OCTOBER 2022

Message from EPA’s National Program Leader for Water Reuse, Sharon Nappier, on the U.S.-Based Water Reuse Delegation to Israel

Follow the Buzz on Twitter! Check out these tweets about the Israel Delegation from EPA and the Embassy of Israel. Israel’s approach to water reuse Delegation kickoff in Tel Aviv Several Action 11.1 team members representing the Embassy of Israel, EPA, and the WateReuse Association Tour of the Sorek Desalination Plant, where water is eventually reused for agricultural purposes (video clip and photos)

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Israel to learn first-hand about the innovative approaches the country is taking to ensure adequate and resilient water supplies, despite their arid climate and growing population.

I was joined by a U.S. delegation of 42 water leaders comprised of utilities, state regulators, federal agencies, and private sector water experts. Two of the sites we visited included the Sorek water desalination plant, one of the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination facilities, and the Emek Hefer Water Reclamation Project, which supplies treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation.

My colleagues and I left Israel with a myriad of takeaways and technological insights that we will bring back to our communities and workplaces. For example, U.S. state and federal regulators were eager to learn how Israel continues to mitigate potential long-term impacts of reuse water on crop and soil quality. It was also impressive to learn about Israel’s ability to tighten non-revenue water losses, which in some areas was less than five percent due to policies requiring regular meter replacements. Israel’s integrated, centralized governance of water increases their ability to quickly adapt to changing needs, and many participants plan to find ways to increase communication across their own key stakeholders once home. These lessons, and more, are expected to be shared in an upcoming report. 

From left: Sharon Nappier (EPA) and Pat Sinicropi (WateReuse Association) at Intel semiconductor plant; Emek Hefer Water Reclamation Project; Delegation Group at the Ein Gedi date plantation which irrigates with reuse water from the Ein Bokek wastewater treatment plant.

Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Monica Medina, joined the delegation on the final day to speak about the Administration’s commitment to water reuse as a climate resiliency tool. Additionally, EPA’s Senior Agriculture Advisor Rod Snyder indicated the value of the Israeli experience for farmers in water scarce regions of the U.S. and suggested the need for case studies and future knowledge sharing opportunities between agricultural and water sector leaders to improve the understanding and acceptance of the benefits of water reuse. 

After years of Covid delays, I am grateful for the continued partnership between our hosts and co-organizers: WateReuse Association, USDA, FDA, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Water Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Research Organization, Ministry of Health, Israel Export Institute, and WaterEdge.IL. The relationships this delegation helped build are not easily quantified, but I am confident they will have a lasting impact - allowing us to collaboratively tackle future water and food security challenges in the U.S. and abroad. (Action 11.1: Facilitate U.S.-Israel Collaboration on Water Reuse)

 

Reuse and Action Highlights

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

U.S. Government Commitment to Water Reuse Through Plans and Funding

Watch EPA Administrator at COP27 On November 10, EPA Administrator Michael Regan will speak at the COP27 climate change conference in Egypt at an event titled "Water Reuse to Address Climate Challenges." Participate virtually.

• U.S. Global Water Strategy Highlights Commitment to Reuse – The global water crisis continues to threaten U.S. national security and prosperity. Water insecurity endangers public health and food security and undermines economic growth. It also deepens inequalities and increases the likelihood of conflict and state failure. To overcome these challenges, the U.S. government will continue to work toward its vision of a water-secure world. Under Strategic Objective 3, Improve Climate-Resilient Conservation and Management of Freshwater Resources and Associated Ecosystems, “[The U.S. government] will expand investments to increase water use efficiency and the reuse of alternative water supplies such as wastewater, brackish groundwater, and stormwater, which under appropriate contexts, can bolster availability of freshwater supplies for all uses.”
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Steps for Drought Mitigation Funding from Inflation Reduction Act – The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced new drought mitigation funding opportunities to improve and protect the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System. A newly created Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program will help increase water conservation, improve water efficiency, and prevent the System’s reservoirs from falling to critically low elevations that would threaten water deliveries and power production. DOI is currently accepting applications for voluntary participation in the Lower Colorado Conservation and Efficiency Program.
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $210 Million for Drought Resilience Projects in the West – DOI announced $210 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through water storage and conveyance projects. The projects are expected to develop over 1.7 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, enough water to support 6.8 million people for a year. The funding will also invest in two feasibility studies that could advance water storage capacity once completed.
• EPA Releases 20 Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans from National Offices, Regions to Increase Resilience to Impacts of Climate Change – These plans describe how each program and region will integrate climate adaptation into its programs, policies, and operations to enable EPA to achieve its mission, even under changing climate conditions. The Office of Water Climate Plan highlights water reuse as a priority in 1.C.2. advance water reuse in agricultural applications: “In the United States, an estimated 20 percent of existing irrigation demand can be met through reused water from municipal wastewater treatment plants, making water reuse a powerful tool to preserve, maintain, and restore declining freshwater supplies from climate related stressors. OW, working with members of the Water Reuse Interagency Work Group (i.e., U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USDA), will develop resources describing potential on-farm water sources, pathways, and reuse opportunities and solutions.”
• EPA Awards More Than $3 Million to Small Businesses for Continued Development of Innovative Environmental Technologies – EPA announced over $3.1 million in funding for eight U.S. small businesses as part of Phase II of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. Recipients of Phase II funding receive up to $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their innovative environmental technologies. This year’s Phase II recipients are focused on addressing priority environmental areas including water reuse, pesticide drift, sustainable materials, recycling improvement, air monitoring and sustainable coloration. Learn more about this year’s awardees here.  
• Congressional Research Service 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 refer to EPA’s website of Federal Funding Programs).
• Notices of Funding Opportunities for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants – On September 30, FEMA started accepting applications for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to fund different hazard mitigation activities. FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes and territories funding to address high-level future risks to natural disasters such as wildfires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat, and increased flooding to foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering. Among other natural hazards, drought mitigation can be addressed through the BRIC program including through water reuse. FEMA and EPA are currently collaborating on Action 2.14 to better integrate water reuse into their funding programs. Applications are accepted through January 27, 2023.

Recent Highlights

• TreWAG Agricultural Reuse Conference in Israel – From October 23–27, technical and research experts convened in Kibbutz Hagoshrim, Israel for the TreWAG Understanding and Mitigating Effects of Treated Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: From Risks to Policy and New Opportunities conference hosted by the Volcani Institute. Leaders from the Action 1.6 team co-hosted the event, which focused on understanding and mitigating effects and risks of using treated wastewater reuse in agriculture and new opportunities for expanding agricultural reuse. Action leaders and participants plan to develop a collaborative white paper based on the technical round table discussions. (Action 1.6: Address Barriers to Water Reuse in Agriculture)
• Small and Disadvantaged Community Water Dialogue to Engage Private Sector in Infrastructure and Reuse Technical Assistance – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted full day event with two government agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to discuss opportunities to target Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding toward reuse in small and disadvantaged communities. Many organizations involved in the WRAP attended and participated in discussion panels, including the EPA Water Reuse Program, National Blue Ribbon Commission, and WateReuse Association. The call to action from the event includes developing a roadmap on the best practices and steps for these communities to access the significant Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and other federal resources. 
• Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) Stormwater Roundtable – ACWA, in conjunction with EPA Region 1, held a National Stormwater Roundtable to bring together state and federal regulators. The EPA Water Reuse Program presented information on stormwater capture and use and how it can be used as a management tool to improve water quality while augmenting local water supplies. Other presentations covered topics such as new technologies, implementation of green infrastructure, and funding options for stormwater infrastructure.

New Publications

• Characterization of Roof Runoff Microbial Quality in Four U.S. Cities with Varying Climate and Land Use Characteristics – Roof runoff has the potential to serve as an important local water source in regions with growing populations and limited water supply. Given the scarcity of guidance regulating the use of roof runoff, a need exists to characterize its microbial quality. The objective of this two-year research effort was to examine roof runoff microbial quality in four U.S. cities: Fort Collins, CO; Tucson, AZ; Baltimore, MD; and Miami, FL. This dataset represents the largest-scale study to date of enteric pathogens in U.S. roof runoff collections and will inform treatment targets for different non-potable applications. (Action 3.4: Develop Research and Tools to Support Onsite Non-Potable Water Reuse Systems)
• Risk-Based Treatment Targets for Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems Using New Pathogen Data – Using local sources (roof runoff, stormwater, graywater, and onsite wastewater) to meet non-potable water demands can minimize potable water use in buildings and increase supply reliability. This paper calculates risk-based pathogen log reduction targets for viruses, protozoa, and bacteria and for multiple end-uses, including toilet flushing, clothes washing, irrigation, dust and fire suppression, car washing, and decorative fountains.
• Managed Aquifer Recharge as a Tool to Improve Water Security and Resilience – Groundwater overdraft is an issue faced by urban and rural water users worldwide. Managed aquifer recharge efforts are being deployed globally to further achieve water management goals, such as helping to reduce groundwater overdraft at a local level. Artificial recharge or managed aquifer recharge is a concept that has been applied to describe diverse methods with the aim of both augmenting groundwater resources during times when water is available and recovering the water from the same aquifer in the future when it is needed.

Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Reminder The 2022-23 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey data collection is still open! Municipalities need to contact their state coordinator to make sure their community is being counted! EPA’s Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) is an assessment of capital investment needed nationwide for publicly-owned wastewater collection and treatment facilities to meet the water quality goals of the Clean Water Act. These capital investment needs are reported periodically to Congress.

Upcoming Reuse Activities and Events November 10 — U.S. EPA-Israel COP27 event “Water Reuse to Address Climate Challenges.” Participate virtually. November 10 — Purified Recycled Water Demonstration Design & Reuse Communication Toolbox WRF Webcast. Register here. November 29 — Start of ACWA 2022 Fall Conference and Exhibition in Indian Wells, CA. Register here. 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.  December 5 — Nominations due for the new Industrial Water Reuse Champion Award which highlights industries’ commitment to improving water stewardship through water reuse. Submit your nomination. December 15 — Abstracts due for the 2023 WEFTEC Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference. Apply here. January 27, 2023 — Notices of Funding Opportunities for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants. Apply here.

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.