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
Launching June 24 -25
Don’t Miss the FIRST EVER WateReuse California virtual conference!
Join us for an easy to navigate, virtual conference experience.This is MORE than just a Replacement Event for the March 2020 Conference, this is an opportunity for our community to stand TOGETHER in these unprecedented times to recognize the good work we do and share ideas for the future.
The WateReuse California virtual conference will be available online until July 31, 2020.
Join Us!
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Champion Sponsor: CDM Smith
This presentation will give an overview of the COVID-19 research in wastewater that CDM Smith is conducting with multiple clients in the U.S. and Canada. The second half of the presentation will link the findings and learnings from the COVID-19 research to water reuse. For example, an understanding of viral loads, variability among communities and within communities, and online or field qPCR methods are essential to measuring the Sars-CoV-2 virus in wastewater and predicting future reemergence. This detailed, increased monitoring of sewersheds coupled with fast-tracked development of more mobile analytical methods may lead to better monitoring and understanding of wastewaters, as a source for IPR or DPR.
Presenters
- Anna Mehrotra, PhD, PE – Environmental Engineer, CDM Smith
- Greta Zornes, PhD – CDM Smith Practice Leader for Reuse & Industrial Treatment
Join Us!
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pacific | 2:00 – 3:30 pm Eastern
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
How can water reuse help you manage nutrients and water quality? Our presenters will discuss two examples: “Reuse Opportunities in San Francisco Bay Nutrient Reduction” and “Recycled Water for TMDL Compliance at Clean Water Services in Oregon.” Presented by WateReuse Pacific Northwest, the presentation will explore how two communities have used water recycling to improve water quality.
Presenters
- Dave Clark, HDR Engineering
- Susan Schlangen, Water Systems Consulting
- Jarrod Kinner, Clean Water Services
- Chris Stoll (Moderator), Kennedy Jenks
Co-Produced by WateReuse Texas, WEAT and TAWWA, the Water Reuse in Texas Conference is Monday-Tuesday, July 20-21 in Frisco, TX.
Call for Abstracts
The call for abstracts is now open for the 2020 Water Reuse Texas Conference. Submit your abstract by April 10, 2020, to be a part of the reuse conversation in Texas. Abstracts must be one page or less and include the title, author(s), and up to three subject areas within the broad categories of:
- Utility Operations,
- Follow the Money
- Water Reuse Planning
- Water Quality Issues
- Industrial Issues
- Other
All abstract submissions are through the online form at: https://forms.gle/abJtrJxJN51f…
Additional detail can be found on the Call for Abstracts Flyer- Coming Soon.
Seeking Nominations for the Ed Archuleta Award
The purpose of the Ed Archuleta Award is to encourage and recognize water reuse leaders and those who have made outstanding contributions in the field of water reuse within the State of Texas. Please submit all nominations by May 15, 2020.
For more information please see the nomination form.
Registration includes admittance to:
- Reuse 101: – 1-5PM, July 20
- Conference Night Out Event: 6-9PM, July 21
- Technical Program: 8:30AM-4:30PM, July 21
NEW Latest Technologies in Emerging Contaminants Workshop:
- Collaboration with the WEF Disinfection & Public Health Committee
- Additional Registration Fee- $60
- 10AM-1PM, July 20
Registration Form- Coming Soon
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Place your organization’s name in front of senior managers and decision makers. Sponsorship is available at three levels, the benefits of each tier are listed in the sponsorship form- coming soon.
- Silver Sponsor- $350
- Gold Sponsor- $500
- Reception Sponsor- $750
- Lanyard Sponsor – SOLD OUT, Carollo
- Banner Sponsor – SOLD OUT, Plummer
Exhibitor Opportunities:
Exhibitor registration is now open. Space is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 8×10 booths are $400 apiece. Fill out the Exhibitor Registration Form and return it to the WEAT office.
Lodging:
Embassy Suites Frisco Hotel and Conference Center
7600 John Q. Hammons Drive, Frisco, Texas, 75034, USA
Conference Room Rate: $139/night. Mention Water Reuse to get the conference room rate. Reservations must be made by July 5, 2020, to receive the special rate. For reservations call: 1.972.712.7200
Join Us!
2:00 – 3:15 pm Eastern | 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Lake Lanier is a major source of water supply to the North Georgia region. Many communities surrounding Lake Lanier rely on it for both discharge of effluent as well as their sourcewater for drinking purposes. This practice, known as indirect potable reuse or surface water augmentation, provides a sustainable water supply solution for the region’s growing population. Specifically, in Gwinnett County, Georgia, the majority of the county’s 56 MGD of treated wastewater is discharged to the Lake, which is also the primary drinking water source. This transformation of wastewater into a valuable supply of sourcewater requires careful planning, monitoring, and protection of Lake Lanier.
While there have been various water research projects and planning efforts implemented throughout the Lake Lanier Watershed in the past, there does not exist a centralized coordinated plan that documents, facilitates, and coordinates an approach to developing the ideation, planning, prioritization, management, resourcing, and funding of applied water research projects.
In response to this identified need, The Water Tower, the new global innovation hub in Gwinnett County, Georgia, is leading the effort to create a forum through which stakeholders and researchers will work together to develop a Lake Lanier Watershed Research Master Plan. The Plan will provide a multi-year research roadmap of project concepts to address critical needs in the Lake Lanier Watershed. Funding for prioritized projects will be crowdsourced among the stakeholders and the be the focus of nonprofit, public and private grant applications. The research projects will be competitively bid, with regional and international third party technical expert oversight, and managed by The Water Tower, a 501c3 focused on research and innovation.
Presenters
- Kristan VandenHeuvel, Strategic Director of Research and Engagement, The Water Tower
- Steve Leo, Client Service Manager, Constantine Engineering
- Jeff Mosher, Principal Technologist, Carollo Engineers
Join Us!
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pacific | 2:00 – 3:30 pm Eastern
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1.5
Join us for an overview of how water recycling is expanding as a critical water management strategy in the Pacific Northwest region. From decentralized reuse in Portland to wastewater management options for small communities, water reuse is increasingly seen as a vital tool. The presentation will include case studies from Portland, Oregon and Hagerman, Idaho.
Presenters
- Chris Wanner, Portland Water Bureau
- Dan Ayers, JUB Engineers
- Justin Hulme, City of Hagerman