Washington Update
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Case with Implications for Water Recycling
EPA and Bureau of Reclamation Sign MOU for Funding Water Reuse Projects
WateReuse Members Receive Reclamation Funding for Pilot Programs
The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded nearly $1 million for projects under a pilot-scale water treatment technologies and desalination program. The selected projects will receive funding through cooperative agreements and will include a period of pilot testing at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and other sites across the country. WateReuse Association members Garver and the University of Arizona are among the funding recipients. Reclamation received 29 applications and funded seven pilot studies.
EPA Celebrates WIFIA Project with Groundbreaking at Orange County Water District
Reclamation Announces Funding Availability to Develop, Update Drought Plans
The Bureau of Reclamation announced November 8 that it is making grant funding available under the WaterSMART Drought Response Program to develop and update drought contingency plans that will build long-term resiliency to drought, including plans that incorporate water recycling. This funding opportunity will provide up to $200,000 per agreement to develop new drought plans or update existing plans in the 17 Western United States and Hawaii. In general, recipients must match the funding with at least 50% funding from a non-federal source. Applications for fiscal year 2020 funding are due Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. MST. Learn more at www.grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity number BOR-DO-20-F003.
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: Water Board Holds Hearing on DPR Regulatory Framework
California regulators took another critical step toward the development of statewide regulations for raw water augmentation and treated drinking water augmentation—together known as direct potable reuse (DPR). Last Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board held an informational hearing on the Second Edition Proposed Framework for Regulating Direct Potable Reuse in California. The framework calls for a single regulatory package to develop regulations for both types of DPR and proposes completion of the regulations in 2023. The framework is a starting point for the regulatory process. The development of regulation will also be informed by ongoing DPR research and advice from an Expert DPR Panel. Jennifer West, Managing Director of WateReuse California, testified in support of the second edition framework.
California: WateReuse California Seeks Nominations for Awards of Excellence
WateReuse California is accepting nominations for the Annual Awards of Excellence, which will be presented during a ceremony at the 2020 California Annual Conference in San Francisco, March 15-17, 2020. The awards recognize agencies, customers, and individuals that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing water recycling in California. Award nominations are due January 10, 2020. Learn More.
California: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to Study Stormwater Recharge Potential
WateReuse Association member the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is expanding its effort to learn more about the water supply potential of local stormwater capture and reuse with a new $7.5 million pilot program approved November 5 by its board of directors. The program will gather data on the amount of water produced by projects that capture local rainfall and stormwater runoff and use it to recharge groundwater basins in the region. Applications for project funding will open on March 1, 2020. Read More.
California: Joint Powers Authority Formed for East County Advanced Water Purification Program
On November 5, representatives from Padre Dam Municipal Water District, City of El Cajon and County of San Diego held the formation meeting of the East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to serve as the governing body for the East County Advanced Water Purification project. Once complete, the $528 million program will generate up to 11.5 million gallons per day of new drinking water – approximately 30% of current drinking water demands for residents in East San Diego County. Read More.
Water Recycling an Integral Part of Chevron’s Permian Operations
Companies like Chevron are increasingly reusing water produced in oil and gas production to cut down on the impact to freshwater supplies – especially in the arid Permian Basin of southeast New Mexico and West Texas. One barrel of oil produces seven to eight barrels of wastewater. The water is typically treated and reused onsite for hydraulic fracturing. Researchers are studying opportunities and challenges associated with reusing this water for agriculture and other uses. Read more.
WateReuse Customer Communications Tools and Resources
Profiles in Reuse: Flyer Explains Safety and Reliability of Potable Reuse
The WateReuse Association released a new flyer, Profiles in Reuse: Potable Reuse, which members can use to inform ratepayers, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the safety and reliability of using purified water as part of the drinking water supply. The flyer also supports WateReuse’sMedical Community Initiative,which seeks to build support for potable reuse among medical and public health officials. This flyer is the first in a series of Profiles in Reuse that will serve as resources for member communication on water recycling. Download Flyer.
Conferences and Events
Arcadis Shares Experience from the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium
Last week, WateReuse Association member Arcadis shared key takeaways from the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium that the water sector can leverage to advance the One Water movement. The post includes discussions of reuse as a critical component of smart cities, opportunities associated with the EPA’s National Water Reuse Action Plan, the importance of education and outreach, and funding opportunities for water recycling infrastructure. Other takeaways focused on alternative delivery of reuse and growth in direct potable reuse and in non-reverse osmosis treatment. Read More.
Closing the Water Loop with NEWater: The Story of Recycled Water in Singapore
Singapore, a small densely populated island nation, has made international headlines with its innovative NEWater, a high quality purified water produced using advanced membranes and ultraviolet technologies. Please join us for a webcast on November 20 at 4:30 pm PST for an in depth presentation on Singapore’s NEWater. Two engineers will join us live from Singapore to discuss R&D efforts and strategies implemented to overcome various operational challenges. Register Now.
Upcoming Events
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Co-Produced by WateReuse Texas, WEAT and TAWWA, the Water Reuse in Texas Virtual Conference is Monday, October 26-27.
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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.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcOypqjgsHtwmGaUIM0hd5mvgjfwX4pgY
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