Clean Water Current

After almost a month away from Washington, DC, members of Congress returned to Capitol Hill today with a full agenda. Even before the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Congress faced a packed September schedule.

NACWA sent comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on August 31 asking the Agency to increase the required 2018 volume of cellulosic and advanced biofuels for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

Registration is now open for the Utility Leaders’ Morning at WEFEC17. Cohosted by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and NACWA and scheduled for October 3 from 7:30 – 10:30, the event is an excellent opportunity for utilities leaders attending WEFTEC to dialogue with each other and learn about some of the most relevant policy updates impacting clean water utilities.

Susan Bodine, the nominee to head EPA’s enforcement office, is now working as an advisor at EPA on enforcement issues pending Senate confirmation.

Register now for a webinar on September 25 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET focused on community service projects being spearheaded by public clean water utilities around the country.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new tool August 23, aimed at assisting states, territories and authorized tribes in developing water quality standards (WQS) variances.

On Wednesday, September 13, from 2:00-3:30 ET, NACWA will host the next installment of its popular Hot Topics in Clean Water Law webinar series.

In separate actions in the August 28 Federal Register, EPA announced a series of teleconference meetings to gather input on the development of its new definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and published its Methods Update Rule, which had been held up by the administration change.

NACWA is pleased to be partnering with Dodge Data & Analytics on a groundbreaking study that will provide a needed baseline on the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the water and wastewater sector, and we encourage you to consider participating.

NACWA sent comments to EPA on August 22 asking the Agency to modify its proposed label language for diquat dibromide, a root control chemical.

On the heels of the nation’s first Environmental Impact Bond (EIB) offered by DC Water, two cities will have the opportunity to issue the first publicly offered EIBs.

Get a closer a look at the innovative work of NACWA members in the newly re-designed Member Spotlight portal on NACWA’s homepage.

On August 23, members of NACWA’s staff ventured across the Potomac River to tour the Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) facility.

NACWA participated in panel discussions at the annual meeting of the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) on August 21, providing a critical public clean water utility perspective on pending water sector priorities.

EPA announced last week that it was extending the comment deadline for public input on the Agency’s decision to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule.

NACWA joined with a coalition of water groups last week to send letters to Congress supporting authorization for EPA’s WaterSense program while also ensuring water quality is protected.

EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center released the Water Finance Clearinghouse in July, coining it “a one-stop-shop” for communities seeking information and resources on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

NACWA is proud to announce that it is partnering with EPA on a new series of webinars focused on community service projects being spearheaded by public clean water utilities around the country, with the first webinar scheduled for September 25 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET.

As financial data continues to be a critical component of clean water advocacy, completion of NACWA's 2017 Financial Survey Questionnaire is crucial.

The House of Representatives and the Senate are both on their annual August recess, with Representatives and Senators spending time in their respective districts and states. However, Congress takes its recess under a cloud of pessimism regarding its ability to advance legislation, while the White House is also seeing growing disapproval in the polls