SEPTEMBER 2022

Reuse and Action Highlights

For details about the following highlights and events, please visit the Recent and Upcoming Water Reuse Activities page.

FUNDING AND AWARDS

NEW Reuse Applications Included in REUSExplorer The REUSExplorer is searchable by state, source of water, and end-use application. The following set of end-uses were recently added to the REUSExplorer: Agricultural-related applications Livestock watering Landscape-related applications The tool already included information on potable water reuse, onsite non-potable reuse, and other centralized non-potable reuse applications.

• NEW Industrial Water Reuse Champions Award – The WateReuse Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Suez, and University of Pennsylvania Water Center are partnering on a new Industrial Water Reuse Champion Award program. The program will recognize the top Fortune 1000 companies that incorporate best-in-class water reuse programs to improve stewardship and achieve their water management goals. The first winner will be announced during the 2023 WateReuse Symposium (Action 8.4: Establish a Water Reuse Champion Award Program).
• EPA Awards Nearly $2 Million to UC Berkeley to Support Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) Research – EPA’s Science to Achieve Results Program awarded $2 million in grant funding to the University of California, Berkeley for research to develop a cost-benefit tool to support EAR as a viable, safe, and cost-effective water management strategy. The goal of this research is to improve understanding of the life-cycle analysis of EAR and help decision-makers understand the costs and benefits of pursuing these strategies. Research to further develop tools, models, and frameworks to support EAR implementation will empower water professionals to make informed water management decisions (Action 7.7: Life-Cycle Analysis to Support Cost-Effective EAR).
• EPA Announces $18 Million WIFIA Loan to Helix Water District for Drinking Water Resiliency in San Diego County – Helix Water District will modernize existing pump stations, conveyance infrastructure, and distribution pipelines, as well as install an aeration system in Lake Jennings to meet state surface water requirements. By completing this project, Helix Water District will replace 30 percent of its water needs currently met by strained regional sources with an alternative source of purified water conveyed from the East County Advanced Water Purification project, which received a separate WIFIA loan. This project also supports California’s Title 22 “Pure Water” objective to increase use of recycled water by at least 2 million-acre-feet per year by 2030.
• Clarifying Reuse Projects as Eligible for Clean Water State Revolving Fund – The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Frequently Asked Questions document was updated to clarify water reuse projects "that may be applying advanced treatments" are eligible for emerging contaminants funding. See item 11 under Eligibilities.
• NEW Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report: Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure – This report provides background and funding information on water infrastructure projects, including water reuse, that are traditionally funded by the federal government. The report also discusses federal funding programs that provide assistance to communities to support these project types and related eligible activities (also see EPA’s website of Federal Funding Programs).
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20 Million Funding Opportunity for Small Surface and Groundwater Storage Drought Resilience Projects – The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects over the next five years to advance drought resilience and expand access to clean water for families, farmers, and wildlife. The investment will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems and will fulfill Indian Water Rights Settlements, including $100 million for small surface and groundwater storage projects over five years. In fiscal year 2023, $20 million is available for eligible projects.
  • The funding opportunity is available on www.grants.gov. Search for number R23AS00019.
  • October 31, 2022: Deadline to submit feasibility studies to Reclamation for review to determine eligibility to compete for funding under the Fiscal Year 2023 funding opportunity announcement.
  • December 9, at 5 pm MST: Applications are due to Reclamation.

Upcoming Reuse Activities and Events October 14—Deadline to apply for IAPMO WE•Stand Direct Potable Water Reuse Task Group Members. Learn more. October 14—Deadline to submit your nominations for the WateReuse Awards for Excellence. Submit your nominations. October 20—National Listening Session on Drought Prediction and Water Availability hosted by NOAA and USGS. Register here. November 1—Grant deadline for Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program. Apply here. November 3—NDWAC to provide input on the Update to National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Virtual meeting: register here. November 8—Deadline to apply for a water reuse ORISE Research Fellowship. The EPA Water Reuse Program is now accepting applications. Apply here. November 9—Deadline to apply for STAR grant: Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Performance and Potential Risk in Different Regional and Hydrogeologic Settings Request For Applications. November 30—Deadline for Reclamation Desalination and Water Reuse Research Grant. Apply here. December 1—Abstracts due for the AWWA Potable Reuse and Biological Treatment Symposium. Apply here.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

From left to right: Angela Davis, Michael Jahne, Rabia Chaudhry, Paula Kehoe, Taylor Nokhoudian, and Jay Garland at the WateReuse California conference.

• NEW Guidebook for Commissioning an Onsite Water Treatment System – San Francisco Water Power Sewer published this guidebook that provides information to assist design engineers, treatment system managers, and other stakeholders involved in starting up the operation of an onsite water treatment system. It outlines the process for commissioning an onsite system, discusses stakeholder roles, and provides guidance on inspecting and testing individual treatment processes. Other useful resources on onsite water reuse may be found here (Action 3.4: Develop Research and Tools to Support Onsite Non-Potable Water Reuse Systems).
• Watch a Recording of the REUSExplorer Webinar – Rabia Chaudhry guided participants on how to use the REUSExplorer tool to locate the different guidelines and regulations for water reuse developed across states for a variety of alternative water sources and end-use applications. The REUSExplorer is intended to be a resource for stakeholders interested in developing laws or policies for reuse, understanding the technical aspects of a regulation, and/or identifying whether reuse applications are regulated within a particular state (Action 3.1: Compile Existing Fit-for-Purpose Specifications).
• International Code Council (ICC) Launches New Onsite Water Reuse Working Group – Through the efforts of the Action 2.18 team, the ICC launched a working group at their annual meeting to develop interest in submitting an onsite reuse proposal for the International Plumbing Code (IPC) cycle in 2024. The standards set by the IPC for building plumbing systems are currently adopted at the state or local level in 37 states, DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico. EPA was represented by William Platten (OGWDW) and Jay Garland (ORD). Julienne Bautista (National Blue Ribbon Commission) presented the goals of the action and Sharon Nappier provided remarks at the conference plenary. Members from the reuse community are encouraged to participate in the ICC Water Reuse Workgroup; please email Kevin McOsker and Richard Anderson here.
• Highlighting the WRAP at WateReuse California – Water Reuse Program members presented updates on WRAP actions at the WateReuse Symposium (pictured right). Presentations included: the REUSExplorer and key findings from a new state synthesis (Action 3.1); updates on incorporating onsite water reuse research into plumbing codes and standards (Actions 2.18, 7.5, and 3.4); and the role of the federal pretreatment program in supporting water reuse projects (Action 8.7).
• Video Presentation on WRAP and REUSExplorer Demo – Sharon Nappier presented on the WRAP and the REUSExplorer for the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
• Water & Health: The Coming Water Crisis and What We Can Do About It – In a special issue of their magazine, The Bulletin, the Santa Clara County Medical Association partnered with the region’s wholesale water supplier to produce a series of articles that address water reuse as a tool to combat climate change and environmental challenges. These articles, which are primarily written by and for physicians, help answer critical questions that doctors and their patients have about water quality and water reuse. This issue is now available in a PDF (Action 8.6: Develop Public Health Water Reuse Communication Tools).
• NEW Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) Portal – The Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior, jointly launched the CMRA portal to help communities across the nation understand the real-time climate-related hazards in their area, analyze projected long-term exposure to those hazards, and identify federal funds to support climate resilience projects for their communities. The CMRA portal is the latest in a series of resources in the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, which also includes training courses for water planners and local governments as they plan for infrastructure in the climate era.

WATER REUSE IN THE NEWS

• EPA Awards $6.4M for Research to Support National Water Reuse Efforts – EPA announced research grants totaling $6.4 million to Iowa State University and the Water Research Foundation for research to support national efforts to reduce technological and institutional barriers for expanded water reuse. Congratulations award winners! (Action 10.3: Facilitate Implementation of the WRAP).
• The White House Highlights Upcoming Water Reuse Mission to Israel – This fact sheet highlights the U.S.-Israel technological partnership and collaborations in reuse: “The two countries [Israel and the U.S.] welcomed next month’s Water Reuse Mission to Israel, which will bring nearly 50 Federal, State, and local officials working on water issues from around the country to increase U.S.-Israel practical collaboration on water reuse policies, scientific research, and methods and technologies” (Action 11.1: Facilitate U.S.-Israel Collaboration on Water Reuse).
• Vice President Kamala Harris Highlights Water Reuse in Remarks – In this video, Vice President Harris announced the White House Action Plan on Global Water Security. During her remarks, Harris highlighted the Administration’s commitment to addressing this challenge through Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for water reuse, water efficiency, and groundwater storage projects.
• Mitt Romney Visits South Jordan’s New Water Purification Facility – U.S. Senator Mitt Romney visited Utah’s PureSoJo facility, calling it “the kind of solution that could be adopted around the State to get people drinking water.” According to their website, PureSoJo is a new and innovative project that involves purifying recycled water to meet and exceed drinking water standards. It will be a pilot project used to demonstrate advanced water purification technology that may be part of the answer to long-term water supply needs.
• Water Reuse Highlighted at House Subcommittee’s Clean Water Act at Fifty Hearing – The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on the Clean Water Act at Fifty. California’s $1.8 billion investment in water recycling projects was highlighted and Congress was encouraged to embrace water recycling as a critical water resources management tool.

EPA Research Grant Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Performance and Potential Risk in Different Regional and Hydrogeologic Settings NEW Request for Applications EPA issued an RFA to advance the scientific and technical foundation of and establish best practices for EAR, including the use of impaired sources of water. Research is requested to better understand locally appropriate uses and/or risks of using different sources of waters during EAR, with different end goals in diverse land use and hydrogeologic settings. Apply by November 9, 2022.

If you have questions about water reuse, progress or news on WRAP actions, or reuse activities that you would like EPA’s water reuse team to consider for inclusion in an upcoming monthly status update, please email waterreuse@epa.gov.