Washington Update

WateReuse Scores Win in House Water Infrastructure Package; Committee Authorizes Major Investments in Water Recycling Programs and Resources
Call to Action: Elevate Water Recycling as an Infrastructure Investment Priority
Following last week’s passage of the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 (H.R. 1915), which will take a first step in authorizing major investments in water reuse programs, the WateReuse Association is calling on our members to take action today to ensure the final infrastructure package includes funding for water recycling!
Please call or write your members of Congress and urge them to fund water recycling programs in upcoming infrastructure legislation. If you would like to send a letter, you can use our template letter to share your story. The letter includes requests for $100 million per year in mandatory funding for both the Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Grants and the Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Competitive Grants Program, along with space for members to tell Congress how water recycling makes a difference for their community or business.
To take action, use the template letter. If you do not know who to send the letter to, reach out to Greg Fogel at gfogel@watereuse.org or 805-570-3038.
If you would like to call, you can reach the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you reach the office of your representative or senator, ask for the staffer who handles water issues and tell them that you are calling about infrastructure funding. If the front office transfers you to that staffer’s voicemail (which is common!), leave a message.
Senate Appropriation Subcommittee Urges Funding for WIIN-Title XVI Program
In a hearing on the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, Chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), expressed her deep disappointment over the absence of WIIN Act funding from the President’s FY 2022 budget request. The 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act provides authorization of funding for water storage, desalination, and water reuse and recycling programs, including the Title XVI-WIIN Water Reuse Grants Program.
As we previously reported, funding for WIIN Act programs was excluded from the President’s FY 2022 budget. In response to questions by Senator Feinstein, the witness from the Bureau of Reclamation noted that the U.S. Department of Interior will soon be sending Congress a supplemental funding request for Title XVI-WIIN and the other WIIN Act programs. WateReuse will monitor this request and report on it when it becomes available.
EPA Awards WIFIA Loan to East County Advanced Water Purification Program
The East County Advanced Water Purification Program, which will produce potable water for San Diego County, received a $388 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan.
Radhika Fox, Acting Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Water, presented a sign with the loan amount, noting, “EPA is proud to partner on this project, which uses proven technology to bolster drinking water supplies in this climate-stressed region.”
The project is a collaborative effort between WateReuse members Padre Dam Municipal Water District and County of San Diego, as well as the City of El Cajon and Helix Water District. The program will produce up to 11.5 million gallons of purified water per day. Read more.
WateReuse Served as Advisor on Newly Released 50L Home Coalition Water Reuse Whitepaper
The 50L Home Coalition released a new report, “A Circular Water Future: White Paper on Water Reuse,” which highlights global drivers for integrating water reuse and explores case-studies of urban water use in China, India, Mexico, and the United States. This is the first 50L Home Coalition publication focused on integrating water reuse in homes and cities.
The WateReuse Association serves as an advisor to the group and participated in stakeholder workshops to support the development of the white paper. Download the report here.
State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Members!
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:
CA: Metropolitan Board Confirms Adel Hagekhalil as New General Manager
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has selected Adel Hagekhalil, a national water and infrastructure leader, to serve as its 14th general manager. Hagekhhalil previously severed as Executive Director and General Manager of StreetsLA and Assistant Direct of the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. He also helped develop the 2040 One Water LA Plan, which included optimization of more than $13 billion in wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater capital improvements. Read more.
MT: Yellowstone Club Receives Final Approval to Use Recycled Water to Make Snow
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality gave final approval last week for the Yellowstone Club to use recycled water to make snow for its ski slopes. The private ski and golf resort will begin using up to 25 million gallons of recycled water to make snow daily beginning in Fall 2022. The project is part of an effort to bolster stream flows and reduce nutrient loading in the Gallatin River. Read more.
Member Spotlight: Hach Welcomes first North America Reuse Lead
Hach Company, a water quality testing and analytical instruments firm, is making new investments in the potable water reuse market and has created a new role to solidify its commitment. Hach recently welcomed Wade Jackson as its first North America Reuse Lead. Jackson brings an extensive background in water reuse and will lead internal cross-functional efforts to accelerate the company’s vision for growth in the North American water reuse market.
Op-Ed: Southwest’s Water Problems Likely to Grow, Reuse Offers Resilience
Peter Annin, director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation at Northland College in Ashland, WI, and author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, calls on Western water managers to invest in technologies that provide diverse, drought-resistant local water options. Highlighting the water reuse projects in Scottsdale, AZ and Los Angeles, CA, Annin discusses the importance of local water supplies, especially with low reservoir levels in Lake Mead. Read more.
Research Update
Feedback Requested: Drivers and Barriers for Onsite and Distributed Water Reuse
Columbia University invites WateReuse members to participate in a Survey on Perceptions, Drivers and Barriers around Onsite and Distributed Water Reuse in support of Water Research Foundation project 5040. Advanced treatment and monitoring technologies have made the installation of small-scale water reuse systems an increasingly feasible option in many locations. Experience with onsite and distributed water reuse is not necessary to complete the 10-to-15-minute survey. Take the survey here.
Member Resources and Benefits
Need to Illustrate the Value of Water Reuse Investment? Use Our Flyer and Infographic
Utilities must make a compelling case to ratepayers, policymakers, and other stakeholders that investment in water recycling is the right decision. Use our flyer and infographic to illustrate that Investment in water reuse builds communities that are modern, sustainable and stable—ready for families to flourish and businesses to grow. The infographic highlights examples of recycled water from coast to coast and documents the value they bring.
Interactive Map on State Water Reuse Policies and Regulations
Do you need information about water reuse policies and regulations from across the United States? Visit the state policy map on our website to find summaries of the regulatory landscape in key states, as well as links to specific polices and regulations. Clicking on a particular state opens a pop-up window with detailed information about the state. WateReuse invites members to help us fill in gaps in knowledge using the comment box provided on the page. The map will be updated periodically as new information is received and/or states update their regulations. View the state policy map here.
Conferences, Webcasts and Events

Registration Opens June 16 for the WateReuse California Annual Conference
Mark your calendar for the 2021 WateReuse California Annual Conference taking place September 19-21! You will have the option to participate in-person at the JW Marriott LA Live in Los Angeles or join us virtually. Registration opens June 16, 2021! Learn more.
Webcast: Potable Water Reuse: What Prospects for Europe?
June 24, 2021
8 am PT | 11 am ET (2 hours)
Water Reuse Europe and the WateReuse Association are bringing together speakers from Europe and the U.S. to share their experiences in developing and implementing potable reuse projects with a specific emphasis on regulatory approaches, risk management and communication. This international group of presenters will discuss what is needed to enable wider adoption of potable reuse across Europe’s territories. Register here.
WRAP Webcast: Multi-Agency Water Reuse Programs: Insights in Interagency Collaboration
July 7, 2021
11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
Join our panel of experts for a lively discussion of lessons learned through a year-long effort to interview and document the work it takes to bring multi-agency water reuse projects to fruition. The webcast will cover the lessons learned by key regional projects and share insight on governance, regulations, economic and financial barriers, technical and operational issues and leadership. Register here.
Webcast: Discussion on Desalination – Treatments, Research, and the Future
August 11, 2021
11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
In this webcast, a panel of experts from the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) and CalDesal will discuss the state of desalination in the United States. The panel will explore current practices, technologies, treatments, on-going research, and the future role of desalination in the resiliency of the country’s water supply. You will also learn about NAWI’s research and development roadmap series on desalination and treatment of nontraditional source waters. Register here.
Save the Date: 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Antonio, Texas
ark your calendar for the 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held March 5-9, 2022 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. The 2022 Symposium will be our first national conference with an in-person component since 2019! This is a not-to-be missed opportunity to learn about the latest trends in water recycling and network with colleagues in person.
Upcoming Events

1 pm PT | 4 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, agriculture accounts for more than 80% of the nation’s water consumption. Water reuse is uniquely suited to provide resilience, local control, environmental protection, and high water quality for this critical demand. Join our webcast to learn about two innovative approaches to securing America’s food supply with water reuse, strategies for overcoming obstacles, and gain insight on how USDA conservation programs can be a valuable resource in funding these projects.
Presenters:
- Dr. Chris Hay, Conservation Design Scientist, Iowa Soybean Association
- Julie Hawkins, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
- Mike McCullough, Director of External Affairs, Monterey One Water
Add to Calendar