WRAP Monthly Update – December 2023-January 2024

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December 2023-January 2024

Attend the Onsite Water Reuse Summit!

Register here for the Onsite Water Reuse Summit: Integration of Science, Policy, and Operation for Safe and Effective Implementation in Washington, D.C. on April 10-11. Attendees will learn about exciting new research, ways to finance onsite systems, and lessons from treatment operators. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with state regulators and representatives from building code organizations. The summit will conclude with keynote presentations from Dr. Peter Fiske, Dr. Newsha Ajami, and Dr. David Sedlak on visioning for our water future.

This summit is collaboratively presented by the U.S. EPA, National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, and the WateReuse Association. Capacity is limited so we encourage you to register soon!

Photo courtesy of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Administration Support for Water Reuse

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Expand Use of Nature-based Solutions to Better Protect Communities from the Impacts of Climate Change. These actions represent continued progress on implementing the Nature-based Solutions Roadmap for America and include:

An updated resource guide to equip communities and agencies with examples and tools to make nature-based solutions easier to implement.
The Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal, a tool that connects users to U.S. federal funding opportunities and programs to build resilience to climate change. Information on nature-based solutions and water reuse is embedded throughout the tool.
The Department of Interior’s new policy to prioritize nature-based solutions in its bureaus and offices.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Awards $150 Million to 10 Regional Innovation Centers . Federal investments will be matched with over $365 million in non-federal contributions to stimulate economic growth and innovation across a range of sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, water resilience, and clean energy. The EPA will work with the NSF Regional Innovation Engines to advance technologies that help achieve the nation’s drinking water and clean water goals, including increasing water efficiency and reuse, reducing energy consumption and emissions across the water sector and ensuring that treatment technologies meet health benchmarks across a range of water quality challenges.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $51 Million from the President’s Investing in America Agenda to Advance Nature-based Solutions. The Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program allocated funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 18 projects which will restore and protect U.S. rivers and watersheds. One of the recipients – the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority – plans to implement water reuse for environmental restoration. They will use the funding to create 2.2 acres of expanded habitat for the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow by reusing highly treated wastewater and reconnecting the Rio Grande to its floodplain.

Interested in a Research Opportunity with the EPA’s Water Reuse Program?

The EPA’s Water Reuse Program seeks a motivated ORISE participant to join the team through the Water Reuse Policy, Technology and Regulation Research Fellowship. Under the guidance of a mentor, the ORISE participant will learn valuable research and presentation skills on topics pertinent to the EPA’s Office of Water. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through June 28, 2024. Learn more and apply here.

Infrastructure Funding Announcements

The EPA’s WIFIA Program Announces $70 Million Loan to Advance Drought Resilience in Southern California. This WIFIA funding will support an innovative regional partnership to help secure a drought-resilient water supply while supporting the long-term ecological health of the Upper Santa Ana River. With this project, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District will expand the existing groundwater basins to capture and recharge local stormwater. Additionally, a new regional recycled water pipeline will be constructed to convey the treated water for groundwater replenishment. This is the first loan under a master agreement that will commit $93 million in WIFIA financing to accelerate the implementation of the $302 million San Bernardino Valley Master Program.

The EPA's Rafael Stein and San Bernardino Valley's Heather Dryer at WIFIA award event in California. Photo courtesy of Heather Dryer.

WIFIA Program’s Project-Bundling Flexibilities Accelerate Water Infrastructure Projects in California. Read this article detailing the flexibilities the EPA’s WIFIA program can provide to borrowers, such as the master agreement that was used by the Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority, where members of the Authority benefited from a common negotiated structure. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)

Submit a Letter of Interest for a WIFIA Loan and Learn More

The EPA recently made the 7^th round of WIFIA financing available and is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. $6.5 billion is available through WIFIA, and $1 billion is available through SWIFIA, a loan program exclusively for state infrastructure financing authority borrowers.

Publication and Presentation Highlights

A Review of Water Reuse Applications and Effluent Standards in Response to Water Scarcity. In this journal review article, authors focus on the legislative framework that exists in the United States today for municipal water reuse. They collected data from a variety of sources, including the EPA’s Regulation and End-Use Specifications Explorer (REUSExplorer) tool.

WRF Publishes Guidebook: Addressing Impediments and Incentives for Agricultural Reuse. Agricultural reuse offers various benefits, such as enhancing irrigation, nutrient management, water diversification and water quality permit compliance. However, there are barriers that hinder the scaling of agricultural reuse and realization of its benefits. This guidebook supports water managers, regulators and the agricultural sector in identifying and overcoming barriers to agricultural water reuse across diverse geographic and agricultural contexts. (Action 1.6: Address Barriers to Water Reuse in Agriculture Through Improved Communication and Partnerships)

The ReWater Center, in collaboration with Trussell Technologies, is launching the first issue of the Potable Water Reuse Report at the end of February 2024. The bimonthly publication connects the water industry, regulators and academia and reflects on the rapid development and evolution of potable reuse. (Action 7.10: Implement the DoD-funded Water Reuse Consortium for Water Resiliency at Military and Municipal Facilities)

State Updates

California Approves Regulations on Direct Potable Reuse. In December, the California State Water Resources Control Board approved regulations for direct potable reuse. These regulations are the culmination of several years of research and stakeholder engagement, which will make California the second state to have regulations for direct potable reuse, after Colorado approved regulations in 2023. The regulations are expected to be approved by the Office of Administrative Law early this year, at which point they will become effective.

New Mexico Considers Produced Water Reuse Rule. In December, the New Mexico Environment Department’s Water Protection Division announced that it had petitioned the Water Quality Control Commission to consider a proposed rule focusing on produced water reuse. This is the first of several planned rules to advance reuse in New Mexico.

Upcoming Reuse Activities and Events

February 5-8—FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Partners Workshop. Register here.
February 15—Expression of Interest period closes to volunteers interested in FEMA’s virtual BRIC National Review Panels. Learn more here.
February 22—Application period closes for WaterSmart Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2024. Learn more here.
February 29—Application period closes for FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Applications. Click for resources for developing BRIC and FMA applications.
March 11—2024 State Summit on Water Reuse, in Denver, CO. Open to state regulators. Email Ward Scott.
March 11-14—WateReuse Symposium in Denver, CO. Register here.
March 18—Stormwater Centers of Excellence Grant Request for Applications.
March 14-15—2024 Water Reuse Academy in Boulder, CO. Register here.
March 29—Second round of applications due for Reclamation’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects funding opportunity. Apply here.
April 2—Applications due for WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grants for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Apply here.
April 10-11—Onsite Water Reuse Summit: Integration of Science, Policy, and Operation for Safe and Effective Implementation. EPA HQ, Washington DC. In-person event. Register here.
June 28—Deadline to apply for a water reuse ORISE Research Fellowship. The EPA Water Reuse Program is now accepting applications on a rolling basis. Apply here.
September 30—Applications due for Reclamation’s Title XVI WIIN Act Projects (apply here); Title XVI Congressionally Authorized Projects (apply here); and WIIN Act Desalination Construction Projects (apply here).