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March 19, 2018

Washington Update

As FY19 Appropriations Process Underway, WateReuse Leads Coalition for Title XVI and Urges Increased Funding for SRF Programs

The WateReuse Association led a March 16 stakeholder letter urging Congress to fund the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI water recycling program at $60 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The letter demonstrated strong, widespread support for the program with 42 national and local stakeholder organizations signing-on, including national and regional water groups and water and wastewater utilities engaged in water reuse. The Title XVI program was nearly eliminated in the President’s FY19 budget request released last month. The budget included only $3 million for the program compared to the $34.4 million appropriated to the program by Congress in FY17. The funding level for FY18 has yet to be released due to challenges surrounding FY18 omnibus negotiations though it is expected to be equal to or higher than the FY17 level.

WateReuse also asked utility members in Reclamation states to submit their own letters to their congressional delegations. If members do submit letters, they are asked to send a copy to Amber Kim at akim@watereuse.org for the Association’s advocacy records.

WateReuse also submitted its own FY19 appropriations request letter to congressional appropriators urging increased funding for the State Revolving Funds, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, in addition to Title XVI. WateReuse also joined a water sector letter asking for increased funding for these programs, as well as other geographical and research programs.

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Congress Holds Flurry of Hearings on FY19 Appropriations and Infrastructure

Congress was busy last week with a packed schedule of hearings focused on agency FY19 budgets and the Administration’s Infrastructure Initiative.

Both the Senate Environment and Natural Resources and House Natural Resources Committees held hearings on the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) FY19 budget with Secretary Ryan Zinke testifying. Secretary Zinke discussed DOI’s reorganization plan indicating that the agency is looking to improve efficiency by moving from the current bureau-based regional system of management to a system based on ecosystems, watersheds and science. Zinke also stated that DOI is exploring the possibility of relocating headquarters to the West to bring resources to the front lines and to find a more affordable and livable location for younger staff as the agency prepares for an exodus of DOI staff reaching retirement age.

The House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee also held a hearing on March 14 on the DOI’s Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Brenda Burman, Commissioner of Reclamation, testified at the hearing, focusing broadly on the mission of Reclamation to increase water supplies and reliability. There was no discussion of the near elimination of Reclamation’s Title XVI program in the Administration’s budget.

The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on water resources projects managed by the Corps. Subcommittee Members emphasized the importance of secure, reliable sources of water for public health and the economy. R.D. James, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for civil works, addressed the frustration over the huge backlog of Corps projects and said that the Corps is setting up a task force to examine the backlog of projects and advise on hurdles to projects such as permitting and funding. Although the Corps does not implement water recycling projects, there is potential for the Corps to help support local water reuse strategies through increased coordination with communities. Working together, communities and the Corps can identify ways that Corps projects can help enhance the goals of local water management plans such as aquifer recharge or water reuse. This policy is a WateReuse priority for the Water Resources Development Act of 2018. WateReuse is working in a bipartisan manner in both the House and Senate for the inclusion of such a provision.

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Prepare for Water Week in April

WateReuse Members are urged to make plans to join the WateReuse Association in Washington, DC for the 2018 National Water Policy Fly-In taking place April 17-18 during Water Week 2018. The Fly-In includes roundtables with federal agency staff, panels with congressional staff, a lobby day on Capitol Hill, a congressional reception with Members of Congress, and more. WateReuse is also sponsoring a congressional briefing on water reuse and the transformational impact water recycling projects have on local economies on Thursday, April 19 at 10 a.m. WateReuse urges members to join us in Washington DC to ensure that the water reuse message is an integral part of the Water Week message. Register for the 2018 National Water Policy Fly-In today. Please contact WateReuse Policy Director Amber Kim with questions about Water Week and to confirm your plans to attend.

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State Updates and Member Spotlight

Florida: Potable Reuse Commission Holds Second Meeting

WateReuse Florida hosted the second meeting of the recently formed Potable Reuse Commission on Friday, March 16 at the Toho Water Authority in Kissimmee. The 11-member commission plans to develop a framework for implementing potable reuse in Florida. During Friday’s meeting, the commission reviewed Florida’s existing alternative water supply rules and made plans for a stakeholder workshop on April 6. Learn More.

California: IDE Technologies Opening Two New Water Recycling Demo Facilities

WateReuse Association member IDE Technologies announced that its technology will be used in two new water reuse demonstration facilities in California. IDE will demonstrate an energy-efficient solution with reduced chemical consumption to produce purified water at the Central Coast Blue Advanced Water Purification Facility, in partnership with the City of Pismo Beach. For the Regional Recycled Water Advanced Purification Center Demo Facility, IDE will demonstrate its reverse osmosis process for water reuse in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. Learn More.

California: Modesto Completes First Phase of Project to Send Recycled Water to Farmers

WateReuse Association member the City of Modesto and other entities involved in the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program gathered for a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 13 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of a project that will provide at least 30,600 acre-feet of recycled water for farmers. This initial phase of the project allows water from the City of Modesto’s wastewater treatment plant to flow into the Delta Mendota Canal. Learn More.

California: Elsinore Valley Invites Community to Tour Water Recycling Facility During Water Festival

WateReuse Association member Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District will present its Annual Community Water Festival on Saturday, March 24 to educate the local community about water issues. A crowd favorite is a tour of the facility’s sewer treatment plant, where visitors take a journey through the plant to see how wastewater becomes recycled water, which is used locally for irrigation. Learn More.

Market Update

Investment Firm Calls Water Reuse a Growing Market of Opportunity

The Raymond James financial services firm published an article last week explaining that investment in water reuse can benefit companies and communities alike. The article gives investors a detailed explanation of drivers and examples of water reuse across the United States—and notes the projections of a 37% increase in water recycling over the next decade. Learn More.

Conferences and Events

Save the Date: Pacific Northwest WateReuse Conference

WateReuse Pacific Northwest will host a conference on May 17-18 in Portland, Oregon with the theme “Roadmap to Reuse.” More than 200 utility operators and mangers, elected officials, engineers, regulators and equipment manufacturers are expected to attend. Presentations will focus on feasibility studies, regulatory updates, public outreach, funding, and more. Learn More.

Sustainable Water, Resilient Communities: Solutions for Dirty Water

In the third event of the “Sustainable Water, Resilient Communities” series, experts including WateReuse Association Board Member Jon Freedman of Suez Water Technologies, will discuss approaches to meeting the challenges of poor water quality such as increasing water supplies through water reuse, improving sanitation and hygiene, preventing the spread of waterborne diseases after disasters, and addressing agricultural pollution. The presentation takes place on Tuesday, March 20, 9:30am – 11:30am in person at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC or via live or archived webcast. RSVP Now.

Upcoming Events

Dec

Fri

2020 4th Quarter Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tickets

Dec 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Categories: Board Meetings

Dec

Tue

Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Zoom Video Conference

Tickets

Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcOypqjgsHtwmGaUIM0hd5mvgjfwX4pgY

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Categories: Los Angeles WateReuse California

Dec

Wed

Water Reuse in Palestine: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability, Food Security, and Economic Growth

Tickets

Dec 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Join Dr. A. Rasem Hasan, a professor and researcher at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, to learn about recent challenges, social and technical, and proposed solutions to increase water recycling in Palestine.

Register Now!

Join Us!
1:00 – 2:00 pm Eastern | 10:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Although a small country with many water resource challenges, Palestine relies on agriculture as a critical component of its economy. About 50 percent of the land is designated agricultural yet only 7 percent is irrigated, creating an opportunity for water reuse to play a key role in water conservation, food security, and economic growth. Join Dr. A. Rasem Hasan, a professor and researcher at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, to learn about recent challenges, social and technical, and proposed solutions to increase water recycling in Palestine.

Dr. Hasan will present research on how to overcome funding limitations to develop water reuse projects of varying sizes in a semi-arid to arid region. The presentation will discuss rural wastewater management and reuse, industrial wastewater management, brackish water desalination for drinking and irrigation, and climate change adaptation.

Join us for a presentation organized by the WateReuse International Committee that will offer insight into the unique experiences of communities where low funded projects can have significant impact on society.

Moderator

Dr. Zoreh Movahed, WATEK

Presenter

Dr. A. Rasem Hasan is currently the Director of Water and Environmental Studies institute, and faculty member of Civil Engineering Department, at An-Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. He has as a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami, Florida, USA, MSc in Water Engineering from Birzeit University, Palestine, and B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Mutah University, Jordan. Dr. Hasan received several academic awards and has 20+ years of work experience as consultant and academic in the fields of water and environmental engineering. His research interests are water desalination, wastewater treatment and management, water reuse, and hazardous waste management.