The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) issued its second Point Source Progress Report in early October, documenting progress made by HTF states in adopting nutrient monitoring and discharge limits and progress in reducing point source discharges.

NACWA provided an update on national stormwater trends last week at the Southeast Stormwater Association’s (SESWA) annual regional conference in Chattanooga, TN.

The North Carolina Pretreatment Consortium held its annual conference October 14-16 in Asheville, NC, with over 150 attendees from public clean water utilities, regulatory agencies, and private companies.

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.