Looking for a New Way to Build Awareness and Acceptance for Water Reuse in your Community? Register for the 35th Annual WateReuse Symposium by August 7 for Early Access
Washington Update
Senate Subcommittee Hearing Focuses on Water Recycling
U.S House and Senate Defense Authorization Bills Exclude EPA PFAS Directives
Last week, both the House and the Senate passed their respective versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021. Both bills include provisions related to the study of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and to the cleanup of the compounds on military bases. However, neither bill includes language previously sought to direct EPA to list certain PFAS as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); nor do the bills direct EPA to establish primary drinking water regulations for PFAS within a specific timeframe.
Congress Begins Discussions on Next COVID-19 Bill
U.S. EPA Releases First Quarterly Update on the National Water Reuse Action Plan Implementation
EPA SBIR Program Seeks to Invest in Water Reuse Technologies
The U.S. EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is funding up to $100,000 for technology innovations that support water reuse. The program is looking for innovative ideas in water treatment or monitoring. Interested parties need to apply by August 28, 2020. Learn More.
State Updates and Member Profiles
Welcome New Member!
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new member:
California: East County Advanced Water Purification Program Receives $86M for Potable Reuse
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved $86 million in funding for the East County Advanced Water Purification Program, a collaborative effort between Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water District, the City of El Cajon and the County of San Diego. Purified recycled water will be blended with water in Lake Jennings and treated at the R.M. Levy Water Treatment Plant before being distributed into the drinking water system. The project will provide up to 30 percent of drinking water demand and be one of the first potable reuse projects in the State of California to use new reservoir augmentation regulations. Read More.
New York: New York City Launches 2020 Pilot Program to Encourage Onsite Reuse
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is using its 2020 Water Conservation and Reuse Grant Pilot Program to encourage onsite water reuse and other conservation measures in New York City. The program will award up to $1 million to institutional, multi-family residential, or commercial customers to implement projects that cost more than $50,000. This application round will extend from July 2020 through September 15, 2020 and interested parties may participate in an informational webinar on July 29. Read More.
Virginia: HRSD Secures Funding for $1 Billion Aquifer Recharge Project
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) recently secured $100 million from the Virginia Resources Authority to support its Sustainable Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) program, which will inject purified recycled water into the rapidly depleting aquifer that provides drinking water in southeastern Virginia. In addition, HRSD expects to sign on the first chunk of a $930 million federal loan in September. The project will inject about 120 million gallons a day of treated water from five plants by 2030. Read More.
Member Spotlight: Clean Water Services CEO on New Approaches to Reuse and Restoration
Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, Chief Executive Officer at Clean Water Services, shared CWS’s experience in expanding their reuse program to provide ecological benefits in a recent LinkedIn blog. CWS has long been an innovator, touting programs addressing public perception such as Pure Water Brew. Now, they are taking this innovative spirit and a one water approach to combine ecological restoration and water reuse. The utility aims to demonstrate the multiple benefits achieved with their Fernhill Natural Treatment System. Read More.
Global Update
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company Expands Recycled Water Distribution Program
The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company was awarded projects worth up to $245 million to expand recycled water distribution to nearly 85 million imperial gallons per day. The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company said the program expansion will allow recycled water use for municipal landscaping, commercial, and agriculture operations. Read More.
WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources
Engaging the Public Health Community on Water Reuse? Check out Our Online Resources
Although water reuse is a proven, science-based process that has been used safely in communities around the world for decades, the public is often skeptical when the concept is first introduced into a community. To build acceptance among medical and health professionals, WateReuse has launched the Medical Community Initiative and begun developing resources to support members in engaging with the public health community. Visit our website for videos, articles, and presentations that support engagement with medical professionals. New tools are being developed so check back for updates.
Conferences and Events
EPA Webinar: Water Reuse for Agricultural Purposes
Join the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program for a free webinar on July 29 from 2:00-3:00 pm ET. The presentation will cover two research topics: Inactivation of RNA Viruses by Solar and UV Irradiation for Agricultural Reuse and Emerging Contaminants in Agro-Food Systems. Learn more and register here.
Upcoming Events
WateReuse Pacific Northwest State Workshop Series
Join Us!
11:00 am – 1:30 pm PT | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET
Fee: Free
This webinar is hosted jointly by this year’s Water Week Water Association Partners and will provide attendees the opportunity to hear directly from key EPA officials and Members of Congress on the important regulatory and legislative water policies they are working on now and in the years ahead.
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Join us for a lively discussion with leaders from across the water sector about the future of water reuse and its importance as a tool to address the impacts of climate change and meet local water demands.
Please join us for a free webinar on April 29, 2021, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM EDT to celebrate the first year of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), including accomplishments of action leaders and partners and anticipated 2021 outcomes.
The Resilience through Collaboration: First Year Highlights and Future Directions of the National Water Reuse Action Plan webcast will feature remarks from Radhika Fox (EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water), Felicia Marcus (William C. Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program), and a roundtable discussion with WRAP action leaders and partners and other water reuse practitioners from around the United States. This event is hosted by EPA in collaboration with the WateReuse Association and other water sector partners.
The roundtable panelists include:
- Gilbert Trejo, El Paso Water, WateReuse President (moderator)
- Pinar Balci, New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- Mike Markus, Orange County Water District
- Melissa Klembara, U.S. Department of Energy
- Brandi Honeycutt, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment
- Paula Kehoe, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Chair of the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems
The WRAP collaborative was launched on February 27, 2020 with federal, state, tribal, local, and private sector partners to build technical, financial, and institutional capacity to spur further consideration and implementation of water reuse across the country. The story of the WRAP’s first year of implementation is one of incredible dedication and determination by a growing community of over 100 different organizations. The WRAP collaborative has enabled the formation of new action-based partnerships across the water community to help address local water resource challenges through holistic thinking and integrated efforts to ultimately strengthen our Nation’s water security, sustainability, and resilience.
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Join May Wu, Principal Environmental System Scientist with Argonne National Laboratory, for a webcast on the role of water reuse in bioenergy production.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
WateReuse Members: Free | Others: $49
Production of bioenergy from a range of feedstocks and biorefining pathways requires a substantial amount of water for irrigation, conversion process, cooling, and steam generation. Because the feedstock varies with climate and soil regions, an increased production will have implications in the availability of regional and local freshwater resources across the U.S. It is critical to understand how fit-for-purpose water recycling can be used to conserve freshwater.
This webcast presents findings from an Argonne National laboratory analyses of potential recycled water use to produce biofuels from conventional crops and algae and generate power by incorporating technology, climate, and geospatial-temporal components. Findings suggest a significant potential of producing advanced biofuel while doubling the amount of recycled water in use nationally. Results from this project support informed decision-making and strategic planning for water sustainable bioenergy development.
Presenter
May Wu is a principal environmental system scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. Her research interests are water resource use, water quality, and wastewater management in the production of biofuels and conventional energy.
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WateReuse Pacific Northwest State Workshop Series
WateReuse Pacific Northwest State Workshop Series
WateReuse Pacific Northwest State Workshop Series
Save the date! More information to come soon.
Learn how digital platforms that include artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used to improve asset management strategies and operational efficiencies.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
In this webcast, our presenters will introduce how digital platforms that include artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be used to improve asset management strategies and operational efficiencies, as well as enhance source control, validate unit process performance, predict product water quality and make sound decisions for assessing suitability of product water for human consumption.
The data collected from pilot and full-scale potable reuse treatment trains have been used to develop artificial neuron networks as part of an ML platform. The platform clearly demonstrates that ML can be used to predict, for example, the product water total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of a pilot advanced treatment facility and the specific fluxes on the third stage of a full-scale advanced treatment facility as the feed quality and operating conditions are changed.
The methodology used and model outputs will be discussed during the webcast. The presenters will also examine how we can couple AI/ML concepts with the Internet of Things (IoT) and next generation of the SCADA systems to operate and maintain assets efficiently while significantly enhancing public and regulatory confidence in potable reuse projects.
Presenters
- Ufuk Erdal, Arcadis
- Jim Cooper, Arcadis
- Raluca Constantinescu, Arcadis
- Ozan Erdal, University of Washington
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