NACWA Member Agency the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) in Cleveland, Ohio, serves one million residents, manages a 420-mile regional stormwater system, and treats more than 200 million gallons of wastewater every day. But behind the numbers are real people who love their work, understand their responsibilities, and want others to take up a similar commitment to their Great Lake.

Prior to leaving Washington, DC last week for the August recess, the Senate passed a sweeping two-year budget deal that will raise the federal debt limit until mid-2021 and increase current spending caps put in place by the 2011 Budget Control Act by $320 billion over the next two years.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution last week sponsored by Sens. Brown (D-OH) and Portman (R-OH) marking 50 years of environmental progress since the Cuyahoga River on June 22nd, 1969, which helped serve as the impetus for the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The Kresge Foundation and Spring Point Partners are working on a research project examining the use of green infrastructure (GI) to control municipal stormwater runoff, especially in low-income, climate vulnerable communities, and are interested in learning more information from NACWA members about this practice.

With Congress heading out of DC for its August recess, NACWA and other water sector groups continue meeting with congressional staff regarding the proper path forward on PFAS legislation that takes into account potential unintended consequences on public clean water utilities.

NACWA met this week with David Ross, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, and other senior staff from the Office of Water to discuss a number of the Association’s advocacy priorities including affordability and water quality issues.