Home\News\WateReuse Review\WateReuse Review – September 30, 2019

Washington Update

Senate Committee Advances Funding for Water Recycling

On Thursday, September 26, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its FY 2020 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill. The bill includes funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its programs that support water recycling infrastructure. The Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill, so the two sides can now begin informal negotiations to resolve differences.

WateReuse is pleased to report that the Senate appropriations bill includes $73 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program, which is in line with our request to Congress earlier this year. This level is substantially higher than both the FY 2019 enacted level of $68 million and the level provided in the House version of the FY 2020 appropriations bill ($50 million). In its FY 2019 Notice of Funding Availability for WIFIA, EPA identified water reuse and recycling as a major priority for the program. WateReuse will work with EPA to ensure that these critical investments continue.

Unfortunately, the Senate appropriations bill includes cuts to both the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program and the Drinking Water SRF Program. The bill provides roughly $1.64 billion for the Clean Water SRF, which is $55 million less than the FY 2019 enacted level, and $145 million below the level provided by the House FY 2020 bill. Similarly, the Senate bill provides roughly $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water SRF, which is $38 million less than the FY 2019 enacted level, and $174 million below the level provided in the House Committee’s FY 2020 bill. WateReuse is disappointed with the Senate levels, and will be strongly urging congressional negotiators to accept the House numbers in the final appropriations package later this year.

Similar to the House bill, the Senate bill includes some funding for a number of priority programs authorized in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. In numerous cases, however, the Senate bill falls well short of the House bill, and for two of the programs, no funding is provided at all. For additional details, see the chart below. Both the House and Senate have now passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open passed the end of the fiscal year, which ends today. The CR extends current (FY 2019) funding levels through November 21, giving both sides more time to negotiate final funding levels for FY 2020.

Both the House and Senate have now passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open passed the end of the fiscal year, which ends today. The CR extends current (FY 2019) funding levels through November 21, giving both sides more time to negotiate final funding levels for FY 2020.

November 2020 – March 2021

	FY18	FY20 House (Full House)	FY20 Senate Committee
CWSRF	$1,693,887,000	$1,784,000,000	$1,638,826,000
DWSRF	$1,163,233,000	$1,300,000,000	$1,126,088,000
WIFIA	$63,000,000	$50,000,000	$73,000,000
Sec. 2005 of AWIA – Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program	N/A	$4,000,000	$2,000,000
Sec. 2007 of AWIA – Innovative Water Technology Grant Program	N/A	$4,000,000	0
Sec. 2013 of AWIA – Community Water System Risk and Resilience Program	N/A	“Sufficient funding”	0
Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants	$0	$90,000,000	$20,497,000
National Priorities Research Program	$4,100,000	$6,000,000	$6,000,000

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Department of Energy Selects National Alliance for Water Innovation to Lead Energy-Water Desalination Hub

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced September 23 its selection of the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) to lead a $100 million Energy-Water Desalination Hub that will develop technologies that treat seawater, brackish water, and produced waters for use in municipal, industrial, agricultural, utility, oil and gas, and other water supply needs.

The Energy-Water Desalination Hub will support the Water Security Grand Challenge, a White House-initiated, DOE-led framework to advance transformational technology and innovation through a coordinated suite of prizes, competitions, and early stage R&D. DOE also announced a plan to launch two prizes that are part of the Water Security Grand Challenge later this year:

Wastewater Resource Recovery Prize Competition. The prize targets increasing resource recovery (nutrients, energy and water) from small-to medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment plants. Learn more.
American-Made Challenges: Solar Desalination Prize. This prize is a series of contests designed to accelerate technology innovation through the design, development, and demonstration of desalination systems that use solar power to generate fresh water from salt water. Learn more.

The NAWI is a public-private partnership with more than 35 members and over 180 organizations within the alliance, which is led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in collaboration with National Energy Technology Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The hub will focus on early-stage research and development (R&D) for energy-efficient and cost-competitive desalination technologies including manufacturing challenges. This suite of technologies will treat “non-traditional” water sources for multiple end-use applications.

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Congressional Briefing Presents the Science of PFAS

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) organized an expert panel for a September 26 Congressional briefing on the science of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). New research results are improving understanding of how best to address potential risks posed from exposure to this diverse class of compounds. WRF brought together the foremost experts in the science of PFAS to share recent scientific discoveries with members to allow the nation to more effectively protect human health and the environment. Speakers included Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation; Carla A. Ng, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh; and Charles B. Bott, Director of Water Technology and Research at Hampton Roads Sanitation District. A recording of the event is available for viewing.

State Updates and Member Profiles

California: WateReuse CA Presents WateReuse Action Plan to State Board

WateReuse California Vice President Paul Sciuto, General Manager of Monterey One Water, presented the California WateReuse Action Plan at the September 23 Drought Preparation and Response Listening Session held by the California State Water Board. The action plan is a comprehensive set of proposed actions that will more than double the use of water recycling in California and help prepare the state for the impacts of climate change. The plan identifies four strategic areas for action: research, regulations, regional planning and funding and includes 20 specific recommendations. Sciuto discussed the importance of continuing to advance regulations that lead to responsible use of recycled water and the need for increased funding.

Florida: Officials look to Water Reuse to Meet Needs of Expanding Population

Faced with skyrocketing population, Florida officials from the state, water management districts, and local utilities are promoting water reuse to ease pressure on water supplies. Florida’s population is increasing by more than 900 people daily. Water management districts have identified reclaimed water projects as the number one source of water to meet future demands. Of the wastewater generated in Florida in 2017, 44 to 48% was reused. The majority was used to irrigate golf courses and lawns and for other public uses. Read More.

Minnesota: Stormwater Reuse in Waconia Controls Flooding, Conserves Water

WateReuse Association member the City of Waconia is operating four reuse systems across the city that capture and reuse stormwater runoff. The program provides flood control, improves water quality in Lake Waconia, and helps to recharge groundwater. The captured stormwater is used to irrigate residential developments, parks and ballfields, businesses, and schools. In the first eight months of 2019, the community reduced the amount of potable water used for irrigation by 4.3 million gallons. Read More.

Texas: El Paso Highlights Partnership with Bureau of Reclamation

El Paso Water President and CEO John Balliew recently shared a communication with ratepayers highlighting its partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation to develop water recycling and desalination projects. The Bureau of Reclamation offers a variety of competitive grant funding programs – from water recycling and reuse projects to drought response and desalination construction. El Paso’s partnership with Reclamation has included a $1.1 million Title XVI grant to expand its non-potable reuse program, a $3.5 million Title XVI grant for a new advanced water purification facility, and a $2 million WaterSmart grant to build a desalination plant. Read More.

WateReuse Customer Communications Tools and Resources

Engaging the Public Health Community on Water Reuse? Check out Our Online Resources

Although water reuse is a proven, science-based process that has been used safely in communities around the world for decades, the public is often skeptical when the concept is first introduced into a community. To build acceptance among medical and health professionals, WateReuse has launched the Medical Community Initiative and begun developing resources to support members in engaging with the public health community. Visit our website for videos, articles, and presentations that support engagement with medical professionals. New tools are being developed so check back for updates.

Conferences and Events

WateReuse Staff Discuss Water Reuse during WEFTEC, Climate Panel

WateReuse Association Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi participated in a water reuse workshop on Sunday, September 23 during WEFTEC 2019, the Water Environment Federation’s annual conference. Sinicropi presented innovative examples of both potable and non-potable recycling projects and made the case that both applications are an important part of the nation’s future. Sinciropi was joined at WEFTEC by Director of Strategic Operations, Carrie Capuco, who presented on WateReuse’s Public Health and Medical Community Initiative. Sinicropi also participated in a Climate Week panel on Friday, September 27 in New York City. The panel focused on the pioneering decentralized water reuse systems at Battery Park City.

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.