Washington Report

House introduces bill to establish new cyber risk governing body

House introduces bill to establish new cyber risk governing body

Washington Report April 29, 2024 at 7:41 am

Legislation that supports a collaborative approach to to regulating cybersecurity in the water sector was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in April. Spearheaded by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-Ariz.) and John Duarte (R-Calif.), H.R. 7922 authorizes an independent, non-federal entity to lead the development of cybersecurityRead More

House bill aims to shield water systems, ratepayers from PFAS costs

House bill aims to shield water systems, ratepayers from PFAS costs

Washington Report April 22, 2024 at 8:05 am

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide a statutory shield for water systems under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for PFAS, and help ensure that polluters, not the public, pay for PFAS cleanup. The bill,Read More

Water Week 2024 to focus on legislative, regulatory water sector priorities

Water Week 2024 to focus on legislative, regulatory water sector priorities

Washington Report April 9, 2024 at 8:43 am

More than 350 water sector professionals and policy experts, representing associations and public water sector utilities from across the country, will take part in Congressional office visits this week as part of the annual “Water Week” Fly-In on Capitol Hill.   A large contingent ofRead More

EPA announces $5.8 billion for SRFs

EPA announces $5.8 billion for SRFs

As part of the fourth Investing in America tour, Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan recently announced more than $5.8 billion from President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda for states, Tribes and territories to invest in drinkingRead More

2024 Regulatory Outlook: PFAS, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

2024 Regulatory Outlook: PFAS, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

Guest Columns, Washington Report, Water Finance February 26, 2024 at 9:05 am

By Brian Redder & Erica Brown As 2024 commences, EPA is hard at work preparing to finalize two major rulemakings under the Safe Drinking Water Act by the end of the year: the PFAS national primary drinking water regulations and the Lead and Copper RuleRead More

EPA names new acting water chief

EPA names new acting water chief

Washington Report, Water Management February 26, 2024 at 8:45 am

The US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new acting head of the Office of Water as the current assistant administrator, Radhika Fox, exits her post at the end of the month. Bruno Pigott, who currently serves as principal deputy assistant administrator for water,Read More

Water sector issues joint statement to Congress on fully funding SRFs

Water sector issues joint statement to Congress on fully funding SRFs

Washington Report February 19, 2024 at 9:45 am

On Feb. 15, a broad group of water sector organizations representing, utilities, public works departments, executives, manufacturers, research organizations and other industry partners sent a letter to Congress requesting that it fully fund the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) to congressionallyRead More

Biden EPA expands wastewater services pilot to assist underserved communities

Biden EPA expands wastewater services pilot to assist underserved communities

Washington Report, Water Finance February 15, 2024 at 12:13 pm

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the expansion of its successful Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative to 150 additional communities as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Originally launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the initiative partnersRead More

Assistant Administrator for Water Fox to depart EPA

Assistant Administrator for Water Fox to depart EPA

Washington Report January 11, 2024 at 12:00 pm

After serving three years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Radhika Fox announced she will depart the agency at the end of February 2024. Appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2021,Read More

A shot of the Sacramento River near Redding, Calif., just north of Red Bluff where the river came within a foot of its highest recorded level this past winter.

Bureau of Reclamation invests in reuse, desal projects

Washington Report, Water Finance November 9, 2023 at 9:35 am

The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced the selection of 31 planning projects to receive more than $28 million in appropriated funding to support potential new water reuse and desalination projects. The 31 projects are in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. The projectsRead More