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ACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the
Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) – along
with the Association of MetropolitanWater 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
. The anchor event
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, techni-
cal policies, communications, and research pri-
orities – 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 the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
other federal agencies, and key stakeholders – including the U.S.
Conference of Mayors (USCM) – each providing key perspectives on
clean water and environmental priorities. Sector leaders heard from
Senator SheldonWhitehouse (D-RI) who discussed the vital impor-
tance of continued federal clean water funding for Rhode Island and
the nation, and fromRep. Bob Latta (R-OH) who has sponsored the
important
CleanWater Affordability Act
and discussed the difficulty in
Ohio of raising rates on households who are seeing their median in-
comes decline. Both Senator Whitehouse and Representative Latta
were recipients of NACWA’s
National Environmental Achievement Awards
recognizing their public service.
Representative 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.
Representative Gibbs was joined by Representatives Bishop, Donna
Edwards (D-MD), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and JimMoran (D-VA) at the
reception, exemplifying the value of the water sector organizations
joining forces and building key relationships on Capitol Hill.
Throughout the week representatives from clean water and drink-
ing water utilities across the country carpeted Capitol Hill – putting
national priorities in a local context for their
Congressional delegations. Funding and invest-
ment; climate resiliency; affordability; and, inte-
grated planning were among the issues discussed
in detail at Capitol Hill meetings.
The
Policy Forum&Fly-In
also featured pre-
sentations from EPA leaders, including 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 CleanWater Act jurisdiction. Stoner also discussed EPA’s view of
the 8th Circuit Decision on blending and announced a planned public
health forum to explore the health impacts of blending.
Congressional CleanWater Caucus Briefing Features Sector Leaders
Representative John Duncan (R-TN) and Tim Bishop (D-NY),
Co-Chairs of the Congressional CleanWater Caucus, provided re-
marks during the Caucus’s first Capitol Hill briefing, U
tilities 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 MetropolitanWater Reclamation District
of Greater Chicago; Matt Millea, Deputy County Executive of the
Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection;
and, Jo AnnMacrina, Commissioner City of Atlanta Department of
Watershed Management. Each described their agency’s future-focused
initiatives and underscored the importance of the federal government
being a full partner with municipalities in innovative approaches and
supporting advanced technologies to meet 21st century challenges.
The Caucus is planning an additional two Congressional briefings on
Utility of the Future issues throughout the year.
Dates Announced for Water Week 2015
Dates were recently announced for the next
Water Week
– April 12-18,
2015. The NACWA/WEF/WERF
Policy Forum&Fly-In
will take place
Monday – Wednesday, April 13-15. Joining the organizations as an ear-
ly partner inWater Week 2015 is the Water &Wastewater Equipment
Manufacturers. Utilities nationwide should plan now to attend.
Inaugural Water Week Brings Hundreds to DC
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) illustrates the vital importance of continued
federal clean water funding for Rhode Island, and the nation, while accepting
NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Award recognizing his public
service.
