» Clean Water Current Archive

April 11, 2014

Inaugural Water Week Brings Hundreds to DC

NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), along with the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the U.S. Water Alliance, and a number of state and regional water groups, banded together to bring hundreds of clean water professionals from coast to coast to Washington, DC to advance shared priorities as part of Water Week 2014.

Policy Forum & Fly-In Anchors Week of Advocacy, Discussion & Dialogue

The cornerstone of Water Week was the two and a half day National Water Policy Forum & Fly-In. NACWA, WEF, and WERF collaborated to craft a compelling Forum agenda that included an array of clean water advocacy, technical policies, communications, and research priorities – demonstrating the power of the water sector when it speaks with one voice. The Forum & Fly-In featured Members of Congress and leading policymakers from EPA, other federal agencies, and key stakeholders -- including the U.S. Conference of Mayors – each providing key perspectives on clean water and environmental priorities. Sector leaders heard from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who discussed the vital importance of continued federal clean water funding for Rhode Island and the nation, and from Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) who has sponsored the important Clean Water Affordability Act and discussed the difficulty in Ohio of raising rates on households who are seeing their median incomes decline. Both Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Latta were recipients of NACWA National Environmental Achievement Awards recognizing their public service. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Chair of the House Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee provided remarks at the Water Week 2014 Congressional Reception overlooking the Capitol dome. Rep. Gibbs was joined by Reps. Bishop, Donna Edwards (D-MD), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Jim Moran (D-VA), exemplifying the value of the water sector organizations joining forces and leveraging their respective connections.

Water Utilities Bring Their Message to ‘The Hill’

Throughout the week representative from clean water and drinking water utilities across the country carpeted Capitol Hill – putting national priorities in a local context for their Congressional delegations. Funding and investment, climate resiliency, affordability, and integrated planning were among the issues discussed in detail at Capitol Hill meetings.

Regulatory Priorities Examined

The Policy Forum also featured presentations from EPA leaders, including from Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe, who underscored the importance of the Agency's work on integrated planning and affordability – as well as the need for a focus on resilience. Nancy Stoner, EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, touted NACWA's support for the recently released proposed rule on Clean Water Act jurisdiction. Stoner also discussed EPA's view of the 8th Circuit Decision on blending, noting that the Agency believes the decision applies only to states in the 8th Circuit (see related article this issue) – and announced a planned public health forum to explore the health impacts of blending. The availability of version 2.0 of the Agency's Innovations Blueprint was announced during the U.S. Water Alliance's U.S. Water Prize Ceremony.

As featured in this week’s NACWA blog, Inaugural Water Week Highlights Collaboration to Focus National Attention on Clean Water Priorities, by Executive Director, Ken Kirk, Water Week 2014 was clearly a success.

Congressional Clean Water Caucus Briefing Features Sector Leaders

Reps. John Duncan (R-TN) and Tim Bishop (D-NY), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Clean Water Caucus, provided remarks during the Caucus's first Capitol Hill briefing, Utilities of the Future ... Engaging Communities, Embracing New Challenges & Ensuring Economic Priorities. The briefing featured presentations by Harlan Kelly, General Manager of the City & County of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; James ‘Tony’ Parrott, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati; David St. Pierre, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; Matt Millea, Deputy County Executive of the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection; and, Jo Ann Macrina, Commissioner City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. Each described their agency's Utility of Future initiatives and underscored the importance of the federal government in being a full partner with municipalities in innovative approaches to clean water challenges and supporting advanced technologies to meet 21st century challenges.

NACWA, AMWA Host Water Resilience Summit

More than 50 wastewater utility, drinking water utility, private sector, and federal officials came together during Water Week 2014 for a day-and-a-half facilitated dialogue on climate and resilience issues. The Water Resilience Summit, presented by NACWA and AMWA, focused on federal-municipal cooperation to build water sector resilience and featured representatives from an array of federal agencies, including EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Interior (DOI), the Department of Energy (DOE), the White House's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy keynoted the Summit with a lively presentation stating that "...we are spending time on resilience because the 100 year storm is now more like the 100 week storm. Municipalities are developing different strategies to deal with these issues," and asking "how can EPA bring solutions to you?" McCarthy also touted the great work utilities are doing to embrace the NACWA/WEF/WERF Water Resources Utility of the Future initiative and how this too is helping our cities become more resilient. A white paper will be developed in the coming months summarizing the Summit's discussions and outlining collaborative next steps.

EPA Responds to NACWA Inquiry on Blending

NACWA received a letter  this week from EPA regarding the Agency’s implementation of a recent federal court case on blending. The letter, sent in response to a November 2013 inquiry  from the Association and other municipal groups, confirms that EPA will apply the March 2013 Iowa League of Cities v. EPA decision as “binding precedent” in the Eighth Circuit, but was silent on how the decision will be applied elsewhere in the country. EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner, however, stated that the decision will not be uniformly applied outside the Eighth Circuit but will be used on a “case by case” basis in her remarks at this week's National Water Policy Forum & Fly-In (see related article this issue).

The EPA letter also indicated that the Agency plans to hold a public health forum in the coming months to “ask questions about the public health implications of various bypass and blending scenarios during wet weather events.” Stoner noted during her remarks that EPA hopes to use the forum to guide its decisions on applicability of the Iowa League decision outside the Eighth Circuit, and stated that a notification about the forum would be published in the Federal Register soon.

NACWA has previously stated that the legal decision should be applied nationwide, and is disappointed that EPA has not agreed to do so. NACWA has also previously encouraged all Member Agencies to use the decision to support the use of blending regardless of geographic location, and continues to support its national applicability. The Association will work to ensure the municipal clean water community is well represented at EPA’s upcoming forum, and also will evaluate additional advocacy options on this important issue. The membership will be updated on developments.

NACWA Supports DC Water LTCP Modification

NACWA submitted comments  this week in strong support of DC Water’s proposed modification to its Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP). The proposal, which was released for public comment in January, outlines DC Water’s plans to alter its existing LTCP, and related 2005 consent decree, by making a significant investment in green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) events. In exchange, the utility would be able to reduce or eliminate some of the large gray infrastructure storage tunnels that were part of the original plan.

NACWA’s comments endorsed DC Water’s proposed plan, noting it represents an innovative approach that balances the utility’s environmental responsibility to reduce water quality impairment in local waters with its equally important obligation to make sound economic investments with its rate-payers’ dollars. In particular, the comments applaud DC Water’s plan to pursue a hybrid green/gray solution – which combines a $100 million green infrastructure investment with a significant gray infrastructure commitment – as a way to provide maximum environmental and economic benefit.

NACWA is always pleased to support Association member initiatives through public comments when helpful and appropriate. Member Agencies interested in securing comments in support of LTCP or consent decree issues may contact Nathan Gardner-Andrews at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NACWA Financial Survey Deadline is Just Around the Corner!

The extended deadline for completing NACWA's 2014 Financial Survey, Monday, April 21, is quickly approaching. Please complete your agency's survey online at www.cleanwatercentral.org or contact the NACWA office to receive an electronic copy of your survey form via email. The Association thanks those members that have already submitted their completed survey forms, but more responses are needed to ensure we can produce a high-quality survey report.

NACWA Member Agencies received their individualized survey forms in January in the mail and via Member Update 14-02. The triennial survey provides a comprehensive overview of public clean water utility financing and management trends and is a trusted resource for NACWA members, as well as policymakers and other stakeholders. Completing the survey is no easy task, and NACWA appreciates the time and energy invested by its members to provide this valuable information. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Chris Hornback at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-833-9106.

Wet Weather Consent Decree Workshop – Hotel Deadline Approaching!

Have you made plans to attend NACWA's for Wet Weather Consent Decree Workshop, April 30 – May 1, in Chicago?  Whether anticipating, negotiating or implementing a consent decree (or hoping to avoid Clean Water Act enforcement altogether)  – your utility will benefit from this first-of-its-kind Workshop full of information, analysis and strategies on how to achieve the best results for your community.  As part of your registration, Workshop participants will get advance access to NACWA’s Wet Weather Consent Decree Handbook, 2nd Edition.  Join your clean water colleagues as they learn from the experts’ playbook, engage in roundtable discussions on consent decree issues, exchange information and approaches with other utilities, and network with other clean water professionals.  Make your plans by contacting the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel at 312.372.7200 to secure the special rate of $209 a night. The hotel registration deadline is Tuesday, April 15. Registration details and additional information on the Workshop are available on NACWA’s website. Space is limited – register today!

Pretreatment Professionals from Across the U.S. To Meet at Annual Workshop

Pretreatment professional are planning now to join their colleagues from across the country at NACWA’s 2014 National Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention Workshop, May 14 – 16 at the Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel in Minneapolis, Minn. This year’s Workshop will focus on topics that promise to be important for pretreatment programs in the future, as well as issues that are currently affecting them currently.  EPA staff will provide the latest updates on National Pretreatment Program initiatives, and panel presentation topics will include controlling dental amalgam, with or without a national rule; reducing pollution - including plastic microbeads - from consumer products; bio-cremation and pretreatment; legal case studies involving hauled wastes; and more. For the first time, NACWA will offer a full-day, optional training session  in conjunction with the Workshop on May 13. The training session will offer an introductory course on the pretreatment program, targeted toward professionals in the first few years of their careers. Information on the Workshop and the training session are available on NACWA’s website at www.nacwa.org/14pret. Hotel reservations at the group rate of $149/night are available through the April 22, and reservations may be made online or by phone.