WEF Highlights

Studying concentrations of pathogens in wastewater — a practice known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) — is a time-honored approach to gathering crucial public health data that traditional approaches might miss. During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a […]

Region 1 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which serves six northeastern states and ten tribal nations, recently recognized two wastewater professionals for excellence in their respective fields. Wayne Graham of the Vermont Rural Water Association received the 2019 Regional Wastewater Trainer of the Year Excellence Award, and Paul Desrosiers, a Providence, Rhode Island-based […]

Agency highlights water accomplishments during yearlong celebration Throughout 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary by reviewing progress in a different aspect of the environment each month. In February, the agency focused on a half-century of accomplishments in water conservation and management. Image courtesy of EPA December 2, 2020, will […]

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 […]

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 […]

The forward-thinking initiatives of 43 water utilities are being recognized as they reimagine partnering and engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. The Utility of the Future Today recognition celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from the traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and […]

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. […]

Since the end of World War II, the investment of federal money into basic research has led to many advances in engineering, materials science, computer science, medicine, and psychology. Yet, even with evidence of all these benefits, the relative contribution U.S. Congress has made into research as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) has […]