Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – July 15, 2019

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

How do you get ratepayers and industry to embrace recycled water investments? Join us for “Making the Pitch: How to Talk to Elected Officials and Potential Industry Customers about the Value of Water Recycling” during the opening general session of the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium taking place September 8-11 in San Diego. Elected officials will join representatives from utilities and public health for an insightful panel discussion that includes real world examples of successful communication strategies and messages that convince business leaders, ratepayers, and elected officials to support investments in water recycling. Register today to learn from this panel and participate in a comprehensive four-day program covering water recycling policy, technology, research, and public support. The program showcases collaborations among utilities, businesses, and industry; regulators working together at both the state and federal level; sustainability; and public/private partnerships. Register before August 23 and save on registration rates

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Washington Update

WateReuse Association to Testify at Senate Hearing

On Thursday, July 18, the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to examine a number of bills, including S. 1932, the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act. The WateReuse Association worked closely with the lead cosponsors to draft and build support for S. 1932, which includes a 5-year, $100 million reauthorization of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse competitive grant program. For the hearing, the WateReuse Association will be represented by Association member, Aurora Water from Aurora, CO in support of the legislation. Marshall Brown, General Manager of Aurora Water, will be testifying on our behalf. You can view the full hearing on the Committee’s website on July 18.

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EPA Issues Update on the National Water Reuse Action Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued an update on the development of a national Water Reuse Action Plan, noting that it is on track to release a draft plan at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium in September. The goal of the Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), announced by EPA Assistant Administrator Dave Ross in February 2019, is to serve as a catalyst for sustained national emphasis to enhance the consideration of water reuse as a tool in integrated water resources management, often led at the state and local watershed scale. EPA is collaborating closely with state partners that manage water reuse programs and water infrastructure funding programs.

The WateReuse Association facilitated a multi-month collaborative process to develop and submit recommendations on the WRAP jointly with the American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Water Environment Federation, and Water Research Foundation. The water sector comments were informed by a member survey and national convenings of experts and stakeholders from around the country. EPA will consider the WateReuse recommendations and public submissions to the docket from 53 commenters, as well as its own research and outreach in developing the draft WRAP. The public docket on development of the draft WRAP closed on July 1.

EPA has developed a “concept draft” based on an annotated outline with approximately 10 strategic objectives, including improved policies, technology development, and workforce development. By the end of July, EPA plans to begin circulating a complete full draft of about 30 pages for internal review. Once the draft WRAP is released to the public at the Annual WateReuse Symposium, EPA anticipates a 90-day formal comment period, coupled with another round of “opportunistic outreach.”

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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

AB 292, a WateReuse California sponsored measure that removes the potable reuse terms “indirect” and “direct” from state statute, passed out of its final Senate policy committee last week. Introduced by Assemblyman Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, the measure allows agencies to communicate more clearly with the public and use the potable reuse nomenclature established in AB 574 (Quirk 2017), which includes Groundwater Augmentation, Reservoir Augmentation, Raw Water Augmentation and Treated Drinking Water Augmentation. AB 292 is supported by agencies throughout the state and will next be heard in the California Senate Appropriations Committee.

WateReuse California also sponsored AB 1180, which was introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). The bill requires the state Water Board to update the non-potable recycled water regulations by 2023. These regulations have not been updated in 19 years. AB 1180, which also enjoys broad support, is currently before in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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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 34^th 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

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.