On November 12, 2020, the City of Richmond’s floodwall was partially closed to protect low-lying areas within city limits from high waters flowing downstream in the James River, which cuts through downtown Richmond, Virginia. The City’s Collection Systems & Regulatory Affairs Division created an engaging and informative social media campaign spanning Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to educate Richmond residents about the floodwall’s closure and provide an in-depth background on its history and purpose.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced Sept. 24 that EPA plans to combine the Agency’s existing environmental justice (EJ) and civil rights offices into a single new national program office headed by a Senate-confirmed assistant administrator.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a $1 billion, four-year cybersecurity grant program for state, local, and territorial governments. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program will help these entities address cybersecurity risks.

With a September 30th funding deadline fast approaching, Congress is working to finalize a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government in operation. The Senate voted 72-13 late on Sept. 27 to advance a CR that would keep the government funded at existing levels until December 16.

NACWA will be hosting a webinar from 2 – 3 PM (Eastern) on Monday, October 17th addressing EPA’s recent proposal to designate two PFAS substances – PFOA and PFOS – as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund).

NACWA staff joined the National Rural Water Association (NWRA) this week for its annual WaterPro Conference at the National Harbor outside of Washington, DC. The event brought together over 1700 attendees representing water and wastewater utility systems, large and small, municipal, and rural from across the country to connect and share best practices.

NACWA Board Member Mike Witt, General Counsel for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) in Newark, NJ, testified September 20 on behalf of NACWA before the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee to discuss the key role public clean water utilities have had in the success of the Clean Water Act (CWA) over the last 50 years.

NACWA helped organize a joint letter last week with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), and California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) requesting an extended notice-and-comment period to allow for a more thorough analysis of EPA’s recent proposal designating two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).