The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has taken an innovative approach to reducing water pollution from sewer overflows when large storms threaten their area by creating a text alert system for its ratepayers, the Water Drop Alert™.

NACWA congratulates Kishia Powell, Chief Operating Officer for DC Water, as she takes the helm of the Association as NACWA’s newly elected President for 2021-2022.

NACWA is pleased to announce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Report to Congress on Integrated Plans to Comply with the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) of 2019 on July 12. The Report was sent to both the Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and is also now publicly available on EPA’s Integrated Planning website.

The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation this week, The PFAS Action Act of 2021 (H.R. 2467), that directs EPA to list certain PFAS substances as hazardous materials under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) – also knows as the Superfund law. Unfortunately, the legislation did not include important exemptions and protections for the municipal water sector that would protect utilities from costly PFAS cleanups

Senators this week are continuing to work out the final details and ways to pay for the bipartisan infrastructure legislative package they hope to bring to the full chamber for a vote before the August recess.

On Wednesday, July 21st, bipartisan legislation led by Reps. Lowenthal (D-CA) and McClain (R-MI) was introduced to help address the problem of non-flushable wipes in sewer systems. The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES) would direct the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with U.S. EPA, to issue regulations requiring wipes manufacturers to include Do Not Flush labeling on non-flushable wet wipes packaging.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Community Services has set a new date for a webinar for water and wastewater utilities to learn more about the emergency Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): Thursday, August 12th from 3:00-4:00 PM Eastern. We expect a registration link from HHS within the week, which NACWA will include in the next Current.

NACWA’s 2021 Utility Leadership Virtual Event took place this past Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the Annual Association Business Meeting and Awards Presentation.