Clean Water Current

EPA announced on March 29 that municipal grant funding is now available for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Program. Funding for this Program was originally authorized 20 years ago but money was never appropriated until the 2018 and 2019 America’s Water Infrastructure Act process that secured $28 million and $40 million in appropriations, respectively. NACWA is pleased that the funding is now available for this Program and encourages members to apply.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced the "Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act" on March 25th, taking the reins from recently retired Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) to champion this legislation.

On March 29th, U.S. Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Steve Stivers (R-OH), who Co-Chair the bipartisan House Municipal Finance Caucus, re-introduced the Investing in Our Communities Act.

Congress and the Biden Administration ramped up their focus on a comprehensive infrastructure and investment bill this week.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Michael Regan March 10 as the newest EPA Administrator in a 66-34 vote. NACWA sent a letter congratulating Mr. Regan on his new role and shared with him our key priority issues.

Water and wastewater utilities are facing increasing security threats from outside parties to both their cyber platforms and critical infrastructure. News reports abound detailing events such as ransomware attacks on wastewater utility records, attempts by hackers to remotely poison water supplies, and intimidation of utility workers at treatment facilities by armed activists.

Water Week 2021 (April 25 to May 1) is just around the corner, and even though it will be a virtual event this year there are still lots of opportunities for you to engage!

Kishia Powell, NACWA Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NACWA Member Agency DC Water, testified Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) on the growing challenges facing water infrastructure and the need for increased federal investment.

EPA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on March 17 to solicit data on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in discharges from PFAS formulators and manufacturers, the first step that may lead to effluent guidelines and pretreatment standards on PFAS discharges for these industries.

Congress yesterday passed a new, major COVID-19 relief bill with significant new funding for water, send the package to the White House for signature.

NACWA sent a letter this week to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with recommendations on how to structure the new Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. This program was established by Congress at the end of last year.

Last Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit listened to oral arguments in NACWA’s on-going litigation in the case of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper v. EPA.

NACWA teamed up with the New York City Law Department and the Brooklyn Law school on a Clean Water Law 2021 Town + Gown webinar earlier this week.

After Washington became the first state to enact a wipes labeling law in March 2020, the number of states that are interested in similar laws has increased. NACWA is now aware of six states with active legislation California (AB818), Illinois (SB294), Massachusetts (HD1625), Minnesota (HF914), and Maine (HD1625).

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act late last week. This legislation is intended to deliver additional COVID-19 relief, including $500 million in new funding for low-income water utility customer assistance.