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October 26, 2020

Washington Update

Federal Agencies Host Summit on the Future of Water Infrastructure and Innovation

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Security Grand Challenge is hosting a virtual summit on October 27-28 focused on the future of water infrastructure and innovation, including water reuse and desalination. DOE is partnering with the White House Office of American Innovation, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Council on Environmental Quality in providing a summit focusing on the role of DOE and other federal agencies in supporting research and invention to achieve a more water secure future. Register here.

Feedback Requested: WateReuse Seeks Member Guidance on Implementation of National Water Reuse Action Plan

The WateReuse Association is seeking member guidance on implementation of the U.S. EPA’s national Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). To help guide implementation of a range of actions, please complete our survey here. The WRAP was developed in partnership with WateReuse and other stakeholders. WateReuse is leading or co-leading a variety of actions, including developing a database to track and report state-level policies and regulations related to water reuse; establishing a water reuse award to recognize significant achievements in adopting and promoting water reuse in the industrial and corporate sectors; and helping to organize events related to stormwater reuse, inter-state collaboration, and workforce development.

Imagine a Day Without Water

WateReuse Highlights Water Recycling During Imagine a Day Without Water

The WateReuse Association participated in the national Imagine a Day Without Water education campaign on October 21. The campaign brings together diverse stakeholders to highlight how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Participants, including utilities, businesses, and national water organizations, organized events, resolutions, student contests, and social media engagement across the country. WateReuse used the campaign to increase awareness of the critical role that water recycling plays in a variety of water management scenarios.

Business Leaders Who Imagine a Day Without Water Turn to Water Recycling

WateReuse Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi discussed the important role of water reuse in ensuring sustainable fresh water supplies during the Imagine a Day Without Water conversation. Business leaders in food and beverage, clean tech, advanced manufacturing, energy and pharmaceuticals among other industries utilize water reuse technologies to provide “fit for purpose” water. Read More.

Water Sector Explores the Role of Public Art in Connecting Communities to Water

During the recent 35th Annual WateReuse Virtual Symposium, keynote speaker Peter Kageyama shared the power of art in connecting us with our communities, infrastructure, and water. Last week, the U.S. Water Alliance announced Benny Starr as its One Water Artist-in-Residence. Benny will work with the Alliance for one-year to bring arts and cultural strategies to the water sector. WateReuse will continue the conversation at the 36th Annual Symposium, which launches March 1, 2021. The Call for Presentations will request proposals for sessions that showcase the use of public art and education to showcase recycled water as a resiliency tool.

ICYMI: View Webcast Highlighting Pure Water Monterey Potable Reuse Journey

In conjunction with Imagine a Day Without Water, the WateReuse Association hosted an informative discussion of how Pure Water Monterey, a first-of-its-kind potable reuse project in California, navigated the process from permitting to design and construction. A recording of the webcast can be viewed here.

State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new member:

Member Spotlight: SFPUC Leads National Partnership in Shaping Onsite Water Recycling Opportunities

Onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS) represent a significant opportunity to transform the way water is managed, explains Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). In addition to its work in San Francisco, SFPUC is working on state and national efforts to establish guidance and policy frameworks to help local jurisdictions overcome barriers for onsite water reuse.

The National Blue Ribbon Commission (NBRC) for ONWS was established to craft model state policy and develop resources to demonstrate how onsite non-potable water systems can help utilities meet One Water goals. Read More.

Member Spotlight: NextEra Energy Embraces Reclaimed Water to Lower Impact on Fresh Water Supplies

Energy companies, like NextEra, have begun turning to alternative supplies of water in the face of growing water stress. In June 2020, NextEra and the Miami-Dade County Commission reached an agreement for the county to provide 15 million gallons of reclaimed water each day for cooling.

About 61% of existing fossil-fueled and nuclear power plants operate in areas that could face medium-high to extremely high-water stress in 2030.  Fossil fuel and nuclear plants also make up 45% of the U.S. daily freshwater usage. Water reuse can help energy facilities lower their fresh water impacts as the industry works to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio. Read More.

California: Santa Margarita Dedicates Recycled Water Storage Project

The Santa Margarita Water District hosted a socially distant dedication ceremony earlier this month for the Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir, marking an important step in securing water supply resiliency for the south Orange County community. The project will capture and store recycled water from the Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant and other recycled water supply sources. During the winter months, water demand is so low that treated wastewater currently flows to the ocean. With the new storage capacity in place, recycled water will be available for use in the summer when demands are high. Read More.

Section Update: UC Berkeley Student Receives Joint National Water Research Institute-WateReuse California Graduate Fellowship

Hannah Greenwald, a PhD student at UC Berkeley, received the 2020 National Water Research Institute (NWRI)-WateReuse California/Orange County Chapter graduate fellowship. The $5,000 fellowship recognizes a student researching advancements in recycled water treatment technology or policy for potable or non-potable reuse.

Greenwald’s research is titled, “Transitioning to Direct Potable Reuse: Microbial Impacts in Distribution Systems.” Greenwald, working under the guidance of advisor Dr. Kara Nelson, is studying microbial water quality in drinking water distribution systems during transitions to treated water augmented direct potable reuse.

International Update

Australia: Recycled Water Brings Green Spaces to Parkes Shire

Parkes Shire Council established a recycled water initiative to irrigate 16 open spaces with about 250 megaliters of high-quality recycled water. The Director of Infrastructure highlighted the community benefits of the plan in both providing green spaces and supporting water security. The use of recycled water for irrigation saves 185 megaliters of potable water for a community prone to water shortages and droughts. Read More.

Member Resources and Benefits

Profiles in Reuse: Flyer Explains Safety and Reliability of Potable Reuse

Use our flyer, Profiles in Reuse: Potable Reuse, 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’s Medical 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 recyclingDownload Flyer.

Conferences, Webcasts and Events

Webcast: Breweries and Reuse – Reuse is Brewing Up

The use of purified recycled water to brew beer has been an effective public education tool, but what is the market outlook for growth? Join us October 28 at 2 pm ET to learn about the market drivers and business strategies for breweries and water reuse providers within the beer brewing market. This presentation will provide, in dollars, a market size for water reuse technology providers and brewers as well as the outlook for this market. This information will help companies and municipalities plan for the future and develop comprehensive relationships. Register here.

Upcoming Events

Dec
5
Tue
WRCA Los Angeles Chapter Meeting @ Santa Monica
Dec 5 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Santa Monica Institute Meeting Room

330 Olympic Drive

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  • Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. Thank you to our lunch sponsor, Woodard & Curran.
  • The formal meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure above the meeting room.
  • A tour of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) will follow the formal meeting, starting at 1:15 p.m. Please wear closed-toed shoes.
  • There will also be an option to participate in the meeting virtually. A Zoom meeting registration link will be sent out with the agenda about one week prior.
  • Whether you plan to attend in person or via Zoom, please RSVP by Friday, December 1st by filling out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/6B7UknVNmz. Please indicate if you plan on joining for lunch, the formal meeting, and/or the tour, so that we may get an accurate count. This meeting will have a capacity limit of 50 people.
Dec
7
Thu
San Diego Chapter Meeting @ San Diego County Water Authority in Kearny Mesa
Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

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.

Dec
8
Fri
Meeting of the Board of Directors – Fourth Quarter 2023
Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Friday, December 8, 2023

11:00 am to 2:00 pm ET (Remote)

Dec
12
Tue
Orange County Chapter Meeting @ Virtual
Dec 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Dec
13
Wed
WateReuse Florida December Board Meeting
Dec 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dec
14
Thu
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer
Dec 14 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
WateReuse Webcast: Carbon Based Advanced Treatment for Water Reuse. Sponsored by Hazen & Sawyer

11 am PT | 2 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

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
Inland Empire Chapter Meeting
Dec 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

We will hold an inperson meeting at Western Municipal Water District.

 

Please RSVP HERE for this meeting by Thursday, December 7th

Dec
15
Fri
Arizona Water Reuse 2024 Symposium – Call for Abstracts Deadline
Dec 15 all-day
Dec
19
Tue
Pacific Northwest Section Meeting
Dec 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Dec
20
Wed
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy
Dec 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
WateReuse Pacific Northwest: Localizing Communications Strategy

10:00 am PT | 1 pm ET (1 hour)
WateReuse Members: Free; Others: $49
PDHs: 1

Register Now!

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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