NACWA’s Farm Bill Workgroup -- comprised of Association public agency members with a strong interest in the Bill and/or conservation programs – held a conference call last week to discuss the next steps in securing NACWA’s priorities in the upcoming Bill. The Farm Bill’s five-year reauthorization expires on September 30.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report Jan. 26 examining workforce issues confronting drinking water and clean water utilities in the United States.

NACWA met with an ad hoc water sector group last week to discuss continued collaborative advocacy with the White House and Congress on infrastructure priorities.

NACWA joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) on a letter of support last week for the legislation that was introduced in the Senate to reauthorize the EPA’s WIFIA Program and jump-start the U.S. Army Corps’ implementation of its own WIFIA Program.

NACWA provided a timely update of efforts by the Association and other organizations to develop flushability standards during the California Association of Sanitation Agencies’ (CASA) Winter Conference on January 26. Cynthia Finley, NACWA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, delivered the latest details and developments during a session titled, “Nonflushables: From Mess to Messaging.”

NACWA provided an important national advocacy perspective during the Government Affairs Committee meeting at the annual conference of the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) on January 22, in Boston, MA.

NACWA attended and moderated a session last week at the American Water Works Association’s International Symposium on Potable Reuse in Austin, TX.

The Small & Medium Utility Workgroup had its first call of the New Year on Jan. 25. Composed of utility executives from NACWA small and mid-size Public Agency members, this group was formed to provide input on how the Association can increase the value of membership for current small and medium-size utilities.

In the Southwest, a perfect storm of rising temperatures, persistent drought, and growing populations has pushed water managers to consider new approaches to providing clean water for their customers. El Paso Water is at the forefront of this transition with their innovative slate of water reuse projects. In particular, the Advanced Water Purification initiative features a “pipe-to-pipe” system that is wholly unique to North America.