Register for the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium, taking place September 8- 11, 2019 at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, California. The Annual WateReuse Symposium provides the most comprehensive education on water recycling that you will find anywhere, from innovations in centralized municipal systems to creative onsite treatment and case studies on industry, agriculture, and the expansion of reuse into wet climates. Plenary sessions will explore the broader policy and planning issues that will shape the future of water recycling nationally, including communication strategies for elected officials, collaborations among non-traditional partners, and state regulatory successes and challenges. EPA Administrator for Water, David Ross, will also join us for the rollout of the National Water Reuse Action Plan. The Symposium begins with Sunday tours of local water recycling facilities and includes fun networking events daily. Register by June 21 for the best rates.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies approved its fiscal year 2020 bill last week, including key programs that fund water recycling projects. The bill provides $1.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and $1.3 billion for the Drinking Water SRF. While both SRF programs received increased funding over last year, the House bill reduced funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program by $18 million down to $50 million. The bill provides $90 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants, a program that WateReuse supported this year but had not been previously funded. The House bill did not fund certain provisions of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act, passed in October 2018, which would set up an Innovative Water Technology Grant Program and established investments in resilient and sustainable infrastructure. The appropriations bill is expected to head to the full committee for mark up this week and the Senate subcommittees are expected to mark up their bills by next month. WateReuse will continue to urge robust funding for these programs throughout the appropriations process. A table detailing key budget numbers from the House Energy and Water bill is provided below.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released Implementation Guidance for water reuse provisions in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. WateReuse successfully led an advocacy effort that secured a number of policy improvements and investments in water reuse, including provisions that strengthen the link between regional flood control projects and stormwater management (Section 1164). Section 1164 allows and encourages collaboration on feasibility studies. To support the development of the Implementation Guidance, WateReuse engaged in a series of in person meetings with the Corps and sent formal recommendation on February 12 urging permitting efficiencies, the inclusion of local feasibility study components in Corps studies, and encouragement of innovation.

The WateReuse Association signed onto a letter with the American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association, National Association of Water Companies, and six other organizations to support the S.1251, the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act. Introduced by Senators Jeaninie Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), the bill would improve research into the human health implications of emerging contaminants by establishing an interagency working group between EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services that will organize and coordinate federal activities to identify the human health effects of emerging contaminants. The bill would also establish a National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative to improve the identification, monitoring, and treatment of emerging contaminants. The proposal also offers technical assistance to help states respond when emerging contaminants are detected in local water supplies.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is seeking input on a draft study on how the agency, states, Indian tribes, and other stakeholders manage wastewater from onshore oil and gas extraction. The undertaking leverages expertise from these groups to identify challenges and opportunities surrounding the potential benefits of reusing the produced water. EPA originally initiated the study in May 2018 and held several meetings with affected groups, and accepted comments online. This draft study is available for review and public input until July 1, 2019. Submit comments to oil-and-gas-study@epa.gov.