
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
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
Save the date for our December chapter meeting!
Please save the date for our last chapter meeting of the year on Thursday, December 7 at 3 p.m. This meeting will be held in person at the San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa, followed by a happy hour at Khan’s Cave The meeting will include a presentation from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District on their recycled water project, 2024 officer elections, regulatory updates, and more! We look forward to seeing you all there. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming soon.Friday, December 8, 2023
11:00 am to 2:00 pm ET (Remote)
Our next Orange County Chapter meeting will be held on December 12th from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Meeting will be virtual only. In addition to our regular standing items, our main presentation will be by Jennifer West with WateReuse California.
Please RSVP so we can get an accurate headcount: RSVP Response Form. Thank you.

11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
With water supply limitations driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change, along with more stringent regulatory requirements for wastewater discharges, direct or indirect potable reuse is becoming increasingly essential to address water resiliency issues. Carbon Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) has increasingly been adopted as a treatment solution to treat municipal effluent to provide a safe, reliable augmentation of drinking water supplies.
CBAT involves the use of biologically activated carbon (BAC) usually with ozone, followed by granular activated carbon (GAC) to achieve advanced treatment of water. It may also include flocculation/sedimentation and UV disinfection. Join a panel of experts to explore the various combinations of this process, and get updates on key case studies using CBAT for potable reuse.
Moderator:
TBD
Speakers:
- Andrew Newbold, Principal Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer
- Gaya Ram Mohan, PhD, PE, Environmental Engineer, Hazen & Sayer
- Erik Rosenfeldt, PhD, PE, National Drinking Water Practice Leader, Hazen & Sawyer
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10:00 am PT | 1 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Across the country, more and more communities are exploring reuse as part of a larger water management strategy. But even the best public projects live and die by community acceptance, and history has shown this is doubly true for water reuse projects. Community engagement is a vital element to designing and launching plans that will create lasting impact. Community engagement is not, however, a one-size-fits-all endeavor. What motivates communities in Seattle will not be the same as Boise, or rural Oregon. In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of localizing a communications and engagement strategy to reflect the values, culture and drivers of each specific community. We will look at two Pacific Northwest case studies from Boise and the WateReuse Oregon Subcommittee that demonstrate effective, local engagement approaches.
Moderator:
Holly Tichenor, Management Consulting National Practice Leader, Brown and Caldwell, WateReuse PNW Board President
Presenters:
- Natalie Monro, Communications Coordinator, City of Bellingham, WateReuse PNW Board VP
- Haley Falconer, Environmental Division Senior Manager, City of Boise
- Jared Kinnear, Reuse Program Manager, Clean Water Services
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