President Biden delivered his first major address before a joint session of Congress last night to promote the key tenants of his Build Back Better proposal, the American Families Plan, and the American Jobs Plan. He specifically mentioned the importance of clean and safe water for all Americans, and his proposal includes over $100 billion in water infrastructure investment.

One of President Biden’s earliest hires at U.S. EPA, Radhika Fox, has been officially nominated for the role of Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water. NACWA has submitted a letter to Congress in support of her nomination as we believe she will be a strong champion for the clean water sector.

In January 2021, NACWA member utility Charleston Water System (CWS) in South Carolina filed a lawsuit in federal district court against multiple manufacturers, distributors and retailers of so-called “flushable” wipes seeking to have the court enjoin them from labeling their products as “flushable” in light of the damage those wipes have caused to sewer systems.

The water sector once again united this year for Water Week, a yearly event to celebrate the importance of water and advocate for making water a top national priority. This year, due to COVID-19 concerns, events were held virtually.

The deadline has been extended to May for drinking water and wastewater utilities to complete a survey on cybersecurity. The survey is sponsored by national water sector associations, including NACWA, and responses are urgently needed to inform the association advocacy efforts related to cybersecurity.

Sunday, April 25 marked the beginning of Water Week 2021, as thousands of representatives from across the water sector come together to advocate before Congress and the Administration on behalf of the communities they serve.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released additional information April 27 regarding implementation of the $1.138 Billion provided by Congress in December 2020 and March 2021 for emergency low-income household water and wastewater assistance (LIHWAP).

We are excited to announce that Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will address the water sector for the first time during the Water Week Policy Zoom-In on Tuesday, April 27, 2:00-4:30 p.m. ET – and the timing could not be more critical. With conversations heating up on a national infrastructure plan, environmental justice, and emerging contaminants like PFAS, EPA Administrator Regan and his team will play a central role in addressing these and other priority issues facing the water sector.

Clean water has been front and center this week before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and the full U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB) convened virtually April 20 and April 21 to discuss progress from several internal workgroups and to review existing charges as well as a new charge that will explore financing pollution prevention efforts for small manufacturers.

This week NACWA hosted its first Hot Topics in Clean Water virtual event of 2021, Security Threats Facing Today’s Clean Water Utilities.