NACWA met with farmers from across the country February 21, during a meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, DC. As part of an ongoing dialogue with national agriculture groups, the conversation focused on how to incentivize clean water agencies and farmers to work together at the watershed level to address water quality impacts caused by nutrients.

A final rule published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the February 22 Federal Register prohibits healthcare facilities from disposing of unused hazardous waste pharmaceuticals by flushing or pouring down the drain into sewer systems. Previously, the domestic sewage exclusion of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) allowed flushing of these types of pharmaceuticals.

he National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) released a new report on Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Although this report focuses on the nationwide multi-sector general permit (MSGP) for industrial stormwater, there are some interesting aspects that municipal stormwater utilities should be aware of.

EPA reached out to NACWA in December of 2018 for comments and feedback on its draft Water Reuse Action Plan. NACWA submitted comments last week focused on the fact that water reuse and recycling regulatory efforts have been traditionally maintained at the state level and must continue without federal regulatory intervention.

The March 11 deadline to make hotel reservations for the National Water Policy Fly-In is almost here – make your plans now to attend and don’t miss this critical advocacy event!

NACWA was pleased to honor the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) this month with a National Environmental Achievement Award for Operations & Environmental Performance with its McCook Reservoir Stage 1.

Over four months into the 2019 Fiscal Year (FY) and on the heels of the longest government shutdown in US history, Congress last week agreed on a bipartisan spending bill that will fund the government, including EPA, for the remainder of FY 2019, ending September 30. President Trump signed the bill into law on February 15.

EPA published a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Updates Rule on February 12, deferring action, for now, on the more controversial items that the Agency was exploring in early proposals.

EPA unveiled its much anticipated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Action Plan on February 14, which highlights how the Agency will tackle growing concerns over these contaminants.

EPA and the Department of the Army’s proposed rule narrowing the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) was finally published in the Federal Register on February 14.

NACWA’s recent Winter Conference included a compelling panel presentation on how various utilities are pursuing a variety of community benefit programs.