Clean Water Current Archive

With the rising number of legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal levels related to PFAS, all three biosolids management methods available to clean water utilities are facing unprecedented pressure.

This week, NACWA organized and submitted a letter to Congressional Committees, leadership, and every individual member office underscoring the broad support that exists for fully funding water programs.

This week NACWA and several public utility member representatives met with the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to discuss the potential significant costs that could be imposed on clean water utilities pursuant to potential designations of PFOS and PFOA as CERCLA hazardous substances, which is currently being considered by EPA.

On Tuesday, June 15, EPA released its draft waiver from Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs.

On June 13, U.S. EPA announced the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) notices of funding availability for the agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and the State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. EPA has $5.5 billion in WIFIA financing and an additional $1 billion for the SWIFIA program available for FY22.

Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed their version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, H.R. 7776, placing Congress on track to conclude by fall this biennial piece of legislation.

NACWA joined in the River Network’s annual River Rally conference in Washington, DC this month as both presenter and sponsor, sharing the municipal clean water utility perspective at a gathering of the nation’s leading river advocacy organizations.

NACWA filed an amicus brief May 31 in support of public agency member the City of Wilmington, Delaware’s ongoing efforts to recoup over $5.8 million in unpaid stormwater management fees from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for several properties the Corps owns within the City.

NACWA submitted comments May 20 to U.S. EPA regarding its proposed Build America, Buy America (BABA) waiver for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

NACWA is pleased to announce that EPA has published a pre-publication notice on its website granting an additional 30-days for public comment on its recently proposed draft recommended aquatic life criteria for PFOA and PFOS.

NACWA filed comments May 25 on the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).

The Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) met on May 24 to discuss issues related to the security and emergency preparedness of the water sector, particularly cybersecurity and supply chain issues.

NACWA held its annual National Pretreatment Workshop + Training last week in Nashville, the first time the conference has been held in person since 2019.

NACWA submitted comments May 16 to EPA on the Agency’s proposed rule on air emissions from heavy duty engines and trucks, supporting EPA’s overall efforts to regulate emissions from these vehicles but also asking that EPA support and promote fueling them with biogas from wastewater treatment facilities.

During an otherwise quiet week in Congress for issues impacting the clean water sector, two key committees heard testimony from EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding President Biden's Fiscal Year 2023 budget request for the Agency.

EPA released for public comment a draft Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Waiver related to the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements on May 9.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a series of actions aimed at addressing environmental justice.

The North Carolina Supreme Court this week listened to oral argument in a challenge to the legality of water and sewer impact fees brought by real estate developers against a North Carolina county.

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting a special session for water utilities on Thursday, May 19th from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EDT regarding the federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

Recent disruptions including the pandemic, volatile climate events, and unexpected equipment failures have had downstream consequences for water and wastewater utilities in their efforts to procure treatment chemicals and other critical supplies.