CASA Annual Conference: Registration Now Open!
CASA is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our Annual Conference on August 10 - 12 at the Resort at Squaw Creek! We are excited to return to the Lake Tahoe area after many years away and look forward to seeing you in person once again. The theme of this year’s Annual Conference is Elevating Excellence. Throughout the event, we will feature the myriad of ways in which California’s clean water committee goes above and beyond in our mission to protect public health and the environment. The Conference will feature a host of speakers covering important topics, including cybersecurity for local agencies, workforce development, driving sustainability, regulatory topics such as PFAS and microplastics, and much more! We will also feature speakers from the State Water Board, and an in-depth financial retrospective and forecast you won’t want to miss. Registration, hotel and COVID related information is now available on the CASA webpage. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Partnering For Impact: New Date!
Join us on June 15, 2022, at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA for a one-day event, co-hosted by CASA and CWEA, bringing together wastewater leaders, project managers, researchers, manufacturers, and plant operators to work together on accelerating innovation within our sector. Be sure to register today!
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Calling Mentors and Mentees!
CASA is delighted to share that we will be continuing the CASA Mentoring Program in 2022-23 after a successful inaugural year. This 11-month comprehensive program, kicking off in October 2022 and concluding in August 2023, serves to connect clean water professionals from across the state of California. CASA will match mentor/mentee pairs based on their professional goals, preferences, and experience. The program is open to both associates and agency members, and this year we plan to add additional resources and opportunities for participants. If you already know you are interested in this program for the upcoming year, please email Alyssa Downs (adowns@casaweb.org) so we can add you to our interest list. Keep an eye out in the next couple weeks for more information on this exclusive member benefit!
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AB 2247 Passes off the Assembly Floor
CASA is happy to report that AB 2247 passed off the Assembly Floor yesterday evening and is now headed to the Senate. It was a close vote and was passed with one vote to spare! Thank you to all the agencies that reached out and expressed support to their Assembly Members, it made a big difference in this bill getting passed. Please contact Jessica Gauger with any questions.
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May Revise
On May 13, Governor Newsom released his May Revision of the State Budget which includes additional funding for climate and drought response. The May Revision proposes $1.6 billion in drought response funding in addition to the $250 million drought contingency funding included in the January Budget proposal. Included in the package are the following funding allocations:
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Senators Introduce Western Drought Relief Legislation
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), joined by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Kristen Sinema (D-AZ), introduced the Support To Rehydrate the Environment, Agriculture, and Municipalities Act (STREAM, S. 4231). S. 4231 is a comprehensive reauthorization of many the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act’s (WIIN) expiring provisions. WIIN was enacted into law more than five years ago to support state and local agencies’ efforts throughout the western U.S. battle the impacts of persistent drought and develop resilient responses to climate change. S. 4231 includes a priority for public benefits as part of any storage, water recycling or desalination assisted projects to include fish and wildlife refuges, flood control, recreation, water quality, disadvantaged community drinking water needs, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy costs reductions, and emergency drinking water supply related to a state declared disaster declaration.
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House Committee Advances Water Resources Development Act
Last week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported out its Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 (H.R. 7776). The bill, which the committee advanced by unanimous consent, is a narrowly focused package addressing funding and programmatic needs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
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Water Efficiency Legislation Introduced in Senate
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA) have introduced the Water Efficiency, Conservation and Sustainability Act in response to the continuing unrelenting drought conditions in the West. Under the bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) would provide federal assistance to water agencies and nonprofits to adopt conservation programs and to provide payments to eligible households, including disadvantaged communities, to install water saving technologies. CASA submitted a letter of support on the legislation.
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San Francisco Bay Water Board Names New Executive Officer
CASA staff sends their congratulations to Eileen White, who was recently appointed as the new executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Eileen has worked closely with CASA over the years in her role as director of East Bay Municipal Utility District’s Wastewater Department. "The board is delighted to welcome Eileen White, known throughout the region for her years of leadership at the East Bay Municipal Utility District in both wastewater and drinking water, areas of critical importance to us all," said Jim McGrath, chair of the San Francisco Bay Water Board. Well-deserved and congratulations to Eileen, CASA staff looks forward to continuing collaboration during this next chapter. View the State Water Board press release here.
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Anaergia’s Bioenergy Facility Receives Distinction Award for Global Wastewater Project
Last week, CASA associate member, Anaergia Inc. announced that its Rialto Bioenergy Facility in Rialto, California, received the Distinction Award for Wastewater Project of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2022, one of the water industry’s most prominent international awards programs. The award was presented at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday evening.
The Rialto Bioenergy Facility is a $185 million project built, owned, and operated by Anaergia. It is one of North America’s largest organics processing facilities, with the capacity to convert up to 1,000 tons per day of wastewater biosolids and landfill-diverted, organic waste into up to 985,000 MMBtu of renewable natural gas and agricultural fertilizer. By reducing the landfilling of organic waste and producing a carbon-negative fuel, the facility’s net carbon dioxide emissions reduction is approximately 220,000 metric tons annually—equivalent to taking 47,500 cars off the road. Congratulations to Anaergia! Read more in the press release here.
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CASA 2022 “Ask the Experts” Webinar Series
Join us as we continue a series of CASA-led “Ask the Experts” webinars! This series closes out with two final webinars on communications and air quality, climate change and energy! These virtual workshops are free and open to all CASA members. Check the CASA website and the Connects Newsletter as we update the details on the final webinar. We hope you will join us!
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WELL Southern California Conference
Join the Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) as their 10-year anniversary conference series continues! Friday, June 10 to Saturday, June 11, 2022, the second conference will take place at the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling and Environmental Learning in Pico Rivera, CA. Join WELL to learn more about critical water issues and help support your residents and local economy as the state faces a third year of drought. Register here.
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Careers and Opportunities |
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CASA represents more than 125 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment and recycling of Wastewater and biosolids to protect public health and the environment. Our mission is to provide trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California clean water agencies, and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources. |
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