The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation this week, The PFAS Action Act of 2021 (H.R. 2467), that directs EPA to list certain PFAS substances as hazardous materials under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) – also knows as the Superfund law. Unfortunately, the legislation did not include important exemptions and protections for the municipal water sector that would protect utilities from costly PFAS cleanups

Senators this week are continuing to work out the final details and ways to pay for the bipartisan infrastructure legislative package they hope to bring to the full chamber for a vote before the August recess.

On Wednesday, July 21st, bipartisan legislation led by Reps. Lowenthal (D-CA) and McClain (R-MI) was introduced to help address the problem of non-flushable wipes in sewer systems. The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES) would direct the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with U.S. EPA, to issue regulations requiring wipes manufacturers to include Do Not Flush labeling on non-flushable wet wipes packaging.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Community Services has set a new date for a webinar for water and wastewater utilities to learn more about the emergency Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): Thursday, August 12th from 3:00-4:00 PM Eastern. We expect a registration link from HHS within the week, which NACWA will include in the next Current.

NACWA’s 2021 Utility Leadership Virtual Event took place this past Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the Annual Association Business Meeting and Awards Presentation.

Over the last eighteen months, cities on the frontline have been navigating the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The water sector faced its own unique challenges, as utilities across the country did their best to maintain essential services such as access to water and sanitation. Those who had implemented digital capabilities were far better equipped to weather the storm, focusing the industry’s attention on the role of digital solutions in promoting greater resiliency.

As the Senate focuses its work on turning the high level bipartisan infrastructure framework released in late June into actual comprehensive legislation, NACWA sent a letter to Congressional Leadership last week urging that the highest level of funding for clean water infrastructure be provided in the form of direct investment.

In the last Clean Water Current, NACWA included a save-the-date for Thursday, July 22nd for a one-hour webinar to be hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services for water and wastewater utilities to learn more about the emergency Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

Have you registered for NACWA’s upcoming Utility Leadership Virtual Event? Happening next week on July 20 and July 21, NACWA is hosting this free leadership event that will explore how water sector leaders have an opportunity to highlight the essential role they play in their communities and to influence how infrastructure conversations ultimately play out on the national stage.

EPA has approximately $5.5 billion in credit for Fiscal Year 2021 that could finance over $11 billion in water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.