Clean Water Current Archive

NACWA is thrilled to unveil its 50th Anniversary Report, which debuted Oct. 28 during the Association’s Virtual Awards Ceremony. The event also served as the launch for NACWA’s 50th Anniversary video and website.

NACWA is pleased to share a new report published this week by CDM Smith in collaboration with NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) that quantifies the cost impacts of PFAS policies and regulations at 29 publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and biosolids management facilities mainly located in the New England region but also in several other states throughout the country.

NACWA is participating in the expert review of EPA’s Draft Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:1990-2019. The annual Inventory provides nationwide estimates for greenhouse gas emissions for different sectors and is intended to be used only for informational purposes.

On October 19, Central Arkansas Water (CAW) posted a $30.6 million green bond certified under the Climate Bonds Water Infrastructure Criteria. The new bond is the first of its kind to acquire and protect forests specifically to secure clean drinking water.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its website earlier this week with new resources and information for COVID-19 RNA wastewater surveillance.

NACWA submitted comments October 19 on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) proposed 2020 Financial Capability Assessment for Clean Water Act Obligations (2020 FCA Document).

The US Senate is focused this week on advancing the pending Supreme Court nomination and the looming Congressional and Presidential elections. Last-ditch negotiations on COVID-19 relief are also continuing as of this writing between the White House and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

President Trump issued an Executive Order October 13 outlining a series of steps his administration will take to modernize the nation’s water resource management and water infrastructure.

The Missouri Product Stewardship Council held a Virtual Pharmaceuticals Stewardship Stakeholders Meeting on October 14 and 15 to discuss how to implement and encourage pharmaceutical take-back programs in the state.

The US Department of Agriculture is seeking applications for grants under a pilot program to help develop innovative treatment solutions of regional wastewater systems in rural America.

This special edition of the Current will begin with a note from our Chief Executive Officer, Adam Krantz:

In the past week, two widely read and respected media outlets with a focus on Washington, DC policymaking ran in-depth stories on two critical clean water issues.

While there continues to be some back and forth between the White House and Congress on a potential COVID-19 relief package, it remains very unlikely that any final comprehensive bill comes together before the election, regardless of the pandemic’s continuing impact and devastation around the country.

The Southeast Stormwater Association (SESWA) held their 15th annual regional stormwater conference October 7-9 virtually this year.

NACWA this week filed its second brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in litigation over the legality of a Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality standards variance for municipal discharges issued by the State of Montana and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Association filed its opening brief in June.

After passage last week by the U.S. House of an updated and “pared-down” HEROES Act COVID-19 relief package, which once again included $1.5 billion in aid to water and sewer utilities to assist low-income ratepayers impacted by the pandemic, talks have stalled again with the White House and U.S. Senate on agreeing to a final package.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the Agency’s new Water Sector Workforce Initiative as part of WEFTEC this week, highlighting the important role the water workforce plays in the nation’s daily life and reinforcing the importance of continued training and investment in the workforce.

NACWA was recently asked to speak on a panel at the Ground Water Protection Council’s (GWPC) 2020 Annual Forum. The GWPC, which represents state groundwater regulatory agencies nationwide, invited NACWA to present on the nexus between groundwater regulation and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.

NACWA’s Stormwater Management Committee convened virtually on September 30 and discussed a number of priority issues, including EPA’s recent proposed rulemaking for a new allocation formula to deliver municipal grant dollars to states.

This Thursday, October 8, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET, EPA’s Office of Water is hosting a complimentary webinar on the Agency’s Water Utilities Financial Impact Tool and 2020 COVID-19 Water Sector Survey.