
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
For more information contact Rosario Cortes
Tour of the San Jose Creek WRP will follow starting at 1:15 pm
Hosted by Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, and lunch will be sponsored by AECOM.
For in-person attendance, please RSVP to jjacobus@rinconconsultants.com by Friday, February 10. Virtual attendance option also available.
For more information contact Madeline Blua

February 15, 2023 Time: 1:00pm CT | 2:00pm ET
As a global leader in water reuse, Israel takes a very intentional and integrated approach to producing and maintaining its water supply. They combine desalination, water recycling of municipal wastewater and stormwater capture, and reuse to ensure sustainable supplies. Nearly 90 percent of Israel’s treated wastewater is reused for agricultural irrigation purposes.
In November 2022, over 40 representatives from the U.S. water sector, including utilities, industry, states, and the federal government, traveled to Israel as part of a science, technology, and policy informational exchange focused on water reuse practices. This intensive week of learning about the Israeli approach to managing its water resources included several delegates from Texas.
The panelists will share their general experience as part of the delegation (5-10 mins each) and then we will ask a few prepared questions about lessons learned and how those could be applied to Texas communities. If time allows, we will take questions from the audience.
Moderator:
Paula Paciorek, Division Manager, Houston Water Planning
Presenters:
- Special Introduction by Omer Bab, Director of Trade and Regulatory Policy, Embassy of Israel and Danny Greenwald, Senior Deputy Director General for Regulation, Israel Water Authority
- Eva Steinle-Darling, Water Reuse Technical Practice Director, Carollo Engineers
- Hunter Adams, Environmental Laboratory Supervisor, City of Wichita Falls – Cypress Environmental Laboratory
- Erika Crespo, Assistant Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Kobe Nagar, CEO and Co-Founder, 374 Water
Add to Calendar
Key topic will be on urban runoff diversions; more details forthcoming.
For more information contact Kraig Erickson
For more information contact Claudia Llerandi
Please contact Jennifer West for details
For more information contact Jennifer West