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March 4, 2019

Washington Update

EPA Announces Development of Water Reuse Action Plan, Draft Plan to be Released at Annual WateReuse Symposium

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the development of a Water Reuse Action Plan at a February 27 water reuse workshop in San Francisco. The plan will leverage the expertise of both industry and government to ensure the effective use of the nation’s water resources. WateReuse President Paul Jones, General Manager of the Eastern Municipal Water District, and WateReuse Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi were on hand for the announcement and participated in the workshop sponsored by Suez Water Technologies and Solutions. A draft of the plan is scheduled for release and public review in September at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Diego.

The Water Reuse Action Plan will seek to foster water reuse as an important component of integrated water resource management. EPA will facilitate discussions among federal, state, and water sector stakeholders and form new partnerships to develop and deploy the plan. For more information, including opportunities to engage with EPA on this effort, visit EPA.

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Join Us in Washington, DC for the National Water Policy Fly-In, Register Today

Register for the National Water Policy Fly-In, April 3-4, in Washington, DC. The National Water Policy Fly-In is the anchor event of Water Week 2019 and brings together the nation’s water sector to speak with one voice to Congress and the Administration. The agenda includes a plenary session on U.S. EPA Water Priorities and federal agency roundtables at the Hyatt Regency Washington, as well as congressional office visits. With a new Congress in place, your attendance and engagement are more critical than ever. 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.

Building upon the momentum of major advocacy wins in 2018— including the bipartisan passage of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act that incorporated key provisions beneficial to water recycling —and the significant potential for congressional focus on infrastructure during the next session, it is crucial that policymakers hear directly from you about the specific challenges to your utility and community. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to press for the water sector’s main priorities, and educate policymakers even more about the benefits of water reuse.

Water Week 2019 will communicate the direct value of water for economic development, job creation, public health and a sustainable environment. Make your plans to participate in this special week, and join us as we elevate water as a powerful national priority!

Contact WateReuse Policy Director Greg Fogel with questions about Water Week and the National Water Policy Fly-In.

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House Hearings Focus on Water Supply Reliability and Climate Change, Key Drivers for Water Reuse

The U.S. House of Representatives convened hearings on Tuesday, February 26 on water supply reliability and climate change, two key issues that drive the development of water reuse projects. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife heard from witnesses on the State of Water Supply Reliability in the 21st Century, while the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change. The Water Supply Reliability hearing included significant discussion of water recycling and the Climate Change hearing included testimony on the importance of investment in modern water reuse infrastructure and the need to encourage water use efficiency.

In the Water Supply Reliability hearing, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, began his opening statement by stressing the importance of water supply reliability. He stated that one of his main goals is to help establish a factual and scientific baseline that can be used for future discussion of these issues. He identified priority issues, including the construction of new water infrastructure, smart storage, water reuse, and desalination projects. Rep. Grace Napolitano added that water-recycling infrastructure is underfunded and referenced legislation that she has introduced (HR 1162) to increase funding authorization for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI water recycling competitive grant program to $500 million from $50 million. Witness Tony Willardson, Executive Director of the Western States Water Council, said that his organization supports Rep. Napolitano’s approach to diversifying water resources and supplies.

The purpose of the Climate Change hearing was to examine the role the transportation sector plays in climate change and to learn from individuals in the public and private sectors that have demonstrated pragmatic solutions for reducing carbon emissions and building resilient infrastructure. Witness James M. Proctor II, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of McWane Inc., provided the committee with his insight on water infrastructure and he made a case for the need for more federal investment. Proctor said last year’s America’s Water Infrastructure Act made significant strides toward addressing that need by fully authorizing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects, including water recycling projects, in the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), and increasing the authorizations for three State Revolving Funds (SRFs).

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WateReuse Joins Water Sector in Urging Funding for Federal Research Funds to Advance Water Recycling

The WateReuse Association singed onto a joint water sector letter sent to congressional appropriators on February 25 urging $20 million to support the EPA’s National Priorities Water Research program and $10 million for the Innovative Water Technologies grant program for FY 2020, two programs that advance the science and practice of water recycling. In 2019 Congress appropriated $5 million to support the EPA’s National Priorities Water Research program. This is the only source of federal funds that supports collaborative, extramural, cost-shared partnerships with non-profit, water-sector research institutions that address the water sector’s research needs. In addition, Congress authorized a $10 million federal investment in the development, deployment and demonstration of water technologies through the Innovative Water Technologies grant program through the America’s Water Infrastructure Act.

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State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Members!

The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:

National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
Warner and Associates

Maryland: Baltimore Receives WIFIA Loan for Upgrades and Repairs

WateReuse Association member the City of Baltimore is the seventh recipient of a loan under the U.S. EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The City of Baltimore’s $202 million loan will complete a program of 14 projects to repair, rehabilitate, and replace existing wastewater conveyances, update treatment plants, and manage stormwater. The City expects to save up to $40 million by financing the project with a WIFIA loan. Read More.

Hazen and Sawyer Publishes Overview of Groundwater Recharge in the US

WateReuse Association member Hazen and Sawyer published an article, Water Reuse for Groundwater Augmentation: State of the Industry, that discusses drivers, treatment technologies, regulatory challenges, and regional differences that impact potable reuse. The article provides historical context and discusses specific projects around the country to provide a broad overview of the state of the industry. Read More.

Association Update

WateReuse Executive Director Participates on Water Reuse and Desalination Policy Panels

WateReuse Association Executive Director participated on two policy panels last week, offering the association’s expertise on advocacy issues related to water reuse and desalination. On February 27, Sinicropi presented on policies that support water reuse at the Resource Revolution of Water Reuse workshop in San Francisco sponsored by the Wharton Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership and Suez Water Technologies and Solutions. On March 1, Sinicropi offered her perspective on federal direction in desalination policy development, legislation, research and project funding during the 2019 Salinity Summit in Las Vegas.

WateReuse and Members Participate in Membrane Technology Conference

The WateReuse Association exhibited at the 2019 Membrane Technology Conference & Exposition, February 25-28 in New Orleans, and partnered with the American Membrane Technology Association and American Water Works Association in promoting the event. WateReuse Board members Bart Weiss of the Hillsborough Public Utilities Department and Paul Steinbrecher of JEA presented on potable reuse and more than two dozen WateReuse members shared the podium, presented posters, showed off their wares at the exposition, and sponsored the conference. WateReuse staff Greg Fogel, Policy Director, and Erin DiMenna, Membership Director, met with members and informed conference attendees about our powerful coalition of utilities, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies.

Conferences and Events

Webcast: What are the Best Opportunities for Industrial Water Reuse?

Please join us on March 13 at 2 pm eastern to learn which industries are investing in water reuse and in what ways. Learn about new data from Bluefield Research that will reveal reuse strategies for key industries, drivers for investment in reuse, the best geographic opportunities for industrial reuse, how industries are collaborating with municipalities, and more. Register Now!

Webcast: Advancing the Seawater Desalination Knowledge Base

Please join us on March 14 at 3 p.m. eastern to learn about the latest advancements in seawater desalination via reverse osmosis. Presented in partnership with The Water Research Foundation, this webcast will discuss two recent studies that explore advancements in seawater desalination from pretreatment to integration of desalinated water into water systems. Register Now!

Save the Date: 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Diego, California

Mark your calendar for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium is in San Diego, California on September 8-11, 2019. This year’s theme is “Collaborate to Innovate.” We will showcase recycled water collaborations among utilities, farmers, and industry; regulators working together at both the state and federal level; sustainability; public/private partnerships; and, for the first time, the latest in reuse research led by the Water Research Foundation. Learn More.

Upcoming Events

Oct

Tue

Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Zoom Video Conference

Tickets

Oct 13 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvfu-rrDkiH93ieQvZRH7XnfhxV3KN73Xs

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

Categories: Los Angeles WateReuse California

Oct

Thu

Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter Meeting

Tickets

Oct 15 all-day

Categories: Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter WateReuse California

Orange County Chapter Meeting @ TBD

Tickets

Oct 15 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Categories: Orange County Chapter WateReuse California

Oct

Wed

WateReuse Pacific Northwest Meeting

Tickets

Oct 21 all-day

Categories: WateReuse Pacific Northwest

Oct

Mon

9th Annual Water Reuse in Texas Virtual Conference

Tickets

Oct 26 @ 1:00 pm – Oct 27 @ 5:00 pm

Co-Produced by WateReuse Texas, WEAT and TAWWA, the Water Reuse in Texas Virtual Conference is Monday, October 26-27.

Learn More.

Categories: Conferences WateReuse Texas

Oct

Thu

What Strikes Fear in the Hearts of Arizona Water and Wastewater Utilities? Brine Management

Tickets

Oct 29 @ 10:00 am

WateReuse Arizona Section Meeting & Webinar

Will be hosted at Brown and Caldwell if able to gather in person.

There has been a perception that brine management is a “down the road” issue for water providers in Arizona. However, for the Phoenix Metro West Valley and the Tucson area water suppliers, that is not the case. The Easy button to discharge to the sanitary sewer system is a short term fix that is not working. Brine ponds smell and are expensive. Regional solutions may be required. An update on the Central Arizona Salinity Study options and new options will be reviewed with associated costs presented. This update can provide a basis for the continuing, collaborative, brine management conversation.

Presenter

Maria Brady, Project Manager, Stantec Consulting
Maria Brady is a Project Manager with Stantec Consulting. She has more than 30 years’ experience in water, wastewater, storm water, and environmental management projects. Maria graduated from Washington State and Colorado State Universities with BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Engineering. Maria has lived in Arizona for 34 years…which makes her an Arizona native in dog years!! Maria is the Central Arizona Trustee for WateReuse and if you ask her about DPR you are in for a lively conversation.

Categories: WateReuse Arizona

Nov

Wed

WateReuse Pacific Northwest Meeting

Tickets

Nov 18 all-day

Categories: WateReuse Pacific Northwest

Dec

Fri

2020 4th Quarter Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tickets

Dec 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm