A Clear Commitment to America’s Waters
53
T
he Water Resources Utility of the Future (UOTF) initia-
tive, set in motion by NACWA, the Water Environment
Research Foundation (WERF) and the Water Environment
Federation (WEF), has been gathering some significant mo-
mentum on a number of key fronts.
New House Caucus to
Focus on Technology & Innovation
In line with recommendations carried forward in NACWA’s
a written request from
Representatives John Duncan (R-TN)
and Tim Bishop (D-NY), has been sent
to the House Administration Office
seeking the creation of a Clean Water
Caucus whose mission will be to iden-
tify and spotlight new innovations,
technologies and approaches that can
advance the objective of the UOTF ini-
tiative. Upon the imminent approval of the request by the House
Administration Office, NACWA and other key stakeholders will
be working to grow the membership of the Caucus. Also planned
are several annual briefings that focus both on key technological
advances, and potential ways Congress can incentivize greater pen-
etration for innovation throughout the water sector.
New TIRRF Would Target Funds
NACWA has also begun to vet a new proposal with its members
to establish a Technology Innovation & Resource Recovery Fund
(TIRRF). The TIRRF would target funds distributed under the
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) toward investments
by clean water utilities that promote UOTF-style innovation and
resource recovery. The Fund would expand the current set aside
within the CWSRF, known as the Green Project Reserve (GPR), to
include projects and activities that promote the use of innovative
technology to transform the way clean water utilities deliver clean
water services and engage in resource recovery. Under the current
GPR, the CWSRF designates 20% of its funds for green infrastruc-
ture and/or energy efficiency projects. NACWA’s proposed TIRRF
would increase the set-aside to 30% of all CWSRF funds and ex-
pand the list of eligible projects to include innovative stormwater
control measures; water reclamation and reuse; energy generation
and conservation; nutrient reduction and recovery; and, watershed
restoration and improvement.
Establishing a TIRRF would ensure that in addition to supporting
traditional infrastructure projects, the CWSRF promotes the adop-
tion of 21st century technology to transform clean water utilities
into advanced resource recovery agencies that can efficiently deliver
improved environmental and economic benefits to their communi-
ties. NACWA intends to begin outreach with mem-
bers of the Congress this fall to identify champions
for this approach, and the new Clean Water Caucus
will be helpful as a potential sounding board for this
effort.
Conservation, Energy Efficiency &
Renewable Fuel Also Receive Attention
The UOTF initiative also served as a strong reference
point throughout an August 21-23 dialogue con-
vened by The Johnson Foundation in Racine, Wis. on
Building Resilient Utilities: How Can Water and Electric Utilities Co-Create
their Future?
Participants included representatives from NACWA
member utilities East Bay Municipal Utility District, Calif.; D.C.
Water; the City of Vancouver, Wash.; Camden County Municipal
Utilities Authority, N.J.; and the Austin Water Utility, Texas.
Discussions at the meeting focused on how wastewater, drinking
water, and electric power utilities could find mutually beneficial so-
lutions to protect environmental resources through water conser-
vation, energy efficiency, and increased renewable fuel production.
A report will be released soon, detailing strategies, incentives, and
potential actions that could advance cross-sector collaboration.
NACWA is also working with WEF and WERF to promote the ener-
gy potential of wastewater treatment utilities. The associations are
jointly funding a WERF Targeted Collaborative Research project
to quantify the potential for renewable energy from wastewater-
derived sources nationwide, along with the capital costs to convert
public utilities to sources of renewable energy. The project will be
completed by the end of October, and NACWA will use the results
in its advocacy work with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Water Resources Utility of the Future
Initiative Gathers Momentum
values to assist states in both the adoption of the new recommend-
ed criteria into their water quality standards – and the development
of alternative, site-specific criteria, where appropriate. One docu-
ment in particular,
highlights the flexibility states have in
implementing the criteria – addressing variances, designated use
changes, and dilution allowances – that will hopefully alleviate
some of the impacts on the clean water community. NACWA will
work closely with its Member Agencies, and EPA, as implementation
proceeds.
Ammonia Criteria
