Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – October 7, 2019

Washington Update

EPA Accepting Comments on Water Reuse Action Plan through December 16

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing an opportunity for water sector organizations to identify priority actions and to lead and collaborate on actions identified in the draft National Water Reuse Action Plan released September 10 at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium. EPA is soliciting public input through a 90-day comment period in the public docket (docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0174). Comments are due on or before December 16, 2019.

The draft plan outlines a set of proposed actions aimed at supporting and advancing water reuse across the country. These include actions that can be led by federal government agencies, as well as actions that can be led by industry experts, the private sector, and the research community.

The WateReuse Association engaged our membership and the broader stakeholder community to generate recommendations for the National Water Reuse Action Plan. This process included facilitating a multi-month collaboration with the American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Water Environment Federation, and Water Research Foundation. WateReuse is working with our members and partners to develop comments on how to prioritize and implement the actions contained in the draft action plan. In addition to mapping out implementation steps for key actions, WateReuse will help support and facilitate commitments from lead actors and collaborators, including both governmental and non-governmental entities.

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DOE Seeks Comments on New Prize to Advance Water Recycling Technology

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking public comment on a new prize competition to advance technology for recovering resources such as energy, water, and nutrients from wastewater treatment plants. The new prize, announced September 23, is part of the Water Security Grand Challenge, which uses a suite of prizes, competitions, early-stage research and development, and other programs to advance technology and innovation for safe, secure, and affordable water.

The Wastewater Resource Recovery Prize Competition aims to increase resource recovery from small-to medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment plants through the development of multi-stakeholder systems-based solutions. Specifically, the competition will seek teams from wastewater treatment plants, engineering and design firms, technology developers, resource customers, and others to develop innovative, holistic resource recovery plans for their respective wastewater treatment systems. Public comments are due October 23.

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Department of Energy Invests $4.6 Million to Advance Water Recycling in the Oil and Gas Industry

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy has selected four projects to receive approximately $4.6 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D). The projects will accelerate the development and commercialization of treatment technologies that reduce wastewater that is being injected into disposal wells and increase water supplies for reuse. The award recipients include WateReuse member The University of Arizona, which received $935,919 in DOE funding to test a new, low-cost method to reuse treated water for hydraulic fracturing and water flooding. This R&D effort supports the Water Security Grand Challenge, a White House-initiated, DOE-led framework to advance water technology and innovation. Read More.

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State Updates and Member Profiles

Welcome New Member!

The WateReuse Association welcomes the following new member:

Kiewit

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 Star^TM, 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.