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March 23, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic is upon us all: The WateReuse Association is taking the coronavirus pandemic with the utmost seriousness it requires. The pandemic has already forced the postponement of several section conferences scheduled to take place through July.

At this point, the 35th Annual WateReuse Symposium scheduled for September 13-16 in Denver, CO will go forward as planned, and we will monitor the situation as we move into late Spring.

As many of our member organizations have done, Association staff in the national office is adjusting to telecommuting schedules to protect our health and make accommodations for our school children’s schedules; however, we remain open for business, so please reach out. Stay safe.

Washington Update

WateReuse Urges Investments in Water Recycling as Part of Coronavirus Stimulus Package

WateReuse Advocates for Increased Funding for Water Recycling in FY 2021

EPA Announces $62 Million WIFIA Loan for Water Recycling Facility in Morro Bay, California

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a $62 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Morro Bay, California, a WateReuse Association member, to replace its 63-year old wastewater treatment plant with a new treatment and water recycling facility. These improvements will reduce discharges into the ocean as well as increase water supply and flood resilience. Morro Bay, which has a population of 10,600, is the first small community nationwide to receive a WIFIA loan. The $126 million project will help Morro Bay reduce reliance on imported water and improve groundwater quality with the addition of highly treated water. The California State Water Resources Control Board will finance approximately $64 million from its Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Fund.

Federal Agencies Provide Guidance on Water and COVID-19

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are providing guidance to water professionals and the public on water transmission and COVID-19. There is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus survives the disinfection process for drinking water, wastewater, and recycled water, according to the CDC. No COVID-19–specific protections, beyond routine practices to prevent exposure to wastewater, are recommended for employees involved in wastewater management operations. Some WateReuse members, including the Dublin San Ramon Services District and El Dorado Irrigation District in California, are including information about the safety of recycled water in their COVID-19 messaging.

State Updates and Member Profiles

California: Fallbrook Selects Hazen and Sawyer to Design Potable Reuse Project

WateReuse Association member the Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) has awarded a $745,000 contract to Hazen and Sawyer, also a member, to design an indirect potable reuse pilot project. The pilot project will determine the feasibility of developing advanced purification facilities to treat existing water both from U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and from FPUD. FPUD and Camp Pendleton currently discharge approximately 2.6 million gallons per day of treated water into the Pacific Ocean through the Oceanside Outfall. The pilot project will consist of two pilot facilities and a tracer study. Read More.

California: Valley Water Employee Tests Positive for Coronavirus, CEO Norma Camacho Enters Self-Quarantine

WateReuse Association member Valley Water announced that an employee has tested positive for coronavirus, and at least eight other employees, including CEO and former WateReuse Association board member Norma Camacho, were in self-quarantine as a result. In a statement, Camacho reassured the community that the virus is not impacting the safety of the drinking water or the district’s ability to supply water in Santa Clara County. Valley Water’s system includes three water treatment plants, a recycled water purification center, and a water quality laboratory. Read More.

California: Ukiah’s Recycled Water System Passes Vineyard Frost Protection Test

The City of Ukiah, a WateReuse Association member, conducted a successful recycled water system test last week to test the capacity of its new recycled water system that is providing recycled water to vineyards for frost protection and irrigation. The recycled water system was built to eventually deliver recycled water to approximately 650 acres of agriculture, 20 acres of pasture, and 15 acres of turf, including three parks and a school. The project also includes a 66-million gallon reservoir, and a pumping station that can deliver 3,500 gallons a minute. Read More.

California: Metropolitan’s Regional Recycled Water Program Receives National Recognition

Engineering News-Record California and Northwest, an engineering and construction publication, has recognized WateReuse Association member the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as this year’s Owner of the Year. This recognition is for Metropolitan’s Regional Recycled Water Program and start-up of the Advanced Purification Center, an effort to meet Southern California’s need for an additional water source through innovation and efficiency. Read More.

WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources

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.

Conferences and Events

Webcast: Effective PFAS Treatment: Challenges and Solutions for Potable Reuse

Join us on March 25 at 2 pm ET to learn about 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. Register Now!

Webcast: Breaking Down Implementation Barriers for Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems

What are the key components of a successful onsite non-potable water system? Join us April 15 at 2 pm to learn about a Water Research Foundation guidance manual and interactive training modules to tackle critical knowledge gaps businesses and utilities. The presentation will cover treatment goals, effective design, strategies for effective operation and monitoring, and regulatory and permitting frameworks. Register Now!

Upcoming Events

Dec
5
Tue
WRCA Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Santa Monica
Dec 5 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Santa Monica Institute Meeting Room

330 Olympic Drive

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  • Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. Thank you to our lunch sponsor, Woodard & Curran.
  • The formal meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure above the meeting room.
  • A tour of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) will follow the formal meeting, starting at 1:15 p.m. Please wear closed-toed shoes.
  • There will also be an option to participate in the meeting virtually. A Zoom meeting registration link will be sent out with the agenda about one week prior.
  • Whether you plan to attend in person or via Zoom, please RSVP by Friday, December 1st by filling out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/6B7UknVNmz. Please indicate if you plan on joining for lunch, the formal meeting, and/or the tour, so that we may get an accurate count. This meeting will have a capacity limit of 50 people.
Dec
7
Thu
San Diego Chapter Meeting @ San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa
Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Save the date for our December chapter meeting!

Please save the date for our last chapter meeting of the year on Thursday, December 7 at 3 p.m. This meeting will be held in person at the San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa, followed by a happy hour at Khan’s Cave

The meeting will include a presentation from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District on their recycled water project, 2024 officer elections, regulatory updates, and more! We look forward to seeing you all there.

 

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Dec
8
Fri
Meeting of the Board of Directors – Fourth Quarter 2023
Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Friday, December 8, 2023

11:00 am to 2:00 pm ET (Remote)

Dec
12
Tue
Orange County Chapter Meeting @ Virtual
Dec 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Dec
13
Wed
WateReuse Florida December Board Meeting
Dec 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dec
14
Thu
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer
Dec 14 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer

11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

With water supply limitations driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change, along with more stringent regulatory requirements for wastewater discharges, direct or indirect potable reuse is becoming increasingly essential to address water resiliency issues. Carbon Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) has increasingly been adopted as a treatment solution to treat municipal effluent to provide a safe, reliable augmentation of drinking water supplies.

CBAT involves the use of biologically activated carbon (BAC) usually with ozone, followed by granular activated carbon (GAC) to achieve advanced treatment of water. It may also include flocculation/sedimentation and UV disinfection. Join a panel of experts to explore the various combinations of this process, and get updates on key case studies using CBAT for potable reuse.

Moderator:

TBD

Speakers:

  • Andrew Newbold, Principal Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer
  • Gaya Ram Mohan, PhD, PE, Environmental Engineer, Hazen & Sayer
  • Erik Rosenfeldt, PhD, PE, National Drinking Water Practice Leader, Hazen & Sawyer
Inland Empire Chapter Meeting
Dec 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

We will hold an inperson meeting at Western Municipal Water District.

 

Please RSVP HERE for this meeting by Thursday, December 7th

Dec
15
Fri
Arizona Water Reuse 2024 Symposium – Call for Abstracts Deadline
Dec 15 all-day
Dec
19
Tue
Pacific Northwest Section Meeting
Dec 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Dec
20
Wed
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy
Dec 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy

10:00 am PT | 1 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

Across the country, more and more communities are exploring reuse as part of a larger water management strategy. But even the best public projects live and die by community acceptance, and history has shown this is doubly true for water reuse projects. Community engagement is a vital element to designing and launching plans that will create lasting impact. Community engagement is not, however, a one-size-fits-all endeavor. What motivates communities in Seattle will not be the same as Boise, or rural Oregon. In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of localizing a communications and engagement strategy to reflect the values, culture and drivers of each specific community. We will look at two Pacific Northwest case studies from Boise and the WateReuse Oregon Subcommittee that demonstrate effective, local engagement approaches.

 

Moderator:

Holly Tichenor, Management Consulting National Practice Leader, Brown and Caldwell, WateReuse PNW Board President

Presenters:

  • Natalie Monro, Communications Coordinator, City of Bellingham, WateReuse PNW Board VP
  • Haley Falconer, Environmental Division Senior Manager, City of Boise
  • Jared Kinnear, Reuse Program Manager, Clean Water Services

 

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