Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – March 9, 2020

2019 Annual Report Details New Partnerships and Strategic Growth

In 2019, the WateReuse Association built new partnerships and strengthened existing ones to engage our members and the public in a national movement for safe and sustainable water supplies. Highlights from the year include a new three-year strategic plan, developing policy recommendations for the National Water Reuse Action Plan, a record-breaking Annual WateReuse Symposium, a new collaboration with the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, and successful advocacy on Capitol Hill. Read the 2019 Annual Report to learn more.

Washington Update

WateReuse Advocates for Increased Funding for Water Recycling in FY 2021; Member Engagement Requested

Each year, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees determine funding levels for programs administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal agencies. In an effort to influence that decision-making, WateReuse organizes an annual advocacy campaign to ensure robust investments in programs that advance water recycling. Last week, we launched our campaign to increase federal funding for fiscal year (FY) 2021.

WateReuse Arizona delivered a letter to Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), and WateReuse California submitted requests to Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Kirkpatrick, Calvert, and Feinstein are all members of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittees, and will be making decisions regarding funding for the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. WateReuse also submitted formal testimony to the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which will determine funding levels for EPA programs, including the State Revolving Fund Programs, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program, and a number of important programs created in the 2018 Water Resources Development Act.

As Congress begins to make funding decisions for FY 2021, your representatives and senators need to hear from you. If you believe that federal investments in water recycling are valuable, please call your members of Congress, let them know who you are and where you’re calling from, and make one or more of the following asks for FY 2021:

Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN (pronounced “win”) Water Reclamation and Reuse Program: $50 million
Bureau of Reclamation’s Desalination and Water Purification Program: $20 million
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program: $3.4 billion
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program: $65 million
Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program: $4 million
Innovative Water Technology Grant Program: $5 million
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program: $2.32 billion
National Priorities Water Research Grant Program: $20 million
Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants Program: $60 million

To take action, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you reach the office of your representative / senator, ask for the staffer who handles water issues and tell them that you are calling about FY 2021 appropriations. If the front office transfers you to that staffer’s voicemail (which is common), leave a message. If you want to talk or prep with us first, please call Greg Fogel, WRA’s Policy Director, at 571-445-5506.

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Watch On Demand: Water Reuse Action Plan Webcast Presents Implementation Details

The WateReuse Association hosted a webcast last Wednesday that provided an inside look at the recently released National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), an EPA facilitated effort to accelerate the adoption of water reuse across the United States. EPA partnered with other governmental and non-governmental water sector organizations throughout the process, including WateReuse. Staff from EPA described the plan, its genesis, and plans for implementation. View the recording.

Be an Advocate for Reuse: Join Us for National Water Policy Fly-In

Make plans to join the WateReuse Association in Washington, DC April 27-28 for the National Water Policy Fly-In during Water Week 2020. Presented jointly by WateReuse, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, and the Water Research Foundation, the Fly-In includes networking, education, and Capitol Hill visits to advocate on behalf of water utilities. Water Week is an opportunity to advance policy priorities, including greater federal investment in water infrastructure, and a celebration of the role utilities play in communities nationwide. WateReuse encourages our members to participate so that we can ensure that recycled water is an integral part of the Water Week message. Register today to reserve your space.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Members!

The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new members:

California: Diablo Water and Ironhouse Sanitary Pursue Potable Reuse Program

The Diablo Water District and the Ironhouse Sanitary District have partnered to study the potential for water recycling in Oakley, including an indirect potable reuse project. A federal bill, H.R.5302, co-authored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and introduced at the end of 2019, could provide up to $5 million toward the design, planning and construction of the infrastructure necessary for the project. A grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board is funding half the cost of the current study of potable reuse options. Read More.

Florida: Sarasota to Recharge Groundwater with Reclaimed Water

Sarasota County has begun construction on a project that will upgrade the 12-million-gallon-per-day Bee Ridge Water Treatment facility to an 18-million-gallon advanced treatment facility. The project includes the drilling of two aquifer recharge wells, which will be used to replenish groundwater and prevent saltwater intrusion. The project is estimated to cost $157 million and is expected to be completed at the end of 2025. Read More.

WateReuse Communications Tools and Resources

Understanding Potable Reuse: New Video Targets Public Health and Medical Community

The WateReuse Association released a new video, Understanding Potable Reuse: A Safe and Sustainable Supply, which discusses the proven, science-based treatment processes that are used safely in communities around the world. In the video, experts from academia, public health, and utilities discuss the value of engaging with the medical community and including discussions of water in public health education. The video was produced as part of the WateReuse Public Health and Medical Community Initiative.

Conferences and Events

2020 WateReuse California Conference Postponed Due to Covid-19 Outbreak

In light of the recent state of emergency in California, San Francisco, and its surrounding counties due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the WateReuse California and WateReuse Association Boards of Directors have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 WateReuse California Annual Conference, which was scheduled for March 15-17. A joint WateReuse California/WateReuse Association board working group has been established to consider options for a future and will provide a status report by March 20. Learn More.

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!

Upcoming Events

Apr

Wed

WateReuse Pacific Northwest Meeting

Tickets

Apr 15 all-day

Categories: WateReuse Pacific Northwest

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

Tickets

Apr 15 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Presented in partnership with The Water Research Foundation, this presentation will cover key components of successful onsite non-potable water systems.

Webcast
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members and WRF Subscribers: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

Across the nation, onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS) are becoming increasingly common as a means to conserve and recycle water. Ensuring consistent implementation is one of the principal challenges for ONWS programs, particularly when multiple, new stakeholders are involved. Water Research Foundation project 4909 sought to identify key knowledge gaps and provide the resources needed to aid in the smooth implementation of ONWS. Through interaction with the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, the project team identified common pitfalls that have impacted the design, operation, permitting, and implementation of ONWS.

This presentation will cover key components of a successful ONWS program including: (1) treatment goals that control public health risk, (2) effective design of both treatment and non-treatment (i.e., management) barriers, (3) strategies for effective operation and monitoring of ONWS systems, and (4) frameworks for regulating and permitting ONWS. The goal of this presentation is to convey the importance of stakeholder knowledge for consistent protection of public health at ONWS installations. This information will be presented through a survey of the projects two main deliverables: the comprehensive guidance manual and interactive training modules.

Presenters

Brian Pecson, Ph.D., P.E., Principal Engineer, Trussell Technologies
Brie Post, P.E., Senior Engineer, Trussell Technologies
Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission