Clean Water Current

Bloomberg News published an article September 13 looking at the impacts of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on wastewater treatment plants and their local communities.

NACWA hosted over 150 participants for its Hot Topics in Clean Water Law webinar on September 13, which was the final installment of the webinar series for Fiscal Year 2017.

At the crest of the brief ride in the cramped “man-cage,” NACWA staff was met with a striking duality: On one side, the verdant banks of the Anacostia River, and beneath them the sheer 110-foot drop into the Anacostia River Tunnel.

The International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) concluded its three-day meeting on September 13 to consider public comments received on the IWSFG draft flushability standard.

NACWA participated last week at the Environmental Council of States’ (ECOS) 2017 Fall Meeting in Jackson Hole, WY.

NACWA's annual retrospective entitled, Advancing Advocacy Through Partnerships, 2016 - 2017 Year at a Glance—which documents association highlights and advocacy gains—has been released in both electronic and print editions.

NACWA attended the 32nd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Phoenix, AZ last week to discuss emerging membrane technologies, public outreach efforts, and funding/financing opportunities with a gathering of water reuse industry professionals.

he Energy Workgroup will convene on Tuesday, September 26, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET for a presentation by representatives from NACWA member agency, the Narragansett Bay Commission.

Both the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives expressed strong support last week for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), with the House approving a budget amendment that restores full funding to the SRF for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. NACWA’s advocacy and collaboration with other sector organizations on behalf of water infrastructure funding played a crucial role in this result.

NACWA joined the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and several industry groups to file a brief September 8 with the U.S.

After the devastating impacts of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the Texas Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (TXWARN) has been effective in assisting affected water and wastewater utilities with their recovery efforts.

In a surprise twist last week, as part of a Hurricane Harvey Relief package the President signed into law a Continuing Resolution that will keep the Federal Government funded into December.

NACWA hosted a conference call September 7 with the Association’s State & Regional Exchange network where representatives from several state and regional clean water organizations nationwide discussed upcoming national advocacy issues.

The International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) is meeting this week to consider public comments received on the IWSFG draft flushability standard.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF), the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) and the WateReuse Association co-hosted a briefing September 7, for federal agency officials from the Department of Interior, Department of Energy, the EPA and other agencies and stakeholders on the use of membrane technology for water treatment.

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee announced the appointment of Ian Bennitt as Majority Staff Director for the Water Resources Subcommittee.

September 13 is the RSVP deadline to register for the Utility Leaders’ Morning at WEFTEC17.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued an order August 24 transferring the challenge to the small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit for New Hampshire to the D.C. Circuit, where a suit regarding the MS4 permit for Massachusetts is already pending.

As parts of Texas and Louisiana continue the recovery process from Hurricane Harvey and its related flooding, NACWA’s thoughts and the support of the entire Association are with all the impacted communities – especially those NACWA member utilities that have been affected.

The Trump Administration has officially announced David Ross as its nominee to be Assistant Administrator for Water.