With Congress home again this week on its October recess, NACWA members are encouraged to continue outreach to their congressional representatives on PFAS.

The NACWA Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee held a web meeting on October 1 to discuss issues with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones.

NACWA supported EPA’s proposed label language for zinc and zinc salts, which are used in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas, in September 30 comments.

NACWA staff participated last week in a workshop with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) titled Filling the Gaps: Climate and Weather Information for Small- and Medium-size Water Utilities.

NACWA’s Small & Mid-Size Utility Workgroup met via conference call last week for a case study presentation from Association member the City of Lakewood, Ohio on its efforts to utilize integrated planning to meet Clean Water Act obligations.

NACWA Award Winner tackles the wipes challenge: Baby wipes in sewer pipes are a threat to public and environmental health and to the sustainability of shared infrastructure. Wipes don’t breakdown in water like toilet paper, not even those labelled “flushable.” Oregon’s Clackamas County Water Environment Services department (WES) provides water resource recovery and watershed protection services to over 165,000 customers in urbanizing northern Clackamas County. WES manages and operates five wastewater treatment facilities and 22 pump stations where convenience wipes clog pipes and pumps that threaten public and environmental health due to the increased risk of sanitary sewer overflows.

Congress recessed on Friday, Sept. 27th for two weeks without reaching an agreement on the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) or its PFAS-related amendments.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Interior & Environment Appropriations bill last week, which funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and key clean water programs.

NACWA continues to work with EPA on a number of issues related to clean water enforcement and consent decrees.

Congress recently passed legislation (S. 1689) to authorize a one-time transfer authority (during the 1-year period following enactment of the bill) for a State to transfer up to 5 percent of its cumulative clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) federal grant dollars to that State’s DWSRF. Funds transferred must be used by the State to provide additional subsidies to address a public health threat from lead in drinking water.

PA announced a new Water Workforce Initiative on Sept. 24 during WEFTEC2019. The goal of this new initiative is to provide federal leadership, collaborate with partners and increase public awareness to bolster interest in water sector careers.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Indiana Chapter invited NACWA to provide an update on PFAS issues to their members during their annual Environmental Business and Funding meeting in Indianapolis.