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
Presented in partnership with WateReuse Pacific Northwest, this webcast will discuss how membranes are used in water, wastewater and reuse applications and review typical operational tasks.
Webcast
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
How are membranes used in water recycling and what are the typical operational tasks? Learn how membranes can be used alone, or in conjunction with complementary technologies, to remove a broad range of contaminants from water. This range of capabilities has contributed to the widespread use of membranes to treat water, wastewater, and recycled water. The presentation will explain the types of membranes and their uses, review proper maintenance, and provide viewers with insight into this popular treatment technology.
Please join us to learn about:
- Micro and ultrafiltration membranes, used to remove particles as small as viruses by size exclusion;
- Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, capable of removing dissolved salts and organic compounds; and
- Proper maintenance of membranes and membrane systems necessary to maximize system capacity, water quality, and life span.
Presenter
Daniel A. Hugaboom, P.E.
Carollo Engineers
Dan is Carollo Engineer’s Chief MF/UF Membrane Technologist. In this role, he directs technical aspects of the company’s low-pressure membrane filtration based projects. Dan also serves as President of the Northwest Membrane Operator’s Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Membrane Technology Association.
Presented in partnership with the National Water Research Institute, this webcast will offer insight into the nature of enhanced source control and discuss how some communities are optimizing their source control programs to support potable reuse.
Webcast
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
What are the best source control strategies when developing a potable reuse project? As more communities turn to potable reuse to expand water supplies, the goals of source control programs have broadened to include producing water that meets drinking water regulations. Join three uniquely qualified experts to gain insight into the nature of enhanced source control and to learn how some communities are optimizing their source control programs to support potable reuse. The presentation will provide valuable guidance for utilities and regulatory agencies considering enhanced source control to protect the quality of wastewater that is entering the treatment system.
Presenters
Linda Shadler is head of the Industrial Waste Section of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. The Industrial Waste Section manages 950 Significant Industrial Users, making it one of the largest pretreatment programs in the United States.
Ellen McDonald is Chief Technical Officer and Water Planning Practice Leader at Plummer in Fort Worth, Texas, where she works on water resource planning, water reuse, water quality modeling, and water and wastewater system modeling and planning
Tyler Nading works on potable reuse projects and source control investigations, and was a technical advisor and engineering consultant on the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow at the Hampton Roads Sanitation District in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
October 25, 2019 – Section Meeting, Topic & Speaker TBA
- Webinar: Status of California’s Advanced Water Treatment (AWT) Operator Certification Program
– Erin Mackey, Brown and Caldwell
Topic: Recycled Water Technologies and Case Studies