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Newsletter #400 for March 18, 2025 |
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EPA to Revise "Waters of the US" Rule |
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Last week Administrator Zeldin announced that the U.S. EPA will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to review and revise the definition of “waters of the United States" in alignment with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the press release, agencies will "move quickly to ensure that a revised definition follows the law, reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the cost of doing business in communities across the country while protecting the nation’s navigable waters from pollution."
Read the full press release: Administrator Zeldin Announces EPA Will Revise Waters of the United States Rule | U.S. EPA
To place this into context, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) created an introduction to the Clean Water Act. While some of the content is specific to the unique circumstances of tribes, there is helpful information for all small and rural communities. |
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Tap Talk |
The Many Benefits of Iowa’s Private Well Grants Program
We’re officially halfway through Tap Talk’s fifth season! This week, we welcome some guests from our state’s neighbor to the West: Mindy Uhle, Bureau Chief of Environmental Health at the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services, and Erik Day, a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Mindy and Erik work on Iowa’s Private Well Grants Program, a cross-agency effort to provide Iowans with free or discounted well services. (See more from HHS and DNR). The program was established through the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, and bolsters relationship between all areas of Iowa’s private well community in addition to saving well owners money. |
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Advanced Water Purification Approved in Arizona, Paving the Way for Sustainable Drinking Water Supply |
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The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has announced the approval of the Advanced Water Purification (AWP) rules by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. This new regulatory framework aims to ensure a sustainable and reliable drinking water supply for Arizona communities amid rising demand and drought conditions. The AWP program allows cities and water providers to apply for permits to purify treated water for potable use, incorporating strict safeguards to protect public health.
Key requirements include initial source water characterization, pathogen control, and site-specific chemical control. The approval follows extensive public engagement and technical reviews, with major cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale actively supporting the initiative. The AWP rules took effect on March 4, 2025, and will be published in the Arizona Administrative Register soon.
“Water reliability is the foundation of a thriving community, and the approval of these rules paves the way for new opportunities to strengthen our supply,” said Phoenix Water Services Director Troy Hayes. “Phoenix is prepared to integrate advanced water purification into our long-term strategy, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and resilience.”
Further Resources...
Read the full press release: Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Approved | ADEQ
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Featured Video |
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Flowing Forward: Confronting the Legacy of Combined Sewer Overflows in the United States
Institute for Sustainability Engagement
"Dive deep into the murky history and lasting impact of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the United States. This video unravels what a CSO is, the challenges they cause, and what is being done to address those challenges. Discover what it takes to tackle these issues and safeguard the health of our communities and natural resources." |
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Lead in Drinking Water in Early Care and Education Facilities Map |
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Childcare centers and schools are required to report lead in drinking water results and remediation actions to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). This interactive map tool shows results by facility or address. You can check periodically for ongoing updates as facilities report results. MDH reviews all submitted data before it is published to the webpage and will update the map monthly.
A spreadsheet of all of the data is available for download at Facility Map Data (csv) (Updated February 3, 2025). This spreadsheet will be periodically updated as new data is added to the map but may not be updated in real-time with the map.
Find more information about how to use this resource: Results and Metrics - MN Dept. of Health. |
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Smart Solutions for Small Systems: Harnessing Technology for Efficiency, Compliance, and Sustainability
March 20, 2025 | 12:00 PM EDT
Environmental Finance Center Network
Join this free webinar to hear about how small wastewater treatment systems face significant challenges, including aging infrastructure, evolving regulatory requirements, and limited funding. This webinar will explore how emerging technologies such as automation and smart infrastructure can improve efficiency, enhance sustainability, and improve regulatory compliance. |
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Learn About EPA’s Free Cybersecurity Assessments for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems
March 26, 2025 | 2:00 PM EDT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This free webinar will provide an overview of EPA's Cybersecurity Evaluation Program, which offers free cybersecurity assessments to help drinking water and wastewater utilities improve their cybersecurity program. Attendees will learn tips to prepare for an assessment, benefits of conducting a cybersecurity assessment, and case studies highlighting how the program helped improve a utility's cyber resilience and the lessons learned. At the conclusion of the webinar, utilities will have the opportunity to sign up for a cybersecurity assessment and take the first step toward improving their cyber resilience. |
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Developing Effective Standard Operating Procedures
March 27, 2025 | 1:00 PM EDT
Environmental Finance Center Network
At this free webinar, the presentation covers the purpose and basic components necessary to develop effective standard operating procedures. Attendees will achieve these learning objectives: Apply utility and industry standards as the basis for SOP development, Analyze utility procedures to determine if an SOP is required, Differentiate between effective and ineffective SOP contents, Identify the basic components of an effective SOP, & Create standard operating procedure instructions. |
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Recent Blog Posts at WaterOperator.org |
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Texas Water Supply Endangered by Workforce Shortage
Read Here » |
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Pathways for Career Development in Wastewater Treatment
Read Here » |
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more. |
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