Clean Water Current Archive

As NACWA continued building its communications and media outreach through the Utility Leadership Conference and Strategic Communications: H2O (StratComm) workshop last week in St. Louis, timely media coverage of the events trained a welcome spotlight on water infrastructure issues and the Association’s recent testimony in support of water infrastructure.

NACWA filed an amicus curiae brief in Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) v. Pruitt, on July 24.

As part of its meeting on July 25, NACWA’s Board of Directors approved participation in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the River Network.

During its July 25 meeting, NACWA’s Board of Directors approved formal membership in the International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) as the U.S. voting member association.

In an effort to help communities easily access water infrastructure finance information, EPA has launched a new Water Finance Clearinghouse, a web‐based portal to help communities make informed financing decisions for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs.

NACWA testified before the Senate Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee last week, in a hearing about Innovative Funding and Financing: Addressing America’s Crumbling Water Infrastructure. The Association was represented by NACWA Board Member and Executive Director of Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Andrew Kricun.

NACWA representatives met with Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, on July 18 to discuss a number of NACWA’s legislative priorities.

The House has been working diligently over the past several weeks to advance 12 fiscal year 2018 (FY18) appropriations bills before the August recess, including those which fund programs impacting the clean water sector.

EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management hosted utility leaders, including several NACWA members, from around the country in May to discuss the current landscape of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) exchange and how to further support and enhance these vital networking tools.

NACWA staff, along with a coalition from the California Association of Sanitary Agencies (CASA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), Water Research Foundation, and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), met with senior staff members of the EPA Office of Transportation last week to discuss opportunities for biosolids in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

NACWA provided input to EPA on the registration reviews of imidacloprid, a pesticide used in pet flea control products and indoor pest control sprays, and boric acid/sodium salts, a chemical used in swimming pools, spas and fountains.

To assist low-income households in the U.S. with rising water and wastewater rates, NACWA partnered with six other leading water associations to issue a guide July 18 that assesses the feasibility of rate-funded customer assistance programs (CAPs) in each state.

The EPA invited 12 applicants from across the country on July 19 to apply for financial assistance through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

The International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) has published a draft flushability standard, with a public comment period open until September 1.

EPA filed its brief in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, on July 17, regarding the appeal of Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) v. Pruitt.

NACWA will be testifying July 20 before the Senate Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee to address the need for more federal clean water infrastructure funding.

NACWA released a new report July 13 outlining environmental justice and community service efforts by municipal clean water utilities, and highlighting the important work being done by many NACWA members to better engage with their communities

During the House Appropriations Full Committee’s consideration of the FY 2018 Financial Services & General Government Subcommittee bill on July 13, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) introduced, but immediately withdrew, an amendment which would prohibit the District of Columbia from spending any money to implement DC’s Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016.

The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) on July 12 approved the nomination of Susan Bodine to head EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) as Assistant Administrator.

EPA’s Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category, also known as the Dental Amalgam Rule, went into effect for new sources on July 14.