March 12, 2019
Washington Update
Administration Proposes Cuts to Water Reuse Funding
House Bill Reauthorizes EPA Water Recycling Program, Clean Water SRF
Join Us in Washington, DC for the National Water Policy Fly-In, Register Today
Advocacy Action Needed! Ask Your Member of Congress to Support Investments in Water Reuse
Congressional Hearing Discusses Funding for Water Infrastructure, Including Reuse
State Updates and Member Spotlight
California: Commentary Explains Why Reuse Makes More Sense than Importing Water
A commentary published last week by Robert Glennon, a university professor and author, praises the work that California is doing in increasing the amount of water it reuses and reducing its reliance on imported water. Southern California traditionally imports water from the Sierra Nevada, the Colorado River or elsewhere to augment what is available locally, which can be expensive and face environmental objections. Glennon argues that the recent announcement from Los Angeles that it has set an aspirational goal to recycle all of its wastewater by 2035 demonstrates California is discovering that wastewater has incredible value. Read More.
California: Olivenhain Converts HOA to Recycled Water
WateReuse Association member Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) is providing recycled water to the Del Rayo Downs Homeowner Association (HOA) in Rancho Santa Fe. OMWD is working with large irrigators on the benefits of retrofitting their irrigation systems for recycled water use including schools, homeowner associations and golf courses. Del Ray Downs’ conversion to recycled water enables the HOA to save money on its monthly water bill while decreasing costly imported water demands by approximately 16.5 acre-feet annually. Read More.
Oklahoma: Bartlesville Moves Forward with First Water Reuse Project
WateReuse Association member Tetra Tech has been contracted to begin designing the first water reuse project for City of Bartlesville, including a water reuse pump station, pipeline, and renovation of the water intake structure located on the Caney River. The design work will be completed by February 2020. In 2001, the area experienced a sustained drought where there were only six months of water remaining in Hulah Lake, which triggered a number of studies. The community currently pumps 7 million gallons of treated effluent into the Carney River. Under the proposal, half of the effluent would be diverted for reuse. Read More.
Virginia: Hampton Roads Aquifer Recharge Project Gets Stricter Oversight
Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation that establishes the Potomac Aquifer Recharge Oversight Committee to monitor Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) plan to refill the Potomac Aquifer with purified water. The 10-person advisory committee is required to meet at least quarterly during its first three years of existence, and HRSD would fund the committee during that time. The legislation also creates the Potomac Aquifer Recharge Monitoring Laboratory under the direction of faculty from two Virginia universities. The lab will monitor the project’s effect on the aquifer, manage test data, and conduct testing and analysis of the water. HRSD plans to build the program’s first full-scale treatment facility by the end of 2023. Read More.
Research Update
U.S. Faces Fresh Water Shortages Will Create a Driver for Increased Reuse
The pressures of climate change and population growth could cause water shortages in most of the United States, according to preliminary government-backed research. As many as 96 water basins out of the 204 supplying most of the country with freshwater could fail to meet monthly demand starting in 2071, a team of scientists said in the journal Earth’s Future. Water shortages would result from increased demand by a growing population, as well shrinking rainfall totals and greater evaporation caused by global warming. Read More.
Association Update
WateReuse Association Celebrates 2018 Milestones in Annual Report
In 2018, the WateReuse Association expanded membership, increased outreach, and strengthened advocacy to meet a growing interest in water recycling, as illustrated in the 2018 Annual Report. There were notable successes at the national level and within state sections, including popular events and successful engagement with regulators and legislators. The association also engaged in strategic partnerships to extend its reach of education and advocacy priorities. To learn more, read the 2018 Annual Report.
Conferences and Events
Webcast: What are the Best Opportunities for Industrial Water Reuse?
Please join us on March 13 at 2 pm eastern to learn which industries are investing in water reuse and in what ways. Learn about new data from Bluefield Research that will reveal reuse strategies for key industries, drivers for investment in reuse, the best geographic opportunities for industrial reuse, how industries are collaborating with municipalities, and more. Register Now!
Webcast: Advancing the Seawater Desalination Knowledge Base
Please join us on March 14 at 3 p.m. eastern to learn about the latest advancements in seawater desalination via reverse osmosis. Presented in partnership with The Water Research Foundation, this webcast will discuss two recent studies that explore advancements in seawater desalination from pretreatment to integration of desalinated water into water systems. Register Now!
Save the Date: 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Diego, California
Mark your calendar for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium is in San Diego, California on September 8-11, 2019. This year’s theme is “Collaborate to Innovate.” We will showcase recycled water collaborations among utilities, farmers, and industry; regulators working together at both the state and federal level; sustainability; public/private partnerships; and, for the first time, the latest in reuse research led by the Water Research Foundation. Learn More.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
– 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Pure Water Monterey, located at 14811 Del Monte Blvd, Marina, CA 93933. The meeting includes lunch and a tour.
– Agenda
– Please RSVP no later than 1/22/20.
- To RSVP to attend in person, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/6hbco4sVPJRosRe46. Detailed driving and parking directions will be provided to those who RSVP.
- To register to participate via webinar, please complete this form: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4714919568173938700 .
Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Today’s technology allows us to treat virtually any source of water to meet any need including drinking, but many states lack regulations to allow potable reuse projects to move forward. WateReuse Association State Sections are taking the lead in collaborating with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to develop regulatory frameworks to implement potable reuse. Join us to learn about recent efforts in Colorado and Florida that are paving the way for potable reuse.
The State of Colorado is considering regulating direct potable reuse (DPR). To support this effort, WateReuse Colorado sponsored the formation of an Independent Advisory Expert Panel to develop regulatory guidelines for the state. Larry Schimmoller, chair of the Panel, will review the process used to develop the regulatory guidelines, discuss the specific recommendations included in the guidelines, and present the next steps in the regulatory process.
WateReuse Florida took the initiative to bring together a diverse group of water professionals and end user stakeholders to participate in a consensus base effort to identify and address technical, regulatory, and implementation barriers to potable reuse in Florida. The Florida Potable Reuse Commission was formed to develop a framework document for potable reuse implantation in Florida to augment future water supply and support water quality initiatives. Lynn Spivey, WateReuse Florida President, and Potable Reuse Commission Chair, will be discussing the 18-month effort and the newly published Framework document.
Presenters
Larry Schimmoller
Chair, Independent Advisory Expert Panel, Colorado DPR Framework Project
Global Technology Leader for Water Reuse, Jacobs
Lynn Spivey
Chair, Florida Potable Reuse Commission
President, WateReuse Florida
Director of Utilities, City of Plant City (Florida)
The event includes a meeting of the Board Trustees and a webinar on PFAS.
WateReuse Nevada’s inaugural inter-state gathering for water professionals to discuss current topics and future trends. Topics will cover the current state and future prospects of water recycling in Nevada; state, agency, and industry partnership; and a current look at scientific advancements at Nevada universities.
The Annual WateReuse California Conference brings together utilities, businesses, policymakers, and large water users from across the state to examine the latest issues and technologies in water recycling.
Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
A group of chemicals known as PFAS – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – has garnered the public’s attention and posed treatment challenges for recycled water utilities. What is the latest science on effective treatment for PFAS? This webcast focuses on the fate of PFAS in recycled water destined for potable reuse, and will include results from different advanced treatment processes ranging from bench-scale evaluations to permanent potable reuse treatment demonstration projects. The data illustrate important considerations during treatment selection, design, and operation to meet PFAS treatment goals.
Presenter
Eva Steinle-Darling
Reuse Innovation Lead and Principal Technologist
Carollo Engineers
Mark your calendars for May 19-20, 2020 for the WateReuse Pacific Northwest annual conference. This year’s conference will be held at King County’s Brightwater Center, an environmental education and event center located on the Brightwater Treatment Plant campus. An impressive conference program is being planned featuring innovative reuse projects, research, education and community outreach, new regulatory directions and an operator session tailored to reuse facility operations.