» Clean Water Current Archive

April 4, 2014

Key House Members Support Funding for Integrated Planning Pilots 

Representatives Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Tim Bishop (D-NY), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, sent a letter on April 3 to Representatives Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Jim Moran (D-VA), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment requesting $5 million in the FY 2015 EPA budget to provide small grants to communities to help them develop integrated stormwater and wastewater plans consistent with the EPA’s Integrated Planning (IP) Framework. Additional Ohio Representatives Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) also submitted personal funding in support of the IP pilot request. Last year, the House included $2 million in their Interior & Environment appropriations bill for integrated planning pilots, although the funding was not ultimately included in the final FY 2014 budget. NACWA will keep members updated on developments with the FY 2015 request as they occur.

Water Sector Coalition Urges Congress to Reject Proposed Cuts to the SRFs

A coalition of water sector groups, including NACWA, sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriators on April 3, urging them to reject the cuts proposed in the Administration’s FY 2015 budget request and continue the FY 2014 funding levels of at least $1.449 billion and $907 million for EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, respectively. The Administration’s FY 2014 budget requests asks that the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs be funded at $1.018 billion and $757 million respectively, a cut of over $350 million to the Clean Water SRF and $150 million to the Drinking Water SRF from last year’s funding levels. As the letter states, “Considering the importance of water and wastewater infrastructure to the well-being of the American people, our communities, and to our economy, it is essential that the federal government remains a strong and reliable partner in meeting the nation’s clean water and safe drinking water needs.” The other groups joining NACWA in the coalition include the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM); the National Association of Counties (NaCO); the National League of Cities (NLC); the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA); the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA); the American Public Works Association (APWA); the Water Environment Federation (WEF); the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Council on Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA); and, the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC). NACWA will continue to provide coverage of the budget negotiations as they continue

NACWA Participates in EPA Briefing on Draft CWA Jurisdiction Rule

NACWA attended an EPA briefing this week for municipal water associations regarding the Agency’s recently proposed draft rule on Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction. The proposed regulation, jointly released last week by EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, seeks to expand CWA jurisdiction for certain tributaries and wetlands, but also preserves the existing regulatory exemption for waste treatment systems designed to meet requirements of the CWA. (See the March Regulatory Update for more details on the proposal.)

During this week’s meeting, NACWA asked EPA to clarify the rule’s potential impact on green infrastructure (GI) installations (like swales or rain gardens) designed to manage stormwater runoff, and also its potential impacts on municipal stormwater collection systems. EPA made clear that the rule is not designed to create CWA jurisdiction coverage for GI stormwater management practices, nor is the rule intended to provide jurisdictional coverage for stormwater collection systems “upstream” from any existing permitted discharge point. While NACWA appreciates these verbal clarifications from EPA on the proposal’s intended reach, the Association will also seek additional written clarification in the final rule on these important issues.

NACWA to Hold Clean Water Finance Dialogue in June

NACWA is planning a Clean Water Finance Dialogue between public clean water agency leaders and private finance/investment leaders to explore partnership and investment opportunities within the water sector. At the invitation-only Dialogue, participants will discuss opportunities for public-private collaboration; the types of projects private industry considers most viable for partnership; and, the roles of the public and private sectors in maximizing benefits to local communities and ratepayers from investment in public infrastructure and key technologies. The Dialogue will provide a unique opportunity to bring together public utility leaders, financial experts and private investment interests to collaborate and discuss viable financing mechanisms. The Dialogue is scheduled to take place in New York City, with a reception and dinner the evening of June 23 and a facilitated session on June 24 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. NACWA Member Agencies interested in participating, are asked to email Claire Moser at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by April 11, 2014.

NACWA and Region 8 Partners Host Integrated Planning Workshop

More than 50 public agencies, state regulators, and EPA staff attended the Region 8 Integrated Planning (IP) Workshop on March 31 in Denver, Colorado. The Workshop was co-hosted by NACWA and the Colorado Wastewater Utility Council, in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association, the Colorado Monitoring Framework, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA). Region 8 is the seventh in a series of IP workshops nationwide and, once again, demonstrated the increasing interest in an integrated approach to meeting Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements.

Important input from the state perspective was provided by representatives with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), as well as from federal representatives from EPA Headquarters, and the Region 8 office.

The Workshop began with EPA Headquarters staff from the Water Permits and Water Enforcement Divisions explaining the Integrated Planning Framework, how it has been used throughout the country, and might be used in an area of the country not facing combined sewer overflow (CSO) issues. EPA staff elaborated on how their ongoing work to modify their Financial Capability Assessment Framework, which they plan on distributing in draft form later this year, may affect the affordability component of an integrated plan. Unlike previous workshops, most Region 8 communities do not have CSOs, and were more interested in how IP would work within a permit, as opposed to an enforcement context. This included discussion of how a plan might interface with compliance schedules in NPDES permits. Park City, Utah and Utah DEQ shared their perspective of working together on an integrated plan that is due to be approved later this year.

The Workshop was a unique opportunity for all the IP stakeholders to ask tough questions and work through the details of how IP may apply to their specific circumstances and situations. NACWA thanks the many attendees who joined us, and will continue to work with ACWA, WEF, EPA, regional partners, and our members, to plan workshops in the remaining EPA regions. If you would like to see an IP workshop in your region, please contact Brenna Mannion at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Information on upcoming workshops will be made available as they are scheduled on NACWA’s website.

Technical Workgroup on Flushability of Wipes Kicks Off

The technical workgroup that will address flushability issues related to wipes began its work this week with a conference call. The workgroup is comprised of representatives from NACWA; the Water Environment Federation (WEF); the American Public Works Association (APWA); and, INDA (the trade association of the nonwoven fabrics industry) and is partially funded through NACWA’s Targeted Action Fund (TAF). The objectives of the workgroup are to characterize the nature of impacts from wipes and other products and assess how the Third Edition of the INDA Flushability Guidelines do or do not sufficiently address concerns about these products; to make recommendations for the actions needed to reconcile differences among the parties; and, to develop a process and commitment for follow-on engagement among the parties to implement the recommendations.

The workgroup will have its first in-person meeting on May 6. To assist workgroup members in defining the nature of impacts from wipes and other non-dispersible products, NACWA would like to collect information from its members about problems that utilities are experiencing. Please send photos and any information you have about cost, frequency of clogs, and other impacts to Cynthia Finley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Utility of the Future Partners Brief DOE on Key Joint Energy Analysis

NACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) met this week with Department of Energy (DOE) staff to provide an overview of the upcoming report, Utilities of the Future Energy Analysis, and discuss ways that DOE might assist energy generation and conservation projects at wastewater utilities. The draft Energy Analysis report – which was funded by NACWA, WEF, and WERF – provides a detailed estimate of the energy contained in wastewater versus the energy required to treat the wastewater and the costs to convert treatment facilities to become energy neutral over the next 20 years. The report will be finalized later this spring.

DOE expressed interest in assisting utilities to reach their potential for energy generation. NACWA and WEF are planning a webcast in the coming months to provide information about existing DOE programs that could be useful to utilities. NACWA, WEF, and WERF will continue to explore other opportunities with DOE, since the Department plans to become more involved in energy-water issues. In addition, NACWA, WEF, and WERF will be meeting with EPA later this month to for a similar discussion, and DOE and EPA are interested in working together whenever possible to advance energy production and conservation at utilities.

April Showers Bring More Than Flowers: Join us in Chicago for Intensive Wet Weather Consent Decree Workshop

Don’t miss NACWA’s inaugural Wet Weather Consent Decree Workshop, April 30 – May 1, in Chicago. This first-of-its-kind national event – designed both for utilities negotiating a decree or anticipating one, as well as for those living with a decree and considering modifications – will provide unmatched information, analysis and strategies on how to achieve the best results for your community.

While EPA wet weather enforcement continues at a rapid pace with a shift toward smaller communities, utilities currently implementing decrees have new opportunities for flexibility and modifications. The Workshop will deliver thorough analysis of evolving regulatory and legal flexibility in enforcement actions through examination of real world case studies, and will equip clean water agencies with the most up-to-date information and resources to negotiate or renegotiate decrees with maximum flexibility. Additionally, the Workshop will provide the chance to engage in roundtable discussions on consent decree issues, exchange information and approaches with other utilities, and network with other clean water professionals.

In the spirit of the spring maxim of “out with the old and in with the new,” NACWA will be releasing the newly-revised Wet Weather Consent Decree Handbook, 2nd Edition in early May. Workshop participants will get advance access to this invaluable tool.

Hotel Deadline Extended to April 15!

Join us for this timely and informative examination of the current state of play regarding wet weather enforcement actions. 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!

NACWA Blog of the Week:
Clean Water Caucus Hosts Congressional Briefing

We are pleased to have Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) guest blog about his role as Co-Chair of the newly-formed Congressional Clean Water Caucus and its upcoming Congressional Briefing on April 8. Mr. Duncan’s work with Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Tim Bishop is highlighting the need of the clean water community to innovate for the Utility of the Future. Read on to hear more about the Caucus’ work to highlight communities working towards becoming a Utility of the Future. With a new posting every week, subscribe today to The Water Voice and never miss a post!

See You Next Week!

We look forward to seeing you next week, in Washington DC, for the National Water Policy Forum & Fly-In and Water Week 2014!