The 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) package, officially titled America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA), was passed by the Senate 99-1 on October 10th after passing unanimously in the House in September. The legislation now awaits President Trump’s signature, expected in the coming days, and contains a number of NACWA’s key advocacy priorities. This Advocacy Alert provides a summary and analysis of key elements of the bill that are most relevant for NACWA members.

This month’s Member Spotlight shines on the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), which created the nation’s first wastewater sector apprenticeship program in 1979 to support continued workforce excellence. Today the program is touted as a progressive initiative, fostering workforce development and furthering the growth of the clean water sector. And while HRSD is known for its innovation and leadership, HRSD Commissioners and senior management credit its apprentices and support teams for its success, frequently referring to the program as “HRSD’s Secret Sauce.” Here’s why…

The Senate is expected to vote as early as today on the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), S.3021, advancing the bill to the President’s desk for signature. The House passed the bill with an overwhelming bipartisan vote last month, and the measure is expected to easily clear the Senate with similar bipartisan support.

The US Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water Quality Program last week added water quality data from 2017 to its web tool, Tracking Water Quality of the Nation’s Rivers and Streams. The interactive web tool is part of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project that collects data in order to characterize status and trends of surface water quality.

Ever wonder what’s taking place across the water sector, but don’t have time to sift through endless news stories? Then take a look at the Water Sector News & Trends section of the NACWA website to stay current on the latest happenings in water news.

NACWA’s Clean Water Advocate magazine is an invaluable tool for providing important perspectives on the Water Sector’s most pressing issues, as well as helping to keep Member Agencies connected and generally telling the clean water utility story. In keeping with this mission, Advocate editors are making an open call to NACWA membership to submit original articles to be published in future issues of the magazine—beginning with its next release in February 2019 (Winter Issue).

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Executive Director Kevin Shafer was sitting high and dry, without a bit of bad news or drastic rain storms, for quite a while. “Until this June, we’d gone 22 months without an overflow,” he says

NACWA filed a brief on September 28, along with a coalition representing the clean water sector, supporting Member Agency the Maui County Department of Environmental Management in its petition for writ of certiorari to the US Supreme Court.