A spin-off of University of Arizona’s Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, AquaVitas, was awarded a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract to provide additional support for COVID-19 wastewater surveillance on November 13.

EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, Dave Ross, recently signed a memorandum addressed to EPA Regional Administrators recommending an interim strategy on PFAS specifically for federally issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees. However, it is likely many state permit writers will also follow the memo’s recommendations.

With Congress set to adjourn for the year by mid-December, the House and Senate are working quickly to finalize all outstanding remaining legislation. Congressional focus is on “must pass” legislation to fund the government past its current December 11 expiration date.

(December 2, 2020) –NACWA submitted comments November 19 on EPA’s Draft Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:1990-2019 as part of the expert review process.

A workgroup of NACWA members met on November 23 to discuss Action 2.2.4 of EPA's Water Reuse Action Plan

With the continued uncertainly around COVID-19, the National Water Policy Fly-In partners have made the decision to not hold an in-person event in 2021.

Raftlis recently completed a nationwide utility survey, with the assistance of NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), to better understand the financial impact on water sector utilities from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last two weeks seem to have marked an important turning point in what has been the long and drawn out saga of the 2020 election – some sense of finality and, finally, an opportunity to look to the future. President Trump, while not yet officially conceding the presidential race, paved the way on November 23 for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to receive full access to federal agencies and federal funds for the transition process – all but ending any suspense over who will inhabit the White House come January 20.

For this valuable program, the Great Lakes Water Authority was recognized with a National Environmental Achievement Award in the Workforce Development category during NACWA's Winter Conference in February 2020. Congratulations to GLWA and everyone involved!