April 11 -13, 2016
Water Week 2016 –
National Water Policy Forum & Fly-In Report
by: Jennifer Moore, CWEA Vice-President
Scott Shipe, CWEA Chair, Government Affairs Committee
Tim Wolfe, CWEA Past-President
$1 Invested in Water Industry Increases Long Term GDP by $6.35
1 Job Created in Water Industry leads to 3.68 Jobs in National Economy
Videos on Major Topics of Concerns addressed during the Fly-In.
John Sullivan Top US Water Expert Investigates Flint Water Crisis on Behalf of EPA
George Hawkins, GM DC Water & Sewer on the Importance of Water
New York Congressman Paul Tonka - Speaks on the importance of Water
Brenna Mannion - 2016 Water Policy Forum and Fly-In Overview
November 1, 2015
CWEA meets with new MDE Secretary & Director, Water Management Administration
Tim Wolfe, Past-President; Burt Curry, WEF Delegate; and Kraig Moodie, President –Elect, met with Mr. Ben Grumbles, the new Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Ms. Lynn Buhl, the new Director of the Water Management Administration, MDE on October 27, 2015. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the new Secretary to CWEA. Recognizing that MDE’s mission - to protect and restore the environment for the health and well-being of all Marylanders- is similar to CWEA’s, we wanted to improve collaboration with MDE to assist during policy development and technology review. Our visit was well received by the Secretary and Director and they welcomed the opportunity for CWEA to provide technical assistance to the Department. CWEA will move forward with establishing improved relationships with MDE through our various committees to provide the technical support to the Department.
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August 17, 2015
Wef Webcast:
Analysis and Call to Action Against Congressional Policy Rider to Restrict Bypassing and CSO Discharges
Date: August 26, 2015
Time: 1 PM - 2 PM EST
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1659210693845111298
The Water Environment Federation is hosting a webcast on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 1 PM EST to inform and urge members to contact Congress to oppose a policy rider in the FY16 EPA appropriations bill that would restrict WRRFs and CSOs from releasing any water into the Great Lakes watershed, even in the event of a wet weather event, that has not been treated to secondary or NPDES standards. The language is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollar in additional infrastructure investments on top of the tens of billions agencies are already investing under CSO Long Term Control Plans and efforts to reduce bypassing at treatment facilities.
WEF, in partnership with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, is hosting the webcast to provide analysis of the proposed policy by three experts in wet weather policy:
— Mr. Pat Bradley, Legislative Subcommittee Chair, WEF Government Affairs Committee
— Ms. Nancy Wheatley, Vice President, CDM Smith
— Mr. Brandon Koltz, Member Association Subcommittee Chair, WEF Government Affairs Committee
Additionally, recommendations will be given by WEF and NACWA staff of actions the public can take to oppose the proposed policy rider. This webcast is open to all WEF members, and state government affairs committee members and water professionals in the Great Lakes region are strongly urged to participate. Non-Great Lakes region WEF members are urged to participate due to concerns that passage of this rider may set a precedent for similar restrictions in other watersheds. Please forward this invitation to all interested individuals.
For additional information, please contact Steve Dye at sdye@wef.org.
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June 18, 2015
Contact Your Congressman to Prevent
Cuts to Infrastructure Funding
This week the House and Senate Appropriations Committees moved forward with the FY2016 appropriations bills that fund the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. The bills included steep cuts to both programs that will have severe negative impacts upon funding available for infrastructure investments next year. WEF calls upon members to urge their Members of Congress to fund the CWSRF and DWSRF at full funding levels of $1.45 billion and $1.186 billion, respectively.
Call or email your Member of Congress today by visiting www.House.gov and www.Senate.gov to look up their contact info with your Zip Code. It’s fast, easy, and critically important.
WEF urges you to convey the following message when you contact your Member of Congress:
As a constituent and a water professional in your congressional district, I strongly urge you to oppose the cuts proposed to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) in the FY16 Interior & Environment Appropriations bill. The Clean Water SRF should be funded at $1.45 billion, equal to the appropriation level the program has received in each of the last three fiscal years. The Drinking Water SRF should be funded at $1.186 billion, the amount requested in the President’s FY16 budget request to Congress.
This funding is critical to allow communities to make the infrastructure investments they need to provide safe drinking water and wastewater treatment, a clean environment, and continued local and national economic growth. These proposed cuts will exacerbate the challenges drinking water and wastewater agencies face in your communities with increased regulatory and enforcement pressures, and the need to replace aging and obsolete infrastructure. Please fund both programs at full funding levels so that communities in your district will not be forced to eliminate vital and necessary investments in water infrastructure.
Additional Resources:
If you would like more information about the FY16 appropriations bills, please visit the following links:
House FY16 Bill:
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394275
Senate FY16 Bill:
http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/senate-subcommittee-approves-fy2016-interior-environment-appropriations-bill
March 19, 2015
Associations Collaborate to Launch Improved “Flushability” Guidelines to Reduce Impacts of Improper Wipes Disposal
The group will also meet next week to discuss the establishment of a new Product Stewardship Initiative
CARY, NC, WASHINGTON, DC – A group of five associations, representing the water sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry, announced today that they are working collaboratively on the joint development of a new edition of guidelines that will influence product design and support the marketing of nonwoven products as “flushable,” with no adverse effects on wastewater systems. The associations also announced a meeting to take place March 26th, in Washington, DC, where they will explore the establishment of a collaborative product stewardship initiative to promote greater responsibility for the proper disposal of nonwoven products, including wipes not designed to be flushed.
The association group, which includes INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; NACWA, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies; APWA, the American Public Works Association; WEF, the Water Environment Federation; as well as CWWA, the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association, began developing the new edition on January 27, 2015 and is scheduled to complete the process by July, 2016. The new “Fourth Edition” guidelines will build on the framework of the “Third Edition Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushabiity of Nonwoven Disposable Products,” which is the current voluntary guidance used by the wipes industry. The Third Edition Guidance Document represents a reasonable framework to which new information and collaborative sharing of technical expertise between the wastewater sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry should be applied to further improve the flushability guidelines.
The primary goal for the March 26th meeting will be to explore opportunities to increase public and consumer awareness about the proper disposal of the nonwoven wipes products, and also to increase the wipes industry’s responsibility over downstream impacts of these products. The meeting will include wastewater sector representatives, as well as the sustainability and marketing leaders of the nonwoven fabrics industry.
Given the issues associated with non-flushable products, the group is eager to get started on these key objectives. “Some nonwoven wipes products are not designed to be flushed but get inappropriately flushed anyway, so INDA is working together with NACWA, APWA, WEF and CWWA to develop improved flushability guidelines and other efforts to help alleviate the problems caused in the wastewater systems,” said INDA President Dave Rousse.
As a group, the associations would like to see improvement in the labeling of wipes that are not designed to be flushed, as well as the development of strategies for a broader consumer education effort about the proper disposal of wipes. “APWA welcomes the collaborative product stewardship process, and the discussions about the products that are commonly flushed and causing problems in wastewater systems,” said APWA Executive Director Peter B. King. “Public works professionals across North America also welcome the improved labeling of products to educate consumers and reduce the amount of non-flushable products in our municipal water systems.
The intent, following the initial product stewardship meeting, is for the associations to develop a roadmap for future activities, including improved product labeling, increased public education, and better consumer information regarding product flushability. Depending on the directions developed during the product stewardship process, the initiative could be expanded to include other consumer products that are commonly flushed and cause problems in wastewater systems, such as paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs and other materials.
“NACWA looks forward to working with the wipes industry to help improve consumer awareness about products that should and should not be flushed,” said NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk. “Toilets are not trash cans, and reducing the amount of inappropriately flushed products will save utilities millions of dollars each year.”
”The burden created by non-flushable products for public wastewater utilities must be reduced,” added WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “The new flushability guidelines and collaborative efforts to improve product stewardship practices are important steps to reducing negative impacts by improving product design and increasing consumer awareness about what should and should not be flushed.”
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About INDA
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry in global commerce. Since 1968, INDA events have helped members connect, learn, innovate, and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy, and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit www.inda.org, or download the INDA mobile app for immediate updates.
INDA Media Contact: Joan Izzo, Director of Marketing, 919-459-3717, jizzo@inda.org
About NACWA
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is the leading advocate for responsible national policies that advance clean water. NACWA represents the collective interests of America's clean water utilities nationwide – and their clear commitment to America’s waters. For over 40 years, NACWA has been the clean water community’s voice in Congress, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies, as well as in the media and in the courts. To learn more about NACWA visit us at www.nacwa.org.
NACWA Media Contact: Cynthia Finley, Director of Regulatory Affairs, 202-533-1836, cfinley@nacwa.org
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (APWA) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America. For more information, visit www.apwa.net.
APWA Media Contact: Laura Bynum, Media Affairs Manager, 202-218-6736, lbynum@apwa.net
About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. To learn more, visit www.wef.org.
WEF Media Contact: Lori Harrison, Director of Communications, 703-684-2480, lharrison@wef.org
About CWWA
The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) is ‘THE” national voice for the water industry in Canada representing municipal utilities and the private sector forms that support those utilities. To learn more, visit www.cwwa.ca.
CWWA Media Contact: Robert Haller, Executive Director, 1-613-246-6456, rhaller@cwwa.ca
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