Washington Update
Congress Adds Flexibility to Paycheck Protection Program
Last week, Congress passed legislation to increase flexibility within the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the primary private sector relief program passed by Congress in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (H.R. 7010) extends the amount of time that borrowers have to spend PPP loans and still have the debt forgiven. It also lowers the proportion of a loan that must be spent on payroll, giving employers greater flexibility to cover expenses. The bill passed the House 417-1, and passed the Senate unanimously. For more information on the PPP and other economic relief programs, view our recent WateReuse webcast, “Guide to COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Packages: Survival Tips for WateReuse Member Businesses.”
Drinking Water Associations Submit Joint Letter on U.S. EPA’s PFAS Regulations
Nine water associations submitted joint recommendations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the regulation of Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) in drinking water. The associations urge EPA to expeditiously prepare the requisite analysis essential to providing drinking water standards based on sound science and robust analyses. The letter makes five requests of EPA, including a request for EPA to engage with outside experts to develop public health risk assessments for a range of PFAS, and a request for EPA to use the Toxics Release Inventory, Toxic Substances Control Act, and other regulatory tools to protect sources of drinking water. For more information on recent actions taken by EPA to regulate PFAS, view our May 25 newsletter.
State Updates and Member Profiles
Welcome New Members
The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:
Arizona: Water Reuse Advocate, Brad Hill, Retires from Flagstaff Water Services
Brad Hill will be leaving Flagstaff Water Services at the end of July 2020; he officially retired last December but agreed to remain at the helm during the transition period. Brad has been involved in WateReuse Arizona from the very beginning and has been a strong advocate for promoting water reuse in rural Arizona. In 2019, WateReuse Arizona presented him with the President’s Award for Water Resource Stewardship. Read More.
California: Use an App to Pick-Up Recycled Water for Irrigation in the City of Turlock
The City of Turlock is making access to their recycled water fill station for residents and businesses simpler. The fill station is a self-serve drive through system that allows interested users to collect recycled water once completing a certification program. Interested parties can use the downloadable application to access the required water reuse certification courses. Read More.
California: West Basin Hosts Interactive Virtual Water Recycling Education for the Summer
The West Basin Municipal Water District will host a Summer Splash virtual water education series with guest speakers and virtual tours of water recycling. West Basin typically hosts monthly in-person tours as an opportunity for the community to see the inner-workings of a water treatment facility firsthand. The two virtual water recycling public tours are scheduled for June 18 and July 23 from 10:00-11:30 am PT. Learn More.
Member Spotlight: Suez’s Jon Freedman Discusses How to Implement a Corporate Water Sustainability Program
Jon Freedman, head of global government affairs for Suez, offers guidance to corporations on how to implement a water sustainability program, including water recycling. Freedman notes that water is an integral part of global business, and climate risk is forcing many companies to take a closer look at water sustainability. Freedman outlines key steps to support corporations in developing climate goals, including gathering data, setting parameters, and setting goals. Recent interest in sustainability by investors is set to accelerate the existing trends in corporate sustainability. Read More.
Member Spotlight: TrojanUV Case Study Highlights DPR Technology in Big Springs, Texas
WateReuse Association member TrojanUV delivered UV-Oxidation technology that supports direct potable reuse at a Raw Water Production Facility in Big Spring, Texas. TrojanUV’s client, the Colorado River Municipal Water District, is located approximately 300 miles west of Dallas. The facility treats secondary wastewater and re-introduces it directly to raw water supply for water treatment plants of Big Spring, Odessa, and other communities in the region. Read More.
Global Update
European Parliament Expands Water Reuse
The European Parliament approved a water reuse regulation that defines minimum treatment requirements for recycled water at the European level for the first time to alleviate stress on freshwater supply. The new law adopts rules for recycled water when used for agriculture and other purposes. As a result of the new regulations, water reuse in Europe could increase from the current 1.1 billion cubic meters per year to 6.6. billion cubic meters per year of water by 2025 and reduce the amount of water taken from surface and groundwater sources by five percent. Read More.
Research Update
Recycled Water Provides Mars-Bound Astronauts with Food and Water for their Mission
Two research teams are designing water recycling systems that will provide astronauts with enough food and water to both make the eight-month trip to Mars possible and support their stay on the planet. Although water recycling already provides about 80% of the water on the International Space Station (ISS), ISS still relies on costly resupply missions. The TIME SCALE (Technology and Innovation for Development of the Modular Equipment in Scalabe Advanced Life Support Systems for Space Exploration) project aims to design a singular system that recycles water for drinking and harvests nutrients for plant growth. Another project, BIOWYSE (Biocontamination Integrated Control of Wet Systems for Space Exploration), focuses on real-time monitoring of recycled water quality in a singular system. Read More.
Recycled Produced Water Helping to Preserve Agriculture
A recent study found no major health risks when using oil field produced water blended with surface water to irrigate crops. Researchers at Duke University and RTI International worked with Kern County’s Caelo Water District in Bakersfield, California to understand how produced water can help agriculture cope with droughts and water shortages. Analyses of the diluted produced water “did not find any major water quality issues, nor metals and radioactivity accumulation in soil and crops that might cause health concerns.” The diluted water had higher levels of salts and boron compared to local groundwater, but the water’s levels were below state standards for drinking and irrigation water. Read More.
The Water Research Foundation Releases RFQ for SARS-CoV-2 Study
Last week, The Water Research Foundation released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a research team to lead a project evaluating existing methods and testing reliability for the genetic signal for SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater. The selected research team will assess the existing methods used by laboratories and perform statistical analyses and comparison of the test results. The project will provide much-needed information on preferred methods to use when performing analyses for wastewater surveillance studies and to understand the limits of detection for existing methods. View RFQ.
U.S. EPA Testing Sewage for Potential COVID-19 Indicator
In a six-month pilot, the U.S. EPA will work with city of Cincinnati, Ohio on growing the surveillance network for coronavirus cases. EPA’s Office of Research and Development plans to develop a coronavirus test method over the next four to six weeks to help inform public health decisions. EPA and City of Cincinnati are in communication with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as part of the effort to build a broader monitoring network. Read More.
WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources
Use WateReuse Connect to Learn and Exchange Ideas with Peers Across the Nation
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.
Awards and Recognition for Water Reuse
Water Sector Seeks Applications for Utility of the Future Today Recognition Program
The application period is open for the Utility of the Future Today recognition program, which honors water resource recovery facilities for community engagement, watershed stewardship, water reuse, and recovery of other resources such as energy and nutrients. The Utility of the Future Today concept is as a model for utilities to achieve more efficient operations, enhanced productivity, and long-term sustainability. The WateReuse Association participates in the joint initiative with the Water Environment Federation, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and the Water Research Foundation Public and private water sector utilities of all sizes that can demonstrate achievement of the application requirements are encouraged to apply by July 17 at 5 p.m. EDT.
Conferences and Events
Register for the 2020 WateReuse California Virtual Conference by June 17
Join WateReuse California for an easy to navigate, virtual conference experience beginning June 24-25 from the comfort of your office or home office. The conference will include more than 50 technical presentations with audience Q&A and handouts, live and interactive panel discussions, an interactive sponsor and exhibitor hall, and a virtual cocktail party reception. Kristin Peer, Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Water Policy at Cal EPA will give a keynote presentation on COVID-19 Challenges and California’s Water Resilience Portfolio. The registration deadline is June 17, 2020. Sessions will be presented on June 24 and June 25 and continue to be available for viewing until July 31, 2020. Register Now.
Upcoming Events
Our next WateReuse Central Coast chapter meeting will be on Thursday, May 16th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the City of Camarillo North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Desalter. We will follow a hybrid in-person and online format with a presentation and chapter update from 12-1p followed by a site tour of the facility from 1-2p for the in-person folks. The facility transforms unusable brackish groundwater into a local source of high-quality and affordable drinking water while also removing damaging salts from the regional watershed. The treated groundwater can produce up to 3,800 acre-feet per year of potable water. The desalter was just named the Outstanding Water/Wastewater Treatment Project of the Year by ASCE Region 9.
Please RSVP here for in-person or online by May 10th if you plan to join the meeting. Lunch will be provided for those who attend in-person. Due to space constraints, in-person attendance will be limited to the first 20 people who RSVP.
The meeting will be May 17 at Mitchell Park Community Center 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. The topic is Commissioning, Operations and Compliance perspectives and we will have presentations from:
- Steven Garner, Director of Certification for AWWA Cal-Nevada will be presenting what it takes to get an AWTO Certification for purified systems
- Vincent Gruffat and Brandon Jacka, Engineer and Operations Managers for Natural Systems Utilities (NSU) will be presenting the perspectives from operating Onsite non potable water systems
- Derrick Mansell, Operations Manager of Orange County Water District will be presenting the challenges and lessons learned from operating the world’s largest IPR system
Please Save-the-Date for our chapter meeting on May 30 at the City of Roseville’s Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The draft agenda is attached. Also, please note that this is an in-person meeting only.
Please RSVP to me (jayaprakashl@sacsewer.com) by May 27 to confirm your attendance.
Please find below the 2024 schedule for the Legislative-Regulatory Committee. All in-person meetings will be held at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Sacramento offices located at: 1121 L Street, Suite 900, Sacramento.]
Both in-person and virtual meetings will occur from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Those indicated as virtual will occur over Zoom and a link will be provided on the agenda.
The 2024 WRCA Annual Conference will be at the: Hyatt Regency Orange County.
Please save the date for our 2024 meeting dates:
1. January 19 – in person
2. March 8 – virtual
3. March 22 – in person
4. April 12 – virtual
5. May 10 – in person
6. May 31 – virtual
7. June 21 – virtual
8. August 9 – virtual
9. September 16 – in person (at annual conference)