As the Trump administration rapidly approaches one year in office, many senior-level agency positions remain vacant.

NACWA joined with the U.S. Water Alliance (USWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) to release a new publication on October 3 that explores the idea of a watershed or statewide utility, to better coordinate efforts between a wide variety of stakeholders in addressing water quality impairment concerns.

As Puerto Rico continues to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) is assessing their resource needs and priorities. Over 40 percent of the island’s population is without potable water, and nine of 52 wastewater treatment facilities are operational—19 are non-operational, and the status of others is unknown.

In the face of severe proposed budget cuts, water sector associations are advocating for continued funding of EPA’s Water Security Division (WSD), within the Office of Water.

EPA is developing a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to help expedite WIFIA project approval.

NACWA held a collaborative roundtable workshop in June with the Western Coalition of Arid States (WESTCAS) in San Diego, CA to discuss the unique perspectives and water resource challenges in both the arid west and in the southeast.

The Senate passed a bill last week that would provide federal support and advance research into the underlying causes of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

NACWA and a number of its utility members took part in a meeting on September 30 to further discussions over peer-to-peer partnerships in the clean water sector and workforce development issues.

NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) collaborated Oct. 3 to sponsor the Utility Leaders Morning at WEFTEC17, providing a forum for utility professionals to discuss innovations in the water sector and hear directly from senior EPA officials on the Agency’s current water priorities.

Both the Senate and House will look to make progress this week in advancing a Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) Budget Resolution.

The Energy Workgroup convened last week to discuss the role of renewable energy in NACWA Member Agency the Narragansett Bay Commission’s (NBC) energy portfolio.

The EPA’s Water Finance Center, in partnership with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), recently published and released the guide.

NACWA member agency, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA), is putting strong action into its bold goal to be energy independent by 2019.

NACWA’s Vice President and Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), David St. Pierre, testified today on behalf of NACWA before the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment at a hearing titled, Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Water Infrastructure Stakeholder Perspectives.