled in the video series, “Nevadans at Work.” The facility recycles water for irrigation and cooling electrical plants. In the video, wastewater operator Gilbert Cruz leads a tour of the facility and discusses the treatment processes and technologies used. Watch here.
Research Update
WRF Names Trussell Technologies as Lead Researcher for COVID-19 Study
The Water Research Foundation announced that Trussell Technologies will lead the project Interlaboratory and Methods Assessment of the SAWS-CoV-3 Genetic Signal in Wastewater (project 5089). The project will gather information from over sixty U.S.-based laboratories and thirty laboratories outside the U.S. to provide an assessment of the methods currently used at laboratories and facilities to find reliable methods of measurement of the SAR-CoV-2 genetic signal. 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 our flyer and infographic to 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
Upcoming Events

Presenters
- Mia O’Connell, President, O’Connell & Dempsey, LLC
- Pete Evich, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates
- Jon Freedman, Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions
- Greg Fogel, Policy Director, WateReuse Association
Register Now!
Join Us!
2:00 – 4:00 pm ET| 11:00 am – 1:00 pm PT
Fee: Complimentary
Join a group of stormwater management leaders from around the US to discuss stormwater capture motivations and drivers, barriers to progress, and future directions. This group will touch on questions such as:
- Why are communities pursuing stormwater capture for use now?
- How do community interests in stormwater harvesting vary across the country?
- What factors get in the way of progress?
- Where do we want to be with stormwater capture in 20 years?
The audience will learn about the different motivators, unique strategies, and opportunities to market and advance stormwater capture across the U.S.
Presenters
- Randy Bartlett, Fairfax County VA
- Sharlene Leurig, Texas Water Trade/Austin Water Forward
- Mark Doneux, St. Paul, MN Capitol Region Watershed District
- James Moore, Georgia Association of Water Professionals
- Enrique Zaldivar, City of Los Angeles
- Lynn Broaddus, Water Environment Federation
- Drew Wenzel, Google
This webinar will be the first of a series of four webinars as part of the National Water Reuse Action Plan, Action 2.3.3. Co-sponsors include the WateReuse Association, U.S. EPA, National Association of Municipal Stormwater Agencies (NMSA), Re-Inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt), Water Environment Federation, and Johnson Foundation at Wingspread (JFW).
Save the Date
Join us for the second webinar in this series.
Developing Stormwater Treatment Standards – Where’s the Action?
February 23, 2021
2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
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WateReuse Arizona Section Meeting & Webinar
9:00 am – 10:00 am Pacific | 12:00 – 1:00 pm Eastern
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Wastewater-based epidemiology was utilized to detect SARS-Cov-19 in the wastewater of student dorms upon re-entry of University of Arizona students in the fall semester of 2020. Positive wastewater samples allowed for subsequent targeted clinical testing of dorm students and the identification of both symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid-19 infections. Early detection of infected individuals resulted in reduced exponential spread of Covid-19 and allowed the university to remain open throughout the semester.
Presenter
Ian Pepper, Director, WEST Center & Professor, Environmental Science
Dr. Pepper is an environmental microbiologist whose research has focused on the fate and transport of pathogens in air, water, soils and municipal wastes. More recently, he has investigated the potential for real-time detection of contaminants in water distribution systems. Dr. Pepper is Professor in the Community, Environment, and Policy Department in the UA College of Public Health, as well as Professor in the Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering. In addition to his duties at the WEST Center, he is director of the National Science Foundation Water Quality Center at the UA.
He also teaches a graduate level laboratory class on Environmental Microbiology, and an undergraduate class on Pollution Science. He has co-authored numerous books and journal articles on Environmental Microbiology and Pollution Science, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Soil Science Society of America.
He received his Ph.D. in Soil Microbiology from The Ohio State University, M.S. in Soil Biochemistry from Ohio State, and B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham, Great Britain.
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Zoom Meeting
When: Feb 9, 2021 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpceCqqz4tEtNiOeRgAqBZza_hcILDEx10
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Join Us!
2:00 – 3:00 pm ET| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
As more communities face water quantity challenges, water reuse is a viable option to expand drinking water sources. Although all water is recycled as it moves through the environment, the practice of treating wastewater to be used for potable water is sometimes met with skepticism. Some of this stems from the “toilet to tap” campaigns that may have led to more rejection of water reuse than acceptance.
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a framework that evaluates the many factors impacting water reuse practices and management, as well as those influencing community perception. With the emergence of new pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, the acceptance of water recycling as part of a community’s drinking water sustainability plan may be even more challenging. This webcast will describe how QMRA may be used to communicate with stakeholders – including healthcare providers – the human health safeguards associated with water reuse implementation.
Presenters
- Karla Mendez, PhD Candidate, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, El Paso campus
- Kristina Mena, MSPH, PhD, Regional Dean and Associate Professor, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, El Paso campus
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Virtual Happy Hour Via Zoom
Register in advance to participate:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwudeCsqTsoGt2oVFyg_xaPdNJ9GN6BzN-M
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
First Quarter:
Remote – Zoom
Friday, March 12, 2021
11:00 am to 2pm EST // 10 to 1 CST // 9:00 to 12 MST // 8:00 to 11 PST
Zoom Meeting
When: Apr 13, 2021 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkd-6tqjsiH9ztJm_6CN-heC5W3IEcOK7V
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.