ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Sept. 10, 2025 – The Water Environment Federation has issued a series of concept sheets aimed at transforming the water sector into a Circular Water Economy, a future-focused model that reimagines wastewater systems as engines of sustainability, resilience, and resource recovery. This transformation requires adaptive permitting systems that creatively address meeting water quality goals, community needs, and climate challenges.
Five Key Characteristics for Successful Permitting
Based on a 2024 EPA framework and foundational research from the University of California, Berkeley, the concept sheets delve into five essential characteristics for permitting innovative wastewater management projects:
Clarity – Establishing explicit and mutually understood expectations regarding responsibilities and goals.
Capacity Building – Developing technical competence and knowledge for both regulators and permittees.
Continuity – Beginning relationships early and maintaining them throughout project development and implementation.
Trust – Cultivating mutual willingness to take risks and deliver on commitments.
Bounded Flexibility – Enabling adaptation and learning over time while exploring appropriate regulatory approaches.
These characteristics are understandable, trainable, and learnable, and they form the foundation for a more effective permitting process.
Why Adaptive Approaches are Needed
Optimizing permitting systems is crucial to unlocking the benefits of innovation in wastewater management. These benefits include real-time monitoring, cost-effective treatment, nature-based solutions, and resource recovery, which are essential for addressing climate impacts, aging infrastructure, and evolving community needs.
A Cohesive Framework for Change
Each concept sheet defines a key characteristic, illustrates it through real-world case studies, and outlines best practices for utilities and regulators. Together, they form a cohesive framework for enabling innovation in non-standard permitting processes.
The framework is not intended for every permit, but where applicable, it can significantly improve outcomes including timeliness, predictability, and transparency.
Building a Community of Practice
To implement these concepts broadly, WEF calls for the formation of a new community of practice dedicated to supporting innovation in wastewater permitting. Building this community will serve as a catalyst for creativity, environmental protection, cost reduction, and resilience.
Collaboration with the U.S. Water Alliance
Complementing WEF’s initiative, the US Water Alliance’s One Water Council has developed guides to help practitioners build skills for navigating regulatory silos and fostering flexibility. The final guide, Navigating Regulatory Silos and Making Room for Flexibility, outlines four skills to become an effective collaborator with regulatory agencies, especially at the state level.
These guides align with the concept sheet series and offer valuable tools for leadership development across the water sector.
Join WEF in Shaping the Future of Water
As the water sector faces mounting challenges, from climate impacts to aging infrastructure, WEF is committed to leading the transformation toward a Circular Water Economy, equipping the sector with practical tools to overcome regulatory barriers and accelerate progress. By building a shared understanding between utilities, innovators, and permitting authorities, we can unlock solutions that reduce costs, recover resources, and help regenerate ecosystems.
These concept sheets are more than guidance documents; they are a call to action. WEF invites all stakeholders to engage with this framework and together build a stronger water future. Review the series here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alyson Moses, WEF Managing Director, Marketing and Communications, (954) 562-7023 | amoses@wef.org
About WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization providing water professionals with the latest in education and training. WEF is leading the transformation to the Circular Water Economy: reducing waste, recovering resources, and regenerating ecosystems. Founded in 1928, WEF’s mission is to inspire its 31,000 members and 75 affiliated member organizations and the water community in pursuit of human and environmental wellbeing. WEFTEC, WEF’s premiere event, is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America attracting a diverse, global audience. More than 20,000 registrants and 1,000 exhibitors convene at WEFTEC to experience innovative solutions and gain expert insights that positively impact the future of water. For more information, visit wef.org.