Clean Water Current

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022, unlocked an unprecedented amount of funding in the form of tax credits, grants and loan programs for developing clean energy sources and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation across sectors.

NACWA held its annual National Pretreatment Workshop + Training last week in Boise, Idaho with over 200 pretreatment professionals from across the country participating, including three training sessions on May 16 and the Workshop held May 17-19.

NACWA is closely monitoring the ongoing negotiations surrounding raising the federal debt ceiling. As has been widely reported, the U.S. Treasury has indicated that without a deal to raise the debt limit, a default could occur as soon as June 1 with potentially severe implications to the U.S. and global economy.

On June 20th from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT, EPA will be sharing information about their Augmented Alternatives Analysis (AAA), during a webinar entitled “How EPA’s Water Infrastructure Planning Tool can Help Utilities Engage Community & Make Cost-Effective Multi-Benefit Investments.”

NACWA Secretary and CEO of Metro Water Recovery, Mickey Conway, testified May 16 on behalf of the Association this week before the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee on the need for sensible and important regulatory reforms under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Starting in late March, EPA Region 1 began issuing several draft individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to municipal clean water utilities in Massachusetts that contained novel and unduly prescriptive climate planning and mitigation requirements.

On Tuesday, May 23, NACWA and legal affiliate Baker Botts will hold a free webinar to walk through opportunities for clean water agencies to leverage funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) biosolids panel met in person recently on May 2 and May 3 and dissected, discussed, and debated the charge questions before them on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed biosolids screening tool (BST) and refined risk assessment framework that would be used to assess 700 chemicals found in biosolids.

NACWA Secretary and CEO of Metro Water Recovery, Mickey Conway, is set to testify on behalf of the Association before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee May 16 on the need for sensible and important regulatory reforms under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

EPA’s proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which establishes enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS as well as uses a novel hazard index approach for mixtures of PFAS, is currently out for public comment through May 30. EPA has made clear it is not extending the public comment period.

Members of NACWA’s Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention Committee met with EPA on May 8 to provide input on the Agency’s planned POTW influent study for PFAS. EPA announced the potential study in its Effluent Guidelines Plan 15.

Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Collins (R-ME), and Representatives McClain (R-MI) and Peltola (D-AK), recently introduced S.1350/H.R. 2964, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES) Act, to help address the problem of non-flushable wipes in sewer systems.

NACWA recently signed on to a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan asking that the Agency finalize its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule that would allow electricity produced from biomass to qualify for credits in the RFS program. Electricity produced at wastewater treatment utilities would qualify for these “eRINs,” which could benefit utilities that produce electricity from biogas.

In a significant win for the clean water utility sector, Senator Lummis (R-WY), along with her colleagues Senators Wicker (R-MS), Boozman (R-AR), Cramer (R-ND), Ricketts (R-NE), Mullin (R-OK), Sullivan (R-AK) and Graham (R-SC), introduced legislation May 3 that would provide clean water and drinking water utilities a targeted exemption from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for PFAS chemicals designated as hazardous substances.

Efforts are advancing to provide addition funding for the current temporary Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), which is set to expire at the end of this year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $41 million in new technical assistance funding to help communities address urgent wastewater challenges.

On Tuesday, May 23, NACWA and legal affiliate Baker Botts will hold a free webinar to walk through opportunities for clean water agencies to leverage funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). NACWA will be releasing a Guidebook to Clean Water Agency IRA opportunities in conjunction with the webinar.

NACWA joined with a collation of water sector associations on April 24 to release a policy memo and detailed report calling for the establishment of a permanent federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

NACWA and its partners concluded a success Water Week 2023 this week, including important conversations with federal officials and many office visits on Capitol Hill. The cornerstone event of Water Week, the National Water Policy Fly-In, was headlined by a full slate of key Members of Congress and federal agency officials shaping national water policy in Washington.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced April 27 by Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Collins (R-ME), and Representatives McClain (R-9-MI) and Peltola (D-AK), to help address the problem of non-flushable wipes in sewer systems.