March 26, 2018
Washington Update
Significant Funding Increases for Key Water Reuse Infrastructure Financing in FY18 Omnibus
Bureau of Reclamation Releases Updated Title XVI Evaluation Criteria
Senate Committee Discusses Western Water Challenges
Make Plans for Water Week in April
State Updates and Member Spotlight
California: Aerospace Manufacturer Partners with City to Treat and Reuse Industrial Wastewater
UTC Aerospace Systems held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 20 for its first U.S.-based water recycling initiative at its manufacturing facility in Santa Fe Springs. Developed in partnership with the state of California and the local municipal water district, the project will flow site-generated industrial wastewater to a city treatment facility, which will return the treated water UTC Aerospace for use in manufacturing carbon friction material utilized in civil and military aircraft brakes. The project reduces the facility’s use of the community’s drinking water by 25 million gallons per year. Learn More.
California: New Natural Resources Headquarters to Include Water Recycling
The State of California will begin construction this summer on a new 838,000-square-foot headquarters for the Department of Natural Resources. The property is designed to meet LEED Platinum and zero-net energy standards, with such features as radiant floor heating and mechanical chilled sails, as well as recycled water systems. The building is expected to use at least 50 percent less water than a typical, comparable office building. The downtown Sacramento office development carries a project cost of approximately $597 million. Learn More.
California: Western Municipal Completes Recycled Water Pipeline
WateReuse Association member the Western Municipal Water District is celebrating the completion of the Meridian Recycled Water Pipeline project, which provides 32 million gallons recycled water annually for irrigation. The recycled water transmission pipeline is about two and a half miles long. As part of the project, 112 commercial and landscape meters were inventoried and inspected, of which 40 meters were converted. Learn More.
California: Researchers Find Consumers Prefer the Taste of Purified Water Over Tap Water
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, recently published a study of recycled water that did not focus on its safety—which has long been established—but rather its taste. The study included 143 people, who were asked to compare purified recycled water with conventional tap water and commercially bottled water in a blind taste test. At the outset, researchers hypothesized the three waters would score equally. However, tap water emerged as the least preferred. Learn More.
Florida: Naples Considers Expanding Recycled Water Program
Naples is considering spending up to $20 million to expand its water-recycling program to support a growing population. The local utility is recommending an initial investment of $1.2 million to construct a pipeline connecting additional customers to the current recycled water supply. City staff is working on a financial plan for the project. Learn More.
Idaho: Sugar Company Seeks to Continue Agricultural Reuse
WateReuse Association member the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment through April 18 on a draft water-reuse permit renewal for the Amalgamated Sugar Company of Twin Falls. The permit will authorize the company to continue operating a wastewater treatment facility and reuse system for another five years. It will allow recycled water to be used to irrigate agricultural fields and the conditional use of condensate wastewater for dust suppression. Learn More.
Nevada: Water Innovation Campus Receives Funding from Utilities
The Truckee Meadows Water Authority approved $172,707 on March 21 to support the new Nevada Water Innovation Campus and water reuse pilot testing operations. Washoe County, Reno, Sparks and the Western Regional Water Commission also plan to help fund the innovation campus, which will study the feasibility of expanding water recycling locally. The initiative will help the partners with the assembly, start-up, and optimization of advanced water treatment technologies. A regional indirect potable reuse feasibility study is also part of the plan. Learn More.
Conferences and Events
Austin: Live Music and the Location of the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium
It’s not too early to start planning your trip to the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium on September 9 – 12, 2018 in Austin, Texas. To make the most of your trip, combine learning with live music. During the day, learn what’s working, what’s new, and what’s next at the premier conference on all things water reuse. At night, enjoy live music at one of 250 venues across the city, which earned Austin the reputation as the “live music capital of the world.” Whether it’s rock, country, or blues, Austin offers up the music you love to listen to. Learn More.
Webcast: Water Recycling and Wet Weather Management
Please join us on April 12 at 2 p.m. EDT for a webcast showcasing successful urban and suburban-based decentralized water recycling installations in the Northeastern United States. You will learn about the decentralized water recycling revolution occurring in and around cities located in wetter regions, including why these cities are turning to decentralized water reuse and how your city can integrate decentralized water recycling systems into your overall wastewater and wet weather management strategy. If you are a wastewater utility manager facing challenging weather conditions and population growth, this webcast is for you. Learn More.
Register for the Pacific Northwest WateReuse Conference
WateReuse Pacific Northwest will host a conference 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.
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 these 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.
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.