Clean Water Current

NACWA met with senior leadership and staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Wastewater Management this week as part of the Association's ongoing engagement with the Agency around critical clean water issues. The meeting provided an opportunity for NACWA to maintain momentum on several priority initiatives for member utilities, including updates to EPA's Draft Financial Capability Assessment Guidance and finalization of the Agency's draft guidance for reducing PFAS risk in biosolids.  

The meeting lead off with a focused discussion about EPA's ongoing work on financial capability, with the Agency expecting to release a revised FCA guidance for public comment in the near future. EPA is also working to release a final version of its biosolids PFAS guidance in an expedited manner while also addressing concerns and incorporating changes to the guidance that were suggested by the public clean water sector during the public comment period.  

Other topics discussed during the meeting included integrated planning, workforce development opportunities, stormwater, the upcoming Clean Water Needs Survey, and more. NACWA continues to advocate for policies addressing all of these topics that are grounded in evidence-based science, affordability, and the realities of utility implementation. 

Regular dialogue with EPA career staff remains a cornerstone of NACWA's regulatory advocacy efforts, ensuring that member concerns are represented as federal policies and programs evolve. The meeting also reinforced the strong working relationship between NACWA and EPA's Office of Wastewater Management. Through these regular engagements, NACWA provides members with a direct channel to share challenges, opportunities, and innovations, while helping EPA better understand the impacts of federal policy decisions on wastewater and stormwater utilities and the communities they serve. As EPA advances key clean water initiatives in the months ahead, NACWA will continue working closely with Agency leadership and staff to ensure utility perspectives remain at the forefront of the conversation. 

If members have questions, please contact Kristina Surfus, NACWA’s Managing Director of Government Affairs or Emily Remmel, NACWA’s Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs.