October 29, 2018
Washington Update
President Trump Signs Legislation in Support of Water Reuse
WateReuse Association Attends Grand Water Challenge Kick-Off Meeting and Summit
EPA Announces WIFIA Information Sessions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced three new dates for Information Sessions designed to give utilities the opportunity to learn about funding opportunities for water, wastewater, and recycled water infrastructure available under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). WIFIA program staff will provide an overview of the program, explain the financial benefits of WIFIA loans, and discuss the application process. The announced dates are:
- November 13, 2018, Chicago, Illinois
- December 11, 2018, Boston, Massachusetts
- January 15, 2019, Atlanta, Georgia
State Updates and Member Profiles
California: West Basin to Receive Up to $35 Million for Water Recycling in New Federal Package
America’s Water Infrastructure Act, the comprehensive infrastructure legislation signed by the president on Oct. 23, will allow West Basin Municipal Water District to access an additional $35 million in federal funding for its Harbor South Bay Water Recycling project. This major federal water infrastructure package includes a specific provision to allow West Basin to pursue significant funding through the Army Corps of Engineers to upgrade and increase capacity at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo. S. 3021 includes provisions to double the original project authorization from $35 million to $70 million, which will assist West Basin in ensuring that an adequate water supply for the Los Angeles region is met for current and future demands. Read More.
California: Mike Bloomberg Names San José Winner in Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge
WateReuse Association member the City of San José was one of 20 cities to win the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, a $70 million program that will accelerate efforts to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future for residents. Through the Climate Challenge – which is part of Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, a suite of more than $200 million in investments to strengthen city halls and advance critical policies – San José is accepted into a two-year acceleration program and will be provided powerful new resources and access to innovative support to help meet or beat the city’s near-term carbon-reduction goals. Bloomberg Philanthropies selected San José as a winning city because of its innovative and ambitious climate action plan, Climate Smart San José, which will reduce air pollution, save water, and improve quality of life. Read More.
Oregon: Clean Water Services Highlights One Water, Resource Recovery
WateReuse Association member Clean Water Services released its Annual Report highlighting a focus on “One Water” and the use of creative approaches to improve water quality, recover resources, gain efficiency, create value, and connect people to their ecosystems. In Oregon’s Washington County, Clean Water Services and a network of partners promote the healthy flow of One Water. As a Utility of the Future, Clean Water Services is committed to services the whole community – families and businesses, plants, and wildlife. View the Annual Report.
Conferences and Events
Webcast: Learn about the New Recycled Water User Network
Please join us on Thursday, November 15 at 2:00 pm EST to learn about the WateReuse Association’s newest membership opportunity, the Recycled Water User Network. The network gives businesses, governments and nonprofits that use recycled water the opportunity to receive a green designation, Water StarTM and to access information and resources on recycled water and access to the Association’s membership benefits, including access to monthly webcasts, weekly newsletter, and discounts on conference registration fees. To learn more about how your utility can take advantage of the Recycled Water User Network, register today for the webcast.
Webcast: Reducing the Cost of Concentrate Disposal: Using a Novel Hybrid NF-RO to Enhance Sodium Chloride Removal
Concentrate disposal is a major cost for desalting operations, and for many water-recycling applications only partial desalting is needed, often targeting sodium chloride specifically. Please join us on Wednesday, November 14 at 2 p.m. EST to learn about a pilot study that was conducted to demonstrate the viability of a two-pass system, combining an NF pass with a second RO pass and blending the NF concentrate with the RO permeate. Findings indicate that sodium chloride can be preferentially removed from the recycled water, chemical and power consumption can be reduced when operated at system recoveries comparable to typical RO systems, and much higher recoveries are achievable with modest increases in power and chemical usage. Register Now!
Upcoming Events
Officer’s Meeting

The 2025 WateReuse California Conference will unite the engineers, environmentalists, and experts who energize water reuse in California. Participants will learn from numerous technical sessions and panels on the most pressing reuse issues, and enjoy tours, networking opportunities, and industry celebrations.
This event will be held in Palm 1-3 at the San Diego Town and Country Resort.
Mark your calendars — we’re hosting a can’t-miss evening after WEFTEC Day One in downtown Chicago!
Join fellow WRA Illinois members and industry professionals for a lively evening of networking, food, drinks, and bocce ball. This is a perfect chance to connect, relax, and celebrate after a busy first day.
Cost to Attend:
- Municipal members: FREE (up to 3 complimentary tickets per municipality)
- Non-municipal members: $50
Please RSVP by Thursday, August 29 to secure your spot here. Space is limited!
Interested in Sponsoring?
Support the event and showcase your organization to water reuse leaders!
Gold Sponsor
💰 $1,000+ donation
- Prominent logo display on event signage and materials
- Recognition during the welcome remarks
- Opportunity to share your organization’s materials with attendees
- Two complimentary tickets to the event
- Featured mention in the WRA Illinois member newsletter
Silver Sponsor
💰 $500+ donation
- Logo display on event signage and materials
- Recognition during the welcome remarks
- One complimentary ticket to the event
If you’re interested in sponsoring or have questions, please reach out.
Join us on Tuesday, October 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Eastern Municipal Water District Board Room in Perris, CA for the Q3 Inland Empire WateReuse Chapter Meeting.
This meeting will bring together nationally recognized leaders in potable reuse, offering a rare opportunity to learn about and engage with transformative projects in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the California inland region.
Why attend:
- Hear directly from experts driving landmark reuse projects.
- Connect with engineers, utilities, vendors, and regulators.
- Gain insights that will accelerate innovation and resilience.
Lunch will be provided for all attendees.
We also encourage you to extend this invitation to colleagues in the field who would benefit from this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate. To help spread the word, we are providing a flyer which you can share or post in break rooms, lunchrooms, bulletin boards, or other common spaces (as allowed) where your teams and colleagues will see it.
The third edition of Water Reuse Europe’s Knowledge Exchange Day will take place on 21 October 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
This event will showcase the outcomes of recent and ongoing water reuse research projects delivered across Europe, providing a valuable platform for knowledge transfer between WRE members and non-members.
Water Reuse Europe’s Knowledge Exchange Days offer an excellent opportunity for researchers to present their findings, share innovative tools, and engage with potential partners in the water reuse sector. The event fosters collaboration among researchers, commercial companies, utilities, and public bodies, driving innovation and advancing the sector.
Professionals involved in the design and operation of water reuse schemes will benefit from insights into cutting-edge research, networking with key industry players, and discussions on the future of water reuse.
This edition will particularly highlight the impact of EU and nationally funded water reuse projects, including those supported by Horizon Europe. Attendees will gain insights into the latest advancements in R&D, connect with experts, and explore opportunities for future funding and collaboration.
More information and registration at: https://www.water-reuse-europe.org/event/water-reuse-europe-knowledge-exchange-day-2025/