CASA News
Bay Area Shoreline and Waterway Displays
In early July, CASA was invited to sponsor a message about wastewater on a set of more than 50 outdoor shoreline and waterway displays maps for the Bay Area. The displays have a sustainability theme, and also highlight activities and things to do near the waterfront. The Bay Area Pollution Prevention Group (BAPPG) agreed to co-sponsor the displays along with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the City of Palo Alto, and West County Wastewater. In conjunction with the other sponsors, we developed the following messaging to place on each of the maps:
 
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater and sanitation agencies are staffed 24/7/365 to ensure that customers receive safe and reliable wastewater services. Rain or shine. This protects our local watersheds and ensures that the water that flows into our creeks, rivers, basins, the San Francisco Bay and ultimately the ocean, is clean and healthy to support marine life, people, and recreational uses. There are many things you can do to help our watersheds, too!
Don’t flush unused medications – find a collection location near you.
Avoid sewer backups – keep fats, oils and grease out of the kitchen drain.
So-called flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper – only the 3 Ps down the toilet – poop, (toilet) paper and pee!
 
CASA is proud to promote the clean water community’s efforts in achieving environmental sustainability and the protection of public health. If you see one of the 62 displays along the waterfront, be sure to snap a picture and tag us on social media! Twitter- @CASA_CleanWater Facebook- @CASACleanWater.
Apply to Join CASA’s Program Committee!
Are you someone who enjoys planning and attending conferences and events? We’ve got just the group for you! CASA’s program committee is searching for one more member who is interested in assisting CASA staff in planning the program themes, focus, content, and speakers for CASA’s two major conferences held in January and August. This appointment would be for the remainder a two-year term position that meets via teleconference or zoom approximately four times a year. Apply today by emailing Adam Link with your name, agency, and brief description of why you are interested in participating.

Participating in CASA’s Committees is an excellent way to contribute to the clean water community and get the most out of your agency’s CASA membership. Most CASA Committee seats are two-year terms, but some committees may have openings throughout the year. If you are interested in subscribing to any of the Committee LISTSERVs or learning more about our various committees, please send Cheryl MacKelvie your email and identify the committee you are interested in. Below you can find a brief description of each Committee:
Federal Legislative Update
House Committees Markup Reconciliation Proposals
Last week, House Democrats met their self-imposed deadline for congressional committees to markup and report out each of their portions of the overall $3.5 trillion dollar reconciliation package. The next step in the process will be for the Committee on Budget to take all individual committee proposals and fashion them into a single package and vote on the reconciliation package by the end of the month. Once the House passes the package, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration. However, it is still unclear if Democrats will have the necessary votes to pass the package, as Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have already voiced uncertainty about the package’s high price tag. For the clean water sector, the House committees provided limited funding increases to certain financing assistance programs that address climate resiliency and environmental justice concerns. The below summarizes the key provisions.
 
In addition to developing a reconciliation package, the House is also expected to vote on a continuing resolution (CR) bill this week to avert a government shutdown on October 1 when the new fiscal year begins. The CR would maintain current fiscal year (FY) 2021 spending levels through likely mid-December, as congressional appropriators continue to draft FY2022 spending bills. At the time of this writing, text of the CR has not been released. As a result, this means that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) funding assistance programs for the clean water sector will see a continuation of current funding levels. A review of FY2021 funding levels for USEPA programs can be accessed here.
USEPA Publishes Preliminary Plan For Industrial PFAS Wastewater Discharges
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has released its Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (plan) that identifies opportunities for how to better protect public health and the environment by regulating PFAS-contaminated wastewater discharges from PFAS-manufacturing industries. The plan outlines that USEPA will initiate three new rulemakings for revised effluent limitation guidelines for industrial discharges. Specifically, the plan will take the following actions: 
  • The beginning of a rulemaking to revise limitations for the Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) category to address the discharge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from facilities that manufacture PFAS. 
  • The initiation of a rulemaking to revise limitations for the Metal Finishing category to address PFAS discharges from chromium plating operations. 
  • The completion of its detailed study of the Meat and Poultry Products category and initiation of a rulemaking to revise the existing discharge standards for the industry. 
  • The intention to publish a proposed Supplemental Rulemaking for the Steam Electric Power Generating category. 
  • The initiation of detailed studies of PFAS discharges from the Landfills and Textile Mills categories.
The purpose of the preliminary plans is to identify any new or existing industrial categories selected for effluent limitation guidelines or pretreatment standards rulemakings and provide a schedule for such rulemakings. The Agency is soliciting public comments on its plan. Public comments must be submitted within 30 days of the plan’s publication on the federal register. USEPA provides instructions for how to submit public comments here.  
USEPA Releases Draft CWA Methods Testing For PFAS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water has published its draft Method 1633 for Clean Water Act analytical testing methods for PFAS compounds in wastewater and other environmental media. The draft method is the product of a partnership between the Office of Water and the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program to develop a “single-laboratory validated method to test for 40 PFAS compounds in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, biosolids, sediment, landfill leachate, and fish tissue” to provide consistent quality control procedures for these chemicals under the Clean Water Act. Typically, when USEPA releases a draft method, it also publishes an accompanying single-laboratory validation report. The Agency has stated that due to the high volume of public and stakeholder requests, it is still drafting the report.
 
The draft method may be used in various permit applications, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Since the method is still in draft form, it is not a federally mandated requirement under Clean Water Act compliance monitoring. However, until USEPA finishes its procedural process of promulgating the method into a final rulemaking, the method may be used now in individual permits.
In Case You Missed It
EPA to Sunset Temporary Disinfectant Supply Chain Flexibilities
In 2020, EPA introduced regulatory flexibilities to ensure that critical antimicrobial products remained available as the country responded to the COVID-19 public health emergency. As supply chains have stabilized and disinfectant products expected to kill SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) have become consistently available to consumers, the agency has determined that this flexibility is no longer needed.  

EPA will terminate the Temporary Amendment to Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice 98-10, effective September 15, 2022. Acknowledging that registrants have made changes in their supply chains and may require time to adjust their contractual commitments, EPA is providing 12 months’ notice before the termination takes effect. Registrants must ensure that by September 15, 2022, their product is produced using a source of active ingredient identified in the product’s approved confidential statement of formula or otherwise complies with the requirements of PR Notice 98-10. To read the memorandum addressing this termination, see EPA’s PR Notice 98-10 webpage.  
Webinars, Workshops & Events
Veterans in Water
California’s water utilities are now hiring and veterans have the skills utilities need. How do veterans transition into water careers? Our panel of Federal representatives and veterans who lead in the California water sector will share their stories, offer advice and answer your questions. Veterans who attend this webinar will learn how to start their water career and agencies will learn what resources can help make the transition easier for veterans.

This one hour webinar is part of California Water Professionals Appreciation Week, October 2-10. We appreciate California’s water professionals and we appreciate our veterans! Register today!
Diversity in California Water Webinar
The California water sector is rapidly hiring. How do we reflect California’s diversity at all levels of our workforce and foster a more inclusive environment with our co-workers? Join this panel of water leaders for an in-depth discussion about new workforce development programs, new DEI efforts and a discussion about what can hold back diversity efforts and the champions we need to move these efforts forward. This webinar is free and open to water professionals, leaders, HR professionals and anyone interested in our sector to join this critical discussion. The webinar is part of our series celebrating water professionals for California Water Professionals Appreciation Week. Register today!
CASA-CWEA Biosolids and Renewable Energy Seminars
We are pleased to announce the return of the ever popular Biosolids and Renewable Energy Seminars, co-hosted by CASA and CWEA. Under the hopeful assumptions that the worst of the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, travel restrictions are not in place and venues are open, these seminars will be held, with thanks to our hosts, on October 13 at the San Francisco Regional Water Board office in Oakland and October 14th at the City of Los Angeles Hyperion Wastewater treatment plant. The agenda will be identical at each location. Registration and the agenda can be found here, we hope to see you there!
WELL Webinar: The Future of Water Jobs
Join the Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) on October 13, 2021, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm for a webinar, The Future of Water Jobs: Training the Next Generation of Water Sector Practitioners. They have brought together a panel of subject-matter experts from different industries, including three panelists, Channing Hawkins, Board Director at the West Valley Water District, Beverli A. Marshall, General Manager at the Valley Sanitary District, and Chris Hannan, Executive Secretary at the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. Joining as moderator will be Stephan Tucker, General Manager at the Water Replenishment District of Southern California. Together, they will highlight workforce development initiatives, job training and apprenticeship programs, and discuss related funding to help assist women, people of color, and other underrepresented individuals seeking employment in good, high-paying jobs in the water sector. Register today!
CAAWEF Leadership Summit and Fundraiser
Save the date for the California African American Water Education Foundation’s (CAAWEF), Second Annual Leadership Summit and Fundraiser on Friday, November 19, in Long Beach, CA. 
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.