Clean Water Current

NACWA is devoting this issue of the Current to an expression of our solidarity with those seeking to end racism and all its forms of injustice in our country and who are demanding a move beyond the deep divisions that have far too often led to hatred, brutal violence and the unnecessary death of Black Americans.

Clean water utilities have operated resource recovery systems at their treatment plants for many years without clear direction from U.S. EPA as to the status of the recovered materials.

In a departure from its much-criticized eco-regional approach to developing nutrient criteria, EPA published draft water quality criteria recommendations for lakes and reservoirs in the May 22 Federal Register that rely on statistical, stressor-response relationships using data collected from hundreds of lakes.

Since the U.S. House’s passage earlier this month of its next phase of COVID-19 relief, the Heroes Act, Congressional action has slowed on reaching bipartisan agreement for a new legislative package.

NACWA convened a panel of clean water legal experts last week to provide clean water utility leaders and attorneys with information designed to help navigate permitting and enforcement issues arising from COVID-19.

This coming Monday and Tuesday, June 1-2 at 2:00 p.m. EST, NACWA will host its first Strategic Communications H2O Virtual Event.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the latest round of COVID-19 stimulus legislation this past Friday, May 15th, signaling the start of the next phase of negotiations over addition federal relief to state and local governments.

EPA released a proposed rule May 19 that it says will improve the transparency of guidance documents issued by the Agency.

Nearly 1,000 pretreatment professionals participated in NACWA’s Pretreatment Virtual Event, May 14-16, featuring two webinars and a meeting of the Association’s Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention Committee.

The Water Asset Management Conference went virtual this year, and on May 14 held a special panel session on PFAS.

Congress continues to debate the contours of its next phase of COVID-19 relief, facing growing pressure to return to Washington, D.C. but with strong differences both across and within parties over the appropriate next steps in addressing the pandemic.

One of Congress’s priorities for 2020, prior to the pandemic, was to pass the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

The news media continues to seek insights and statements from NACWA’s leadership and staff on all matters relating to the public clean water sector.

As clean water utilities continue to serve on the front lines of battling COVID-19, they are also facing unprecedented legal and regulatory challenges.

One of the many benefits of NACWA membership is the ability to communicate and collaborate using the online community, Engage.

NACWA’s Water Quality Committee convened a Zoom conference call on May 7 and discussed a variety of key nutrient issues as well as concerns surrounding sampling wastewater influent as a means of tracking coronavirus in local populations.

With the coronavirus pandemic causing many businesses and buildings to be closed for long periods of time, the stagnated water in pipes can become unsafe for drinking and other uses.

NACWA filed comments on May 7 on a draft general permit for total nitrogen discharges from a handful of clean water utilities on New Hampshire’s Great Bay.

Today marks the end of Water Week 2020 and caps an incredibly successful week of education and advocacy that brought together thousands of water stakeholders from across the country to highlight the importance of clean, safe and reliable water.

The U.S. Senate plans to return to session in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 4th as Congress continues to negotiate a path forward on coronavirus response.