WEF Highlights

During the coronavirus pandemic, water utilities around the world are emphasizing the importance of flushing only the “Three Ps” — pee, poop, and toilet paper. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amplified the water sector’s plea, urging Americans only to flush toilet paper and dispose of all other items in garbage receptacles. The […]

In recent days, state and federal regulatory groups have made several temporary policy changes that recognize the water sector’s critical role in protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic. These changes relax certain restrictions, such as temporarily honoring expired operator certification credentials or forgiving missed consent decree deadlines, that could otherwise impede a water resource […]

As utilities across the U.S. brace for the workforce skills gap anticipated from the water sector’s looming silver tsunami, federal regulators and utility leadership organizations are taking action with a new grant program aimed at attracting new talent to jobs in water. The Water Workforce Infrastructure and Utility Development Grants program was passed by U.S. […]

At WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Dennis Lee Forsgren Jr., announced a new effort to help American utilities surmount the looming water-sector skills shortage expected in coming years. EPA plans to release a draft of America’s Water Workforce Initiative for public comment by […]

On March 14, legislation (H.R. 1764) was introduced that would extend the maximum term for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued under the Clean Water Act from 5 to 10 years. U.S. Reps. John Garamendi (D–Calif.), Ken Calvert (R–Calif.), and Rob Woodall (R–Ga.) introduced the bipartisan bill to support local water infrastructure projects. […]

On March 7, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019 (H.R. 1497). The bill would more than double the size of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) joined other […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) encourages members to urge their representatives in U.S. Congress to support funding for the National Priorities Water Research Program in the 2020 fiscal year. In 2019, Congress appropriated $5 million to the National Priorities Water Research Program. This is the only source of federal funds that supports collaborative, […]

The omnibus appropriations bill, which sets a budget for government programs for the 2019 fiscal year, passed through U.S. Congress and was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The package includes appropriations for the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) supported many […]