Clean Water Current Archive

NACWA filed an amicus brief May 31 in support of public agency member the City of Wilmington, Delaware’s ongoing efforts to recoup over $5.8 million in unpaid stormwater management fees from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for several properties the Corps owns within the City.

NACWA submitted comments May 20 to U.S. EPA regarding its proposed Build America, Buy America (BABA) waiver for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

NACWA is pleased to announce that EPA has published a pre-publication notice on its website granting an additional 30-days for public comment on its recently proposed draft recommended aquatic life criteria for PFOA and PFOS.

NACWA filed comments May 25 on the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).

The Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) met on May 24 to discuss issues related to the security and emergency preparedness of the water sector, particularly cybersecurity and supply chain issues.

NACWA held its annual National Pretreatment Workshop + Training last week in Nashville, the first time the conference has been held in person since 2019.

NACWA submitted comments May 16 to EPA on the Agency’s proposed rule on air emissions from heavy duty engines and trucks, supporting EPA’s overall efforts to regulate emissions from these vehicles but also asking that EPA support and promote fueling them with biogas from wastewater treatment facilities.

During an otherwise quiet week in Congress for issues impacting the clean water sector, two key committees heard testimony from EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding President Biden's Fiscal Year 2023 budget request for the Agency.

EPA released for public comment a draft Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Waiver related to the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements on May 9.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a series of actions aimed at addressing environmental justice.

The North Carolina Supreme Court this week listened to oral argument in a challenge to the legality of water and sewer impact fees brought by real estate developers against a North Carolina county.

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting a special session for water utilities on Thursday, May 19th from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EDT regarding the federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

Recent disruptions including the pandemic, volatile climate events, and unexpected equipment failures have had downstream consequences for water and wastewater utilities in their efforts to procure treatment chemicals and other critical supplies.

NACWA led an effort with ten other water sector associations during Water Week 2022 on a joint letter asking Congress to explicitly exempt public wastewater, drinking water, stormwater and water reuse utilities from PFAS liability under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

As Congressional appropriators ramp up the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations process, NACWA is working closely with Members of Congress and key appropriations committee staff to secure strong clean water funding and provisions in the Interior and Environment bill, which funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) programs.

EPA published its Draft Recommended Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria (AWQC) for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in the Federal Register on May 3.

Following a two-year in-person hiatus due to the pandemic, hundreds of clean water professionals converged in Washington, DC last week for Water Week 2022.

NACWA’s Board of Directors met April 28, at the conclusion of the National Water Policy Fly-In during Water Week 2022.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on May 4 cleared the Water Resources Development Act, authorizing $24.6 billion in Army Corps of Engineers water projects and sending the legislation to the Senate floor.

President Biden celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by issuing an Executive Order to preserve US forests and announced efforts to summarize all federal programs and available resources on nature-based solutions and green infrastructure.