Clean Water Current Archive

EPA’s proposed Methods Update Rule was published in the Federal Register on October 22. The proposed rule will update several categories.

EPA held an in-person and online public listening session Oct. 21 on its recent proposed water quality trading policy that was published in the Federal Register in September.

NACWA CEO, Adam Krantz (center) was pleased to present six Peak Performance Awards to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to its Commissioners, Executive Director Brian Perkovich (front, far right), and key MWRD staff.

The New England Regional Pretreatment Coordinators Association (NERPCA) held its annual workshop October 22-23, with over 150 attendees from public clean water utilities and state regulatory agencies.

After a two-week home state and district work period, Congress is back in session this week with a busy legislative agenda ahead before the Thanksgiving recess that includes several key items for the public clean water sector.

NACWA met last week with Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Assistant Attorney General (AG) for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) on October 10 which will impact public water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The White House released two new administrative orders last week that seek to provide the regulated community with more predictability related to federal agency regulatory guidance documents and enforcement actions.

The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) issued its second Point Source Progress Report in early October, documenting progress made by HTF states in adopting nutrient monitoring and discharge limits and progress in reducing point source discharges.

NACWA provided an update on national stormwater trends last week at the Southeast Stormwater Association’s (SESWA) annual regional conference in Chattanooga, TN.

The North Carolina Pretreatment Consortium held its annual conference October 14-16 in Asheville, NC, with over 150 attendees from public clean water utilities, regulatory agencies, and private companies.

With Congress home again this week on its October recess, NACWA members are encouraged to continue outreach to their congressional representatives on PFAS.

The NACWA Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee held a web meeting on October 1 to discuss issues with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones.

NACWA supported EPA’s proposed label language for zinc and zinc salts, which are used in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas, in September 30 comments.

NACWA staff participated last week in a workshop with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) titled Filling the Gaps: Climate and Weather Information for Small- and Medium-size Water Utilities.

NACWA’s Small & Mid-Size Utility Workgroup met via conference call last week for a case study presentation from Association member the City of Lakewood, Ohio on its efforts to utilize integrated planning to meet Clean Water Act obligations.

Congress recessed on Friday, Sept. 27th for two weeks without reaching an agreement on the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) or its PFAS-related amendments.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Interior & Environment Appropriations bill last week, which funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and key clean water programs.

NACWA continues to work with EPA on a number of issues related to clean water enforcement and consent decrees.

Congress recently passed legislation (S. 1689) to authorize a one-time transfer authority (during the 1-year period following enactment of the bill) for a State to transfer up to 5 percent of its cumulative clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) federal grant dollars to that State’s DWSRF. Funds transferred must be used by the State to provide additional subsidies to address a public health threat from lead in drinking water.