
Pitching Reuse to Your Customers? Register for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium Today to Learn Winning Strategies to Communicate a Reuse Message!

Washington Update

WateReuse Association to Testify at Senate Hearing
EPA Issues Update on the National Water Reuse Action Plan
Congress Passes PFAS Provisions that Impact Water Recycling Facilities
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (H.R. 2500), and included in it a number of amendments related to the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This includes language requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to list PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) within one year. Another provision requires EPA to add PFAS to the list of toxic pollutants under the Clean Water Act, and to publish associated effluent and pretreatment standards. The Senate included its own set of PFAS amendments in its recently passed version of the NDAA. The next step will be for the House and Senate to form a conference committee to negotiate the differences between the two bills.
State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Members!
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:
California: Legislation on Potable Reuse Terminology Moves Forward
California: Reclamation Seeks Comment on Proposed Changes for the Central Valley and State Water Projects
The Bureau of Reclamation released a draft environmental impact statement analyzing potential effects associated with long-term water operations for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). Reclamation’s goal is to incorporate updated science into CVP and SWP operations to optimize water deliveries for communities and farms, while protecting threatened and endangered species. The draft environmental impact statement will be available for public input for a 45-day review period and three public meetings are scheduled. Read More.
California: Interim Funding Agreement Approved for Water Purification Project
The East County Advanced Water Purification Program progressed closer to completion last week with the program’s partner agencies – Padre Dam Municipal Water District, the City of El Cajon, Helix Water District and the County of San Diego – approving an Interim Funding Agreement. Each entity will commit $2.35 million to towards the program in 2020. By 2025, the $528 million program is expected to begin producing 11.5 million gallons of drinking water per day in East San Diego County. Read More.
California: City of Ukiah Ready to Deliver Recycled Water to Vineyards
WateReuse Association member the City of Ukiah recently began filling storage ponds to prepare for its new program to provide recycled water for vineyards, cornfields, and other irrigation. The three ponds will be filled with 66 million gallons of water that has passed through the Ukiah Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city will begin releasing the water once it has final approval from the Division of Drinking Water. Read more.
Conferences and Events
Become a Sponsor of the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium
There are still sponsorship opportunities available for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Diego on September 8-11. The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the premier conference on water recycling, attracting more than 600 water recycling professionals from around the country. Sponsorship increases your brand recognition among reuse project sponsors and demonstrates your support for WateReuse programs and initiatives. View our Sponsorship Prospectus and secure your recognition at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium.
Webcast: Integrating Management of Sensor Data for a Real Time Decision Making and Response System
Join us on July 24 at 2 p.m. ET to learn about a new Water Research Foundation project that developed a Decision Support Tool to help utility operators and managers take appropriate real-time actions based on anomalies and events when operating potable reuse systems. The Decision Support Tool aggregates information on online sensor technologies into an easy to use dashboard for operators. Learn how utilities can benefit from this approach in operating potable reuse systems, as well as with many drinking water, water reclamation, or recycled water facilities or systems. Register Now.
Upcoming Events
For more information contact Rosario Cortes
Tour of the San Jose Creek WRP will follow starting at 1:15 pm
Hosted by Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, and lunch will be sponsored by AECOM.
For in-person attendance, please RSVP to jjacobus@rinconconsultants.com by Friday, February 10. Virtual attendance option also available.
For more information contact Madeline Blua

February 15, 2023 Time: 1:00pm CT | 2:00pm ET
As a global leader in water reuse, Israel takes a very intentional and integrated approach to producing and maintaining its water supply. They combine desalination, water recycling of municipal wastewater and stormwater capture, and reuse to ensure sustainable supplies. Nearly 90 percent of Israel’s treated wastewater is reused for agricultural irrigation purposes.
In November 2022, over 40 representatives from the U.S. water sector, including utilities, industry, states, and the federal government, traveled to Israel as part of a science, technology, and policy informational exchange focused on water reuse practices. This intensive week of learning about the Israeli approach to managing its water resources included several delegates from Texas.
The panelists will share their general experience as part of the delegation (5-10 mins each) and then we will ask a few prepared questions about lessons learned and how those could be applied to Texas communities. If time allows, we will take questions from the audience.
Moderator:
Paula Paciorek, Division Manager, Houston Water Planning
Presenters:
- Special Introduction by Omer Bab, Director of Trade and Regulatory Policy, Embassy of Israel and Danny Greenwald, Senior Deputy Director General for Regulation, Israel Water Authority
- Eva Steinle-Darling, Water Reuse Technical Practice Director, Carollo Engineers
- Hunter Adams, Environmental Laboratory Supervisor, City of Wichita Falls – Cypress Environmental Laboratory
- Erika Crespo, Assistant Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Kobe Nagar, CEO and Co-Founder, 374 Water
Add to Calendar
Key topic will be on urban runoff diversions; more details forthcoming.
For more information contact Kraig Erickson
For more information contact Claudia Llerandi
Please contact Jennifer West for details
For more information contact Jennifer West