(September 30, 2020) – Convening for the third time this year, NACWA’s Water Quality Committee meet virtually via Zoom on September 23. More than 60 NACWA members joined the meeting (contact Emily Remmel to access a recording of the meeting) to discuss pressing water quality issues happening now (e.g., PFAS and SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater-Based Epidemiology) and on the horizon (e.g., better clean water agency participation in reviews under the Toxic Substances Control Act).

It remains clear that PFAS continues to be problematic as the clean water community awaits EPA-approved methodology for sampling wastewater and biosolids, yet states around the country are beginning to require POTWs to conduct sampling and analysis along with reporting of PFAS concentrations to regulatory agencies.

The Committee also discussed EPA’s recent proposal on nutrient criteria for lakes and reservoirs along with the Agency’s recent policy on guidance documents, which conceded that Clean Water Act 304(a) water quality criteria are indeed guidance documents. If members have questions on any of the topics discussed, please contact Emily Remmel or Chris Hornback.