The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently provided NACWA staff an update on their efforts to ensure that the $1.138 billion provided by Congress in 2020 and 2021 for low-income water customer assistance – the first time Congress has funded this critical need – are spent down as required by the end of this year.

The United States EPA is hosting monthly webinars this Spring connecting staff from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program with prospective borrowers, including municipalities, corporations, and partnerships, in addition to private and non-governmental organizations that support borrowers.

The Prince William County Service Authority is Virginia’s largest combined drinking water and wastewater service provider, serving approximately 380,000 people. The Service Authority’s Community Outreach Department delivers engaging programs and presentations for adults and children across the county to raise awareness about water resources and treatment, reaching about 10,000 students per year with lesson plans that align with Virginia’s Standards of Learning.

NACWA submitted a letter to EPA last week concerning the Agency’s potential development of a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) enforcement discretion and settlement policy related to PFAS.

A concerning bill under consideration by the Arizona legislature, Senate Bill 2669, now no longer includes provisions to curtail where biosolids can be land applied in the state.

An eleven-member Science Advisory Board (SAB) panel on biosolids met yesterday to discuss EPA’s ‘Charge Questions’ and review its draft biosolids risk assessment framework.

The U.S. EPA is currently developing guidance for its new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund, which was created through the Inflation Reduction Act. NACWA hopes to see clean water emphasized in this major new program so that water utility projects can benefit from the Fund in the coming years.

Last week, Congressmen David Kustoff (R-TN) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) introduced the Investing in Our Communities Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to restore the option to advance refund tax-exempt municipal bonds.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is pleased to provide you with the March 2023 Regulatory Update.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is administering the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), has released a survey for water and wastewater utilities to help the Department better understand the scope of water and wastewater debt around the U.S.

NACWA submitted testimony to Congress last week formally requesting an additional $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) in Fiscal Year 2024.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing March 22 on EPA’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal. EPA Administrator Michael Regan was the Committee’s only witness.

NACWA participated in a March 22 public listening session on planned changes for the way EPA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate certain pesticide products.

While clean water utilities strive to achieve triple bottom line environmental, social and economic benefits for their communities, understanding what state and federal agencies mean when they use terms such as “environmental justice” and “disadvantaged communities” can be challenging.