Washington Update
EPA Accepting Comments on Water Reuse Action Plan through December 16
DOE Seeks Comments on New Prize to Advance Water Recycling Technology
Department of Energy Invests $4.6 Million to Advance Water Recycling in the Oil and Gas Industry
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: Governor Signs Legislation to Update Non-Potable Reuse Rules
On October 2, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed WateReuse California sponsored legislation, AB 1180 (Friedman). The bill requires the State Water Resources Control Board to update the state’s non-potable recycled water regulations, which have not been revised since 2000. An update to these regulations, incorporating the knowledge and lessons learned from nearly two decades of non-potable water recycling, will help the state to achieve its ambitious goals for recycled water use. The bill also promotes recycled water use for dual plumbed building and for commercial, industrial and institutional uses by requiring the State Water Resources Control Board, through its update of backflow regulations, to include the use of a change over device, such as a swivel ell. The bill was supported by many member agencies throughout the state. Full text of the bill can be found here.
California: Paso Robles Completes Facility to Recycle Water, Nutrients
WateReuse Association member the City of Paso Robles recently completed a new tertiary treatment facility that can recycle water to irrigate farmland and sports fields. The plant also added a harvesting system that collects nutrients — ammonia, phosphorus and nitrate — from the water and creates a commercial-grade fertilizer. Currently in the design phase, the Recycled Water Distribution System is the next phase in Paso’s Recycled Water Master Plan. Read More.
Nevada: WateReuse Nevada Launches 2019 Scholarship Program
WateReuse Nevada is offering undergraduate and graduate scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to assist students attending a Nevada institution of higher education. Up to two scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students and up to five scholarships will be awarded to graduate students. Qualified students must be pursuing a degree in a field related to water reuse and submit an application by November 8. Learn More.
Suez and Wharton School Release New Report on Water Reuse Outlook
WateReuse Association member Suez and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania released a new report exploring the scope of the global water crisis and the possible ways forward. Titled The End of Wasted Water: A Revolution in Reuse Is Underway, the report shares data on global water stress, discusses opportunities and challenges in water recycling, and explores the future of water reuse. The document is a follow up to a water reuse conference that the two organizations hosted in San Francisco on February 27, 2019. View the Report.
WateReuse Customer Communications Tools and Resources
How Can You Offer Recognition to Your Recycled Water Customers? Participate in the Recycled Water User Network
Are you interested in recognizing recycled water customers as community water stewards or offering an incentive for new customers to come onboard? Participate in the Recycled Water User Network, a members-only network for businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations that use recycled water, including customers of water utilities and organizations that recycle water onsite. The network gives businesses, governments and nonprofits that use recycled water the opportunity to receive a green designation, Water StarTM, and access to information and resources on recycled water. Learn More.
Conferences and Events
Call for Abstracts: 2020 WateReuse California Annual Conference
The California Section of the WateReuse Association is accepting abstracts for presentations at the 2020 WateReuse California Annual Conference to be held March 15-17, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, California. The conference is designed for individuals, organizations, and agencies that are associated with or interested in the design, management, operation, and use of water recycling facilities and projects in California. Abstracts are due October 18. Learn More.
Upcoming Events
- Water reuse student booklet (will be completed September 2020)
- New training guides for educators and parents (can be water reuse specific)
- Individual lessons for students (digital and print)
- Online training programs (educators, students, parents)
- Water education website for children DiscoverWater.org
Presenters
- Morgan Close, VP of Projects and Programs, Project WET
- Julia Beck, VP of Networks, Project WET
- Marilyn Hall (Moderator), Senior Water Resources Planner, Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities (Georgia)
WateReuse Arizona Section Meeting & Webinar
11 am PDT | 11 am MST | 2 pm EST
Fee: Complimentary
PDHs: 1
In January 2018 the State of Arizona lifted the prohibition that restricted Direct Potable Reuse. This effort was to provide more options for communities facing problems with droughts and water shortages. Scottsdale Water has been at the forefront of water reuse starting with Indirect Potable Reuse in 1998 and has successfully recharged billions of gallons of highly purified water. Now once again Scottsdale Water continues to lead the way in Direct Potable Reuse innovation. In late 2018, joint discussions between ADEQ and the city led to a process that would have Scottsdale receive the first Arizona permit, at a permanent facility, to serve water for Direct Potable Reuse. The groundbreaking permit effectively establishes a model for cities across Arizona and elsewhere to begin working towards reusing their precious water resources for future, long-term water sustainability.
Scottsdale Water received the final permit on September 9, 2019 allowing DPR on a demonstration scale. This presentation will step through the internal processes and discussions that resulted in the final implementation. Considerations and evaluations made included constructability for both internal and external sources, overall timeline and milestones for completion of project, equipment selection, system design layout and size (permit), input by staff, system redundancy (UV), and lessons learned. It will also outline how ADEQ and Scottsdale Water worked to create criteria for the monitoring and regulation of this water allowing ADEQ to use this as a basis to create full permit program for pathogen removal, emerging contaminants, operator training, ongoing monitoring and reporting. Since September 9, tour groups, Scottsdale Water Citizen Academy and City employees, have had the opportunity to drink the advanced purified reclaimed water, in addition to the water provided to make beer for Scottsdale Canal Convergence event.
Presenter
David Walby is the Water Reclamation Services Director for Scottsdale Water. He previously served as the Wastewater Collection Manager. He is Responsible for direction and management of the Water Resources facilities and staff that ensure reliable and safe collection, treatment and reuse of reclaimed water. He is also responsible for the State’s first permitted state-of-art Direct Potable Reuse facility. Acts as a technical advisor and performs policy-level coordination, advisory and administrative functions relating to the operation of the City’s water reclamation (sewer collection, wastewater treatment, and reuse/recharge) systems.
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Join Us!
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern ; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
In the words of California Governor Gavin Newson, “The greatest challenge facing California is access to water. And the greatest challenge facing water access is public understanding. The Rainbow will capture public imagination and accelerate popular acceptance of water recycling.”
The Rainbow is a planned public artwork by artist Michael Jones McKean, envisioned to catalyze the implementation of water reuse. An advanced purification system (MBR, RO, UVAOP) will treat raw wastewater to potable standards to produce water for The Rainbow. Set against the iconic landscapes of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay, and using only the site’s natural sunlight and the purified recycled water, artist Michael Jones McKean and partners San Francisco Art Institute and Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture (FMCAC) will create a massive water wall in which The Rainbow will emerge at daily intervals as well as use the water for non-potable reuse.
Presenters
- Hesse McGraw, Curator and Writer
- Brynne Weeks, Carollo Engineers, Inc.
- Andrew Salveson (Moderator), Carollo Engineers, Inc.
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2:00 – 3:30 pm Eastern
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pacific
NACWA and the WateReuse Association are partnering to gather a panel of experts for NACWA’s June Legal Hot Topics Webinar to discuss the recent US Supreme Court decision in the case of County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund. The panel will analyze the new “functional equivalence” test for determining whether a discharge is subject to Clean Water Act permitting and address what the decision means for public clean water utilities, the scope of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, and water reuse projects.
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2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Although advanced water purification effectively and efficiently removes pollutants, there is potential for trace levels of unregulated constituents to be present in all treated drinking water. Improvements in analytical instrumentation now allow scientists to measure constituents of emerging concern (CECs) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs) at very low concentrations. Please join us for a discussion of the latest science on the prevalence of CECs and DBPs in water reclamation and water reuse and a framework for monitoring and controlling CECs and DBPs in potable reuse. The presentation will include an in depth overview of effective treatment practices, including source control, unit process removal efficacy, and overall treatment train performance. The guidance and best practices provided will help you ensure that you are incorporating the latest science and technology in your treatment approaches.
Presenters
- Larry Schimmoller, Global Technology Leader for Water Reuse, Jacobs
- Eric Dickenson, Water Quality R&D Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority
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Join Us!
2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific
WateReuse Members: Free
Others: $49
PDHs: 1
Sponsor: Brown and Caldwell
Early information about the wastewater coming into wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and even into advanced water purification facilities (AWPF) can provide insight into the treatability of that water, offering the opportunity for early notice about operational adjustments to make before that water reaches a treatment facility. This presentation will present a utility’s experience piloting an innovative approach to demonstrate how smart devices and cloud-based data platforms can support monitoring real-time discharges into the wastewater system, improve industrial pretreatment programs and how that approach could be applied to potable reuse applications in the future.
Presenters
- Tasha King-Davis, City of Memphis
- Joshua Balentine, Brown and Caldwell
- Kati Bell, Brown and Caldwell
- Melanie Holmer, Brown and Caldwell (Moderator)
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Launching June 24 -25
Don’t Miss the FIRST EVER WateReuse California virtual conference!
Join us for an easy to navigate, virtual conference experience.This is MORE than just a Replacement Event for the March 2020 Conference, this is an opportunity for our community to stand TOGETHER in these unprecedented times to recognize the good work we do and share ideas for the future.
The WateReuse California virtual conference will be available online until July 31, 2020.
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