WRAP Monthly Update – February 2024

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February 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, DC 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

Infrastructure Funding Announcements

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $5.8 Billion from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda for Water Infrastructure Upgrades. This multi-billion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to upgrade water infrastructure and address key challenges to ensure access to safe and reliable drinking water. The $2.6 billion Water State Revolving Fund investment will fund wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and the $3.2 billion Drinking Water State Revolving Fund investment will fund drinking water infrastructure. State Revolving Funds can be used to support certain water reuse projects.

The EPA’s WIFIA Program Loans $74 Million to Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency in Santa Cruz, California. The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency’s Water Sustainability Project will provide alternative surface water supplies and reduce demand on the existing groundwater supply by nearly 25 percent by 2040. They will achieve this by modifying a naturally occurring lake to create a new seasonal surface water source that will be treated and distributed to customers to offset groundwater demand. This project will divert water from nearby shallow lake systems through recharge basins into shallow aquifers. The recharged water will be provided to agricultural customers for irrigation purposes. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)

The EPA Expands its Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Program. This program provides no-cost technical assistance to communities with failing septic systems or without existing wastewater infrastructure. Through the program, the EPA helps communities apply for funding to address wastewater needs, which may include water reuse. EPA is expanding the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Program to assist 150 communities.

OMB and OIRA Release Guidance for Accounting for Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Solutions in Cost Benefit Analyses. This guidance, released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), describes best practices for analyzing changes in ecosystem services within a context of cost-benefit analysis. The guidance helps improve understanding of how agencies give weight to ecosystem services in analyses and underpins decision-making for future federal investments.

Clean Water State Revolving Funding for Emerging Contaminants

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law appropriates one billion dollars over five years (FY 2022 to FY 2026) to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund specifically to address emerging contaminants. Potable and non-potable water reuse projects that may be applying advanced treatment (e.g., reverse osmosis, granulated activated carbon, or ion exchange) to remove PFAS or other emerging contaminants are eligible.

Learn more about how to secure funding in this document.
Read about an eligible water reuse project example in Tucson, Arizona!

WRAP Action Updates

Pacific Institute Releases Report—Untapped Potential: An Assessment of Urban Stormwater Runoff Potential in the United States. In this report, the authors quantify the potential volume of urban stormwater runoff across the U.S., provide case studies to demonstrate uses of stormwater capture and offer recommendations for helping communities understand the potential for stormwater capture and use. (Action 5.5: Quantify the National Potential for Reuse)

2024 Industrial Water Reuse Champions Award Nominations—Now Live. This award recognizes global Fortune 1000 companies that prioritize water reuse in manufacturing and production processes. Nominations are due on August 31, 2024 and the award will be presented at the International Desalination and Reuse Association World Summit in December 2024. (Action 8.4: Establish a Water Reuse Champion Award Program for Private Sector Companies)

White Paper: Advancing Water Reuse Within the Beverage Industry. In this white paper, the authors explore stakeholder engagement, regulatory and treatment and technology issues related to water reuse within the beverage industry, along with key hurdles and near, medium and long-term solutions to advance water reuse practices at beverage manufacturing plants. The paper is the result of a collaboration among federal and local regulators, major international beverage manufacturers, non-profit organizations, consulting engineers and water professionals. (Action 5.7: Identify Opportunities to Implement Water Reuse within the Beverage Industry)

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Awards Partnerships to Finalize the National Strategy for Water Reuse Research. Mark Millan of Data Instincts and WRAP collaborators Eric Rosenblum and Bob Raucher will partner with WRF and others to finalize a national strategy for water reuse research. The first major event for this work will be at the 2024 WateReuse Symposium in Denver, Colorado, during the WRF Workshop on Monday, March 11. See more information and updates on WRF Project #5262 here. (Action 7.2: Develop a Coordinated National Research Strategy on Water Reuse).

Science and Policy

National Academies Hosts Policy Forum on Nature-based Solutions. The Network for Engineering with Nature and the National Academy of Sciences' Gulf Research Program hosted a Policy Forum on Nature-based Solutions which convened policymakers, regulators, practitioners, academics and others. Participants delved into the transformative potential of nature-based solutions for infrastructure development, climate change solutions and community revitalization.

WRF Releases Report—Assessing the State of Knowledge and Impacts of Recycled Water Irrigation on Agricultural Crops and Soil. This WRF-funded report helps fill critical knowledge gaps on the impact of recycled water reuse on soil and crop productivity. The report identifies how salinity, sodium and chloride affect growth and production of different crops; evaluates the growth and productivity of crops currently irrigated with recycled water; and assesses soil health and recycled water properties.

Upcoming Reuse Activities and Events

March 11-14—WateReuse Symposium. Learn more here.
March 14-15—2024 Water Reuse Academy. Register here.
March 14—EPA's WIFIA Program/SRF Workshop in Denver, CO. Register here.
March 18—Stormwater Centers of Excellence Grant. Request for Applications.
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.
July 9—Applications due for Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants on Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects. Apply here.
August 31—Deadline for Industrial Reuse Champions Award nominations. Submit 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).