Join EPA and Top Federal Agency Water Officials for the National Water Reuse Action Plan Roll-out: Register for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium
Washington Update
Aurora Water Testifies on Behalf of WateReuse Association
Eleven WateReuse Members Request WIFIA funding for Water Recycling Projects
In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) third Notice of Funding Availability, the agency received 51 letters of interest, collectively requesting $6.6 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding. Letters of interest were received for eleven water recycling projects sponsored by WateReuse Association members. For the first time, EPA announced water reuse and recycling as a WIFIA priority. In the next step, EPA will select the projects that it intends to fund and invite the prospective borrowers to continue to the application process.
Bureau of Reclamation Awards $5.1 Million for Desalination, Water Purification Research
The Bureau of Reclamation announced that 30 projects from 16 states will receive $5.1 million from the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program to develop improved and inexpensive ways to desalinate and treat impaired water. Twenty-five projects will each receive up to $150,000 for laboratory-scale projects, and the remaining five will receive up to $400,000 for larger scale projects to determine the technical and economic viability of a process. Several WateReuse members received grants, including Arizona State University, Orange County Water District, West Basin Municipal Water District, and Colorado School of Mines. Read More.
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: WateReuse California Releases Comprehensive State Action Plan
On Friday, July 19, WateReuse California released the California WateReuse Action Plan – a comprehensive set of proposed actions that will more than double the use of water recycling in California and help prepare the state for the impacts of climate change. The Plan identifies four strategic areas for action: research, regulations, regional planning and funding and includes 20 specific recommendations. Read More.
Colorado: Western Resource Advocates Introduces Water Policy and Program Database
WateReuse Association member Western Resource Advocates launched a new database last week that includes select state water policies and programs from around the country related to water reuse, urban water conservation, and integrated land use and water planning. Users can search for policies and programs by topic, state, and keyword. The database was developed through a Gates Family Foundation grant and additional content will be added over time. Learn More.
New York: Suez Introduces New Water Recycling Technology for Nassau County
WateReuse Association member Suez, operator of Nassau County’s sewer system, unveiled a new water recycling system that will preserve drinking water and save up to 300 million gallons of groundwater every year by using the treated water for plant operations. The $1.1 million project, paid for entirely by Suez, is expected to reduce plant operating expenses by more than $350,000 per year. Suez plans to explore additional uses for Nassau County’s recycled water, including irrigation at the Bay Park and Cedar Creek Park golf courses. Read More.
Texas: Produced Water Recyclers See Increasing Need for Larger-Scale Facilities
As oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin increase the size of their operations, companies that recycle produced water are finding a similar need. Larger-scale recycling infrastructure includes larger fracturing ponds, larger-scale treatment facilities, and pipeline networks to deliver the treated water to drilling and completions sites. Water has been part of the oil patch for many years, but the focus on water management is growing. Read More.
Association Update
WateReuse Executive Director Emphasizes Collaboration with the Federal Agencies
In a new commentary, WateReuse Association Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi makes the case that water sector collaboration with the Federal Government on the development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Reuse Action Plan marks a pivotal moment for the water sector. The article, which was published in the Summer issue of NACWA’s Clean Water Advocate, discusses the steps thus far in this unprecedented effort to establish a national imperative for safe, reliable, and locally controlled water supplies. Sinicropi also emphasizes the importance of continued work with Congress and the Trump Administration to align laws, regulations and funding to help states and local governments find local solutions. Read more.
Conferences and Events
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 research identified available online sensor technologies that have potential for direct potable reuse (DPR) and conducted risk analysis to determine the necessary sensor platforms and sensitivity required to ensure compliance, safety and identify process anomalies. 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
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 like- 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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Join Us!
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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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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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
36th Annual WateReuse Symposium: Redefining Resiliency
March 15-25, 2021
Join us for a series of live and on demand virtual roundtables!
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Second Quarter:
Remote – Zoom
Friday, June 4, 2021
11:00 am to 2pm EST // 10 to 1 CST // 9:00 to 12 MST // 8:00 to 11 PST
Third Quarter:
Los Angeles, J.W. Marriott L.A. LIVE
Friday, Sept 17, 2021
11:00 am to 2pm EST // 10 to 1 CST // 9:00 to 12 MST // 8:00 to 11 PST