Clean Water Current

NACWA was invited this week to meet with members of the Biden-Harris transition EPA Agency Review Team (ART) and provide input on key priorities the Association thinks the incoming presidential administration should focus on when taking office.

With Congressional leadership continuing to discuss the next phase of COVID-19 relief, NACWA and other water sector advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress this week emphasizing the need for directing federal assistance to households struggling to pay their water bills, the challenges presented by broad water shutoff moratoriums and the need for aid to utilities to recover from the pandemic.

As the deadline fast approaches to fund the government past its current December 11th expiration date, the Senate recently introduced its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) appropriations bills.

NACWA filed comments this week supporting the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) proposal to establish new streamlined Clean Water Act Section 404 permits for the construction, maintenance and removal of water and wastewater infrastructure and water reclamation and reuse facilities.

Market-based approaches like water quality trading have been a priority for the current political leadership of EPA’s Office of Water since day one, but other issues have diverted their attention from taking any significant action.

EPA held a two-day stakeholder event November 10 and 12 to brief state regulatory authorities, tribes and wastewater utilities on the Agency’s efforts to-date to define the biosolids problem formulation for PFOA and PFOS—two of the more commonly understood and researched PFAS constituents.

NACWA hosted its annual National Clean Water Law & Enforcement Seminar this week in a virtual format, where top environmental attorneys and utility leaders from across the country gave presentations and engaged in discussions on the major legal challenges facing the clean water community in 2020 and beyond.

On November 13, NACWA was pleased to join the Texas water sector virtually for the Water Environment Legislative and Regulatory Horizon Conference, hosted by the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) and the Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies

After a long and hard-fought election season, Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the United States, ushering in a major political shift in the White House while the majorities controlling Congress likely remain unchanged. Democrats retained control of the US House of Representatives, and Republicans are favored to retain control of the US Senate after the Georgia Senate races are decided in a January 5 runoff election.

NACWA is pleased to unveil a much-anticipated Stormwater Permit Screening Program that will help municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permittees navigate the growing complexities often found in renewed stormwater permits.

Earlier this week, NACWA joined with several state associations representing clean water utilities throughout the country in filing an amicus brief to the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri supporting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the State of Missouri’s nutrient criteria for lakes.

In a move to provide “additional flexibility” for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) authorized state programs and permittees, EPA published a final rule on November 2 extending the deadline to transition from paper to electronic reporting to December 21, 2025.

In a significant legislative achievement, President Trump signed S. 3501, America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, into law on October 30. This comprehensive bill seeks to advance habitat and wildlife conservation across the U.S., including watershed conservation.

Immediately following yesterday’s Awards Ceremony and 50th Anniversary Commemoration, NACWA’s Board of Directors met for its Fall meeting to conduct Association business and discuss key advocacy priorities for the upcoming year.

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).