WEF Highlights

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 […]

Robert (Bob) Jack Freeman Jr., member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) since 2006, died January 21 at the age of 71. Freeman, a registered professional engineer and certified wastewater treatment operator, earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Mississippi […]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting 39 projects to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. Selected borrowers, located in 16 states and Washington, D.C., will receive WIFIA loans totaling approximately $5 billion, according to an EPA news release. “This year, EPA will help finance over $10 billion in water […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) joined 90 other organizations in sending a letter to Congress urging the adequate funding of water infrastructure. The coalition of national, state, and local organizations asked members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to include funding for drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater infrastructure […]

The Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (H.R. 7279) has passed the U.S. Congress and has been signed by the president. The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for an integrated planning (IP) process and promote green infrastructure. The bill defines IP as a developed plan that is consistent with the U.S. Environmental […]

On Oct. 10, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D–Md.) and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R–Miss.) introduced the Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2018 (S. 3564). The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) endorsed this legislation, which would help increase access to water and wastewater services. The legislation would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act […]

In October, the U.S. Senate passed the biennial Water Resources Development Act. The bi-partisan legislation includes major provisions that benefit drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure and policy. The U.S. House of Representatives also passed a version of the bill, known as America’s Water Infrastructure Act (S. 3021), in September. The Water Environment Federation (WEF; […]

James (Jim) E. Smith Jr., grew up in a family that worked in water. His grandfather operated a fishing boat and his uncle managed a Greater Cincinnati Water Works water resource recovery facility (WRRF).  “I always loved being in and around water,” Smith said. This love led him to enter a more-than-50-year career that began […]