WateReuse Association Conference Survey: Your Feedback is Requested
As water professionals prepare to resume in-person conferences, the WateReuse Association is conducting a survey to obtain feedback on preferences for in-person versus virtual conferences, the types of travel restrictions that exist for members, and the general comfort level of members and other constituents regarding travel to conferences and events. Your thoughts and opinions are critical to the Association’s event planning in the coming months. Please take a moment to complete our brief survey now!
Washington Update
Negotiations Continue for Infrastructure Legislation as WateReuse Advocates for Water Recycling
President Biden and congressional leaders continued to negotiate an infrastructure package last week. Republican lawmakers indicated a willingness to support as much as $800-900 billion in spending, relative to the President’s $2.25 trillion proposal. Republican leaders had previously proposed $568 billion as their initial counteroffer. The initial Republican proposal included $35 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and $14 billion for water storage, while the Administration’s plan calls for $111 billion for water systems infrastructure, focusing on resilient systems and providing clean, safe water to all communities. Both sides aim to reach a deal in the coming weeks, though the scope of the bipartisan deal remains murky.
The WateReuse Association continues to work with congressional leaders and champions to advance water reuse policy goals in the legislation. That said, it is possible that a bipartisan package will ultimately be limited in scope to transportation and broadband investments, and exclude most water infrastructure spending. Under that scenario, WateReuse will advocate for a second legislative package to greatly expand investments in water recycling.
WRAP Engagement Opportunity: Stormwater Capture and Reuse Webinar Series Continues
Please join us on Wednesday, June 9 at 2 pm ET for Multiple Benefits of Stormwater Capture and Reuse Projects, the third in a series of web-based events associated with the national Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) Action Item 2.3.3. This action focuses on opportunities and challenges related to urban stormwater capture and use. The free webcast will highlight stormwater capture and reuse projects from around the country and explore how these projects can be designed to provide benefit far beyond the management of stormwater. Speakers will discuss the drivers for these projects, life cycle considerations, and lessons learned. The presenters include:
- Matt Fabry, San Mateo County, CA
- Mitchell Katz, Orange County FL
- Dave Smith, U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Region
- Chris Earley, Washington, DC
This event is hosted by the Water Environment Federation and co-sponsored by U.S. EPA, the WateReuse Association, the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA), and the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread. Register here.
State Updates and Member Profiles
Member Spotlight: Carollo Partners with EPA to Develop Drinking Water Guidelines Based on Innovations in Potable Reuse
Recognizing advances in UV disinfection pioneered on water reuse projects, the U.S. EPA worked with Carollo Engineers to develop and publish Innovative Approaches for Validation of Ultraviolet Disinfection Reactors for Drinking Water Systems. The four-year research project, funded by EPA, documented new approaches for UV monitoring and validation that have become common in potable reuse treatment systems. The guidance provides detailed information on defining, validating, and implementing four new UV dose monitoring algorithms that provide utilities a more cost-effective, robust, and simplified implementation of UV disinfection. Read more.
FL: Members Celebrate Florida Water Reuse Week, May 16-22
WateReuse Florida celebrated Water Reuse Week 2021 last week as members issued proclamations and took the opportunity to remind the public how critical water reuse is to the health of Florida’s water resources. About 800 million gallons of reclaimed water are used across the state each day, representing a significant part of the water management strategy for many communities. Members participating in Florida Water Week included Southwest Florida Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District, Clay County Utility Authority, and Toho Water Authority, among many others.
FL: Oakland Explores Options for Irrigation with Non-Potable Water
The Town of Oakland is exploring stormwater reuse to meet a state requirement to use lower-quality water for irrigation. In a recent meeting of the Town Commission, Public Works Director Mike Parker discussed barriers to reclaimed water use, including cost and treatment capacity. Since 2013, all new construction in the community has included a separate irrigation piping to prepare for irrigation with non-potable water. Read more.
FL: Brewery Uses MBR Treatment to Turn Industrial Wastewater into Reuse Quality Water
The Florida Brewery partnered with technology provider Cambrian to install a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system to treat its wastewater, producing water of sufficient quality for non-potable reuse. The onsite treatment system allows the brewery to send the water to the city’s wastewater treatment system instead of trucking it off site. The project helps the brewery meet environmental compliance and reduces wastewater disposal costs. Read more.
Op-ed: Vanderbilt Professor Calls Recycled Water the Future of Water
Vanderbilt University professor, Amanda Little, explains why water recycling is becoming the only alternative to secure the economic and public health future in many regions in a Bloomberg opinion article. Professor Little explores the recycled water story in the U.S. in states such California, Florida, and Texas, noting that technology at California’s Carlsbad and Orange County plants produces ultra-pure water that provides a new water supply essential to our resilient infrastructure. Read more.
Research Update
Water Research Foundation Announces New Project Funding; Seeks Volunteers
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) will post Requests for Proposals in August and is seeking volunteers for seven new research projects. WRF also prioritized four projects that include advanced treatment for potable reuse, stormwater and flood management, and water infrastructure resiliency. WRF encourages utilities to participate in these new research projects through the Utility Participation in Research Process. Utilities can serve as a test facility, provide samples, respond to surveys, loan equipment, or share staff expertise on research projects of interest. Additionally, subject matter experts can volunteer to serve on Project Advisory Committees that will oversee each funded project. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
Purdue Researchers Develop Energy Efficient Desalination
Purdue University engineers have developed a new approach for reverse osmosis treatment that provides better energy efficiency, longer-lasting equipment, and an ability to process water of a much higher salinity. Called “batch reverse osmosis,” the system processes a set quantity of water at a time rather than keeping a constant flow at high-pressure levels. In research results published in Desalination, researchers indicate that their models offer the lowest energy consumption ever for seawater desalination. Read more.
State Department Seeks Membrane Specialist for Six Week Project in Egypt
The Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) seeks a highly qualified individual to serve as a Specialist and consult on the development of hollow fiber membrane modules, especially for reverse osmosis, including consulting on membrane module design, appropriate adhesive for potting for the locally developed hollow fibers, potting techniques, successful module testing, and design for multi-spinnerets system. This project, “Hollow Fiber Membranes for Water Treatment” would involve one approximately 15-day visit to Egypt. Ideally this Specialist would travel in either June 2021 or mid-September 2021– however, project dates are flexible depending on the chosen candidate’s availability. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and the deadline to submit a brief statement of interest and CV/resume is May 26, 2021. Read more.
International Update
France: Veolia Explores Expanding Water Reuse
With growing water stress, Veolia is exploring potable reuse in France following in the paths of Australia, California, Namibia, Texas, and Singapore. Currently in France, less than 1% of water is reused and the main barrier to reuse is regulatory. The technologies exist to produce ultra-pure water and 83% of French people would be prepared to drink water produced from wastewater. The European Union estimates by 2025 6.6 billion m3 of water could be reused. Read more.
Member Resources and Benefits
Activity Booklet Provides Water Reuse Education for Late Elementary and Early Middle School Students
Looking for a Resource to Engage with Students on Water Recycling Either Remotely or in Person? Use the new Water Reuse Activity Booklet to introduce students to the world of water reuse with fun activities that develop math and science skills. Students will learn about the urban water cycle, the treatment processes that make water safe to use again, and much more!
The booklet was produced in partnership with the WateReuse Association and Project WET Foundation. Learn more about the contents of the booklet in this short video. The booklet is available on the Project WET store.
Conferences, Webcasts and Events
Save the Date: 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium in San Antonio, Texas
Mark your calendar for the 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held March 5-9, 2022 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. The 2022 Symposium will be our first national conference with an in-person component since 2019! This is a not-to-be missed opportunity to learn about the latest trends in water recycling and network with colleagues in person.
Join Israel Water Reuse Virtual Tour May 25-27
Join us to learn about Israel’s water reuse technology and policy approaches as part of a knowledge sharing partnership between the US and Israel. Israel has accomplished extensive infrastructure, regulatory, and institutional reform to recycle over 85 percent of its wastewater for beneficial uses as a solution to extreme water stress. Register here.
This event fulfills Action 11.1 in the National Water Reuse Action Plan, “Facilitate U.S.-Israel Collaboration on Water Reuse.” The tour will be presented in three sessions, highlighting applications relevant to the US perspective:
- Session 1: Policy and Regulation of Water Reuse in Israel
Tuesday, May 25 from 10 AM to 12 PM EDT - Session 2: Israel’s Approach to Water Reuse Implementation, Technology, and Mechanisms
Wednesday, May 26 from 10 AM to 12 PM EDT - Session 3: Increasing Israel’s Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency through Recycled Water
Thursday, May 27 from 10 AM to 12 PM EDT
This event is hosted by the Israeli Ministry for Environmental Protection, the Economic & Trade Mission at the Embassy of Israel, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Israel Water Authority, Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel Ministry of Health, WaterEdge.IL, WateReuse Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Water Reuse: Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Going?
May 27, 2021
1 pm PT | 4 pm PT
Join the Orange County Water District to hear from experts in water reuse on lessons learned, best practices, and what’s to come, including a guide for California utilities to use when considering direct potable reuse (DPR) projects or future DPR regulations from the State Water Resources Control Board. Register here.
Webcast: Digital Platform, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Potable Reuse Projects
June 1, 2021
11 am PT | 2 pm ET
In this webcast, our presenters will introduce how digital platforms including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be used to improve all aspects of water recycling, including asset management strategies, operational efficiencies, enhance source control, validate unit process performance, predict product water quality and making sound decisions for assessing suitability of product water for human consumption. Register here.
Upcoming Events
Our next WateReuse Central Coast chapter meeting will be on Thursday, May 16th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the City of Camarillo North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Desalter. We will follow a hybrid in-person and online format with a presentation and chapter update from 12-1p followed by a site tour of the facility from 1-2p for the in-person folks. The facility transforms unusable brackish groundwater into a local source of high-quality and affordable drinking water while also removing damaging salts from the regional watershed. The treated groundwater can produce up to 3,800 acre-feet per year of potable water. The desalter was just named the Outstanding Water/Wastewater Treatment Project of the Year by ASCE Region 9.
Please RSVP here for in-person or online by May 10th if you plan to join the meeting. Lunch will be provided for those who attend in-person. Due to space constraints, in-person attendance will be limited to the first 20 people who RSVP.
The meeting will be May 17 at Mitchell Park Community Center 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. The topic is Commissioning, Operations and Compliance perspectives and we will have presentations from:
- Steven Garner, Director of Certification for AWWA Cal-Nevada will be presenting what it takes to get an AWTO Certification for purified systems
- Vincent Gruffat and Brandon Jacka, Engineer and Operations Managers for Natural Systems Utilities (NSU) will be presenting the perspectives from operating Onsite non potable water systems
- Derrick Mansell, Operations Manager of Orange County Water District will be presenting the challenges and lessons learned from operating the world’s largest IPR system
Please Save-the-Date for our chapter meeting on May 30 at the City of Roseville’s Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The draft agenda is attached. Also, please note that this is an in-person meeting only.
Please RSVP to me (jayaprakashl@sacsewer.com) by May 27 to confirm your attendance.
Please find below the 2024 schedule for the Legislative-Regulatory Committee. All in-person meetings will be held at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Sacramento offices located at: 1121 L Street, Suite 900, Sacramento.]
Both in-person and virtual meetings will occur from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Those indicated as virtual will occur over Zoom and a link will be provided on the agenda.
The 2024 WRCA Annual Conference will be at the: Hyatt Regency Orange County.
Please save the date for our 2024 meeting dates:
1. January 19 – in person
2. March 8 – virtual
3. March 22 – in person
4. April 12 – virtual
5. May 10 – in person
6. May 31 – virtual
7. June 21 – virtual
8. August 9 – virtual
9. September 16 – in person (at annual conference)