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
Georgia Association of Water Professionals Annual Conference & Expo
The Annual Conference & Expo is targeted towards everyone in and around the State of Georgia involved in water and/or wastewater which includes, but is not limited to, Utility Directors, Operators, City/State/County Government Officials, Manufacturers Representatives, Consultants and Engineers. Learn more.
Presented in partnership with the Water Research Foundation, this webcast presents the results of a recently released research project that developed a Decision Support System to help utilities take appropriate real-time actions based on anomalies and events at critical control points.
Webcast
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: WateReuse Members and WRF Subscribers: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
As more communities develop potable reuse projects that add purified water directly to drinking water distribution systems, real-time monitoring of systems is more important than ever. Join us on July 24 at 2 pm ET to learn about a new Water Research Foundation research project (Reuse 14-01) that developed a Decision Support Tool to help utility operators and managers take appropriate real-time actions based on anomalies and events at critical control points. The research identified available online sensor technologies that have potential for direct potable reuse (DPR) and conducted risk analysis to determine the necessary sensor platforms and sensitivity required to ensure compliance, safety and identify process anomalies. The Decision Support Tool aggregates information from the group of detectors into an easy to use dashboard for operators. This webcast will include information on sensors, an overview of the Decision Support Tool, and a discussion of how utilities can benefit from this approach. While the research focused on DPR, the concepts developed can be applied to many drinking water, water reclamation, or recycled water facilities or systems.
Presenters
- Jeff Neemann, Client Director, Black & Veatch
- Jay DeCarolis, Process Engineer, Black & Veatch
- Ian Pepper, Professor, University of Arizona
- Minkyu Park, Assistant Research Professor, University of Arizona
The 2019 Arizona Water Reuse Symposium co-hosted by WateReuse Arizona and AZ Water Association will be held July 28 – 30, 2019 at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona. We will kick off the event with our welcome reception and 4th Annual Purple Water Balloon Battle on Sunday evening. Our Monday evening dinner will return to Hart Prairie Lodge at Snow Bowl and this year, attendees have the option to take a Sunset chair lift ride up and down before dinner.
View Symposium Program
2019 WateReuse Arizona Awards
The 2019 WateReuse Arizona Awards will be presented during the Arizona Water Reuse Symposium.
Deadline to nominate: June 14, 2019
WateReuse Arizona will present awards in the following categories:
1. Project of the Year
2. Program of the Year
3. Person of the Year
AWARD NOMINATION INFO HERE
Accommodations
Little America Hotel Flagstaff
2515 East Butler Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928) 779-7900
A block of rooms has been set aside for symposium attendees through July 7th. The room rate of $145 per night will be honored thereafter for symposium attendees, but only based on availability of rooms. Ask for group sales and mention “Water Reuse Symposium” to receive the discounted rate, or use this link:
For any questions about sponsorship, please contact Jeff Biggs at jeff.biggs@tucsonaz.gov
WR California Board Meeting
– Aug 9 – 9:30 AM ~ 12:00 PM (Friday)
– Video hosted by Kennedy/Jenks
Rancho Cordova and Irvine Office
Topic: Decentralized Reuse
The 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium is your one stop for all things water reuse. Whether you are new to reuse or an experienced veteran, a robust collection of concurrent sessions covering key policy, technology, operational, and research issues allows you to customize a unique Symposium experience. Plenary sessions explore the broader policy and planning issues that will shape the future.
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