Washington Update
U.S. EPA Prioritizes Water Recycling Projects in Water Infrastructure Funding
Trump Administration Announces Finalized Rule on the National Environmental Policy Act
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released a comprehensive update to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the first time in over 40 years. The final rule updated regulations applying to the development of infrastructure projects, the management of activities on federal lands, and environmental restoration. NEPA was signed into law by President Richard Nixon and requires federal agencies to consider the environmental effects of proposed projects before they are approved. Read CEQ’s Press Release. Read final rule.
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: San Diego County Advances Water Recycling with $115 Million in Incentives
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California announced that it is providing $115 million in incentives to San Diego County that will increase water recycling to 5.2 billion gallons annually. The funding will be provided to San Diego County Water Authority and its project partners for purified water produced by East County Advanced Water Purification Project and the Escondido Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility. The purified water will be both conveyed to Lake Jennings and used for agricultural irrigation. Project partners include the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water District, and City of Escondido.
Read More.
California: Los Angeles is One Step Closer to Recycling 100% of Treated Water
The City of Los Angeles broke ground on the Hyperion Membrane Bioreator (MBR) Pilot Facility with a virtual celebration. The pilot facility will test MBRs from three different manufacturers for one year, as part of the larger 15-year effort to transform Hyperion into a Zero Wasted Water Production Facility by 2035. The pilot is a joint effort between LA Sanitation & Environment, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the West Basin Municipal Water District.
Read More.
Member Spotlight: Local Agriculture is Critical to EMWD’s Nationally Recognized Water Program
Farmers are using recycled water to meet irrigation needs and stay in business in Riverside County, California. Paul Jones, General Manager of Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), discussed EMWD’s recycled water program and partnerships with the agricultural community in a recent blog post. EMWD recycles 100 percent of water produced at its water reclamation facilities. Read More.
Member Spotlight: Nanostone Water Announces New Appointment
Nanostone Water recently announced that Jonathan Pressdee has been named Executive Vice President of Global Business Development. Pressdee has 30 years of experience in the water industry, including more than 20 years in senior management positions with firms such as AECOM and Black & Veatch. Read More.
WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources
Use WateReuse Connect to Learn and Exchange Ideas with Peers
In this time of social distancing, opportunities for peer-to-peer networking are more important than ever. WateReuse members can use WateReuse Connect to access a member-to-member network of more than 7,000 water recycling practitioners, business leaders, regulators, academics, and technology providers. Recent discussion topics have included innovative partnerships, scheduling of recycled water deliveries, downstream flows, and COVID-19. Post your questions, observations, and unique challenges on our online platform to benefit from the unique experiences of other members across the nation and around the world. It’s simple to use with your member login information. For help accessing WateReuse Connect, please email Member Services.
Conferences and Events
Reaching New Heights in Water Reuse: Register for the 35th Annual WateReuse Virtual Symposium
Learn about the latest developments in water recycling at the 35th Annual WateReuse Virtual Symposium, launching online September 14-16, 2020 using a virtual event platform that offers attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and presenters an experience very close to the experience of an in-person event.
Participate in the Annual WateReuse Symposium from any location and at your convenience—view presentations, chat with colleagues, and browse the exhibit hall. Join us for an in-depth look at the technology, policy, and research innovations that have propelled water reuse to new prominence as a water management strategy. Register today!
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
Add to Calendar
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.