Washington, D.C. – The nation’s leading water organizations are gathering in the nation’s capital next week to call on Congress and the Trump Administration to increase investment in water resources, specifically water infrastructure and research, and to elevate water as a national priority.
Hundreds of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater leaders and professionals, representing the largest water organizations in the country, will take to Capitol Hill during Water Week 2018 (scheduled for April 15 -21) and meet with lawmakers to advocate for national policies that advance clean, safe, affordable and sustainable water for all Americans. (Full events list follows).
Water sector organizations are calling on Congress to:
• Double the funding for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds
• Pass legislation to reauthorize and boost funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
• Increase funding for the National Priorities Water Research Grant program to $20 million
• Strengthen protection of the nation’s waters in the 2018 Farm Bill
• Increase funding for USDA’s rural water/wastewater loan and grant program
• Increase funding for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water recycling program to $60 million
Water Week 2018 comes as the nation’s water resources and systems face growing challenges that include aging infrastructure, increased water quality concerns, workforce shortages, and climate change impacts. These challenges have been visible in recent events, such as the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, harmful algal blooms in Ohio and Florida, severe drought conditions in California, and hurricane impacts in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. Access to clean, safe and reliable water is a vital need that touches every American, without exception, every day. And now more than ever, it is critical to elevate water as a national priority.
WATER WEEK 2018
List of events
National Water Policy Fly-In
April 17 - 18, 2018
Washington Court Hotel
Washington, DC
As the Trump Administration and Congress turn their collective focus towards infrastructure investment, it is crucial that policy makers hear directly from YOU about the challenges your utility, agency and community face; and that sound policy and robust investment in water are critical for all Americans right now. The issues of infrastructure funding, affordability, regulatory reform, and research support will be front-and-center in 2018, and utilities nationwide must make their voices heard on these critical priorities. Together, we can move the levers of power, and continue advancing water priorities on the national and local levels.
Joint Water Week Congressional Briefing
April 18, 2018
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Senate Dirksen 106
A broad coalition of organizations from across the water sector will join together to highlight the importance of water, call for greater water infrastructure investment, and highlight steps the federal government can take to help elevate water as a national priority. Speakers will include Members of Congress and utility leaders from across the country.
AWWA Water Matters! Fly-In
April 18 - 19, 2018
The Wink Hotel
Washington, DC
Hosted by American Water Works Association’s Water Utility Council, the Fly-In is the focal point for the association’s grassroots advocacy efforts. It serves to not only advance the water community’s legislative goals, but it also further establishes AWWA members and staff as sources of information on water issues in Washington, DC
WWEMA 45th Washington Forum
April 17 - 19, 2018
Gaylord National resort and Convention Center
National Harbor, MD
The Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) will be holding its 45th WWEMA Washington Forum April 17-19 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, MD. The theme for this year is Effectively Communicating Change at the National, State, and Local Level. The meeting, chaired by Mike Dimitriou, President, WRT LLC, will highlight changes happening in DC and nationwide with regard to water infrastructure, environmental and public health protection, and the legislative and regulatory changes that will impact the water sector in the coming years. Once again, WWEMA will celebrate Water Week 2018 and unite in “one voice for water.” In addition to an exciting line-up of sessions and speakers, a reception is planned for all water groups and Congressional legislators at the Library of Congress for a special evening of networking and interaction. Visit the Forum web page for more details and registration.
WateReuse Association Water Week 2018 Congressional Briefing
Harnessing the Transformational and Economic Value of Water Reuse
April 19, 2018
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Senate Visitor’s Center 202
Communities across the country are increasingly harnessing the transformative and economic value of recycled water. Water reuse is not just a tool used in the arid West to address water scarcity, but a way for communities to better manage their local water resources to help spur economic growth and plan for the future. From supporting agriculture and attracting industry to augmenting drinking water supplies and recharging aquifers, recycled water is being used to address a diverse set of water resource challenges. This Congressional briefing will highlight how four different communities across the country are using water recycling in four different ways to bring local economic benefits. The briefing will feature: Loudoun Water’s (VA) recycled water for data centers; City of Dickinson, North Dakota’s recycled water for oil and gas operations; the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System (CA); and Pure Water Monterey’s (CA) recycled water for agriculture irrigation. Register now!
Media Contacts
Participating Organizations
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Tommy Holmes
202-306-9530
THolmes@awwa.org
https://www.awwa.org/
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)
Dan Hartnett
202-331-2820
hartnett@amwa.net
http://www.amwa.net/
National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
Tony Viardo
202-533-1810 (ofc); 202-258-8287 (mbl)
tviardo@nacwa.org
http://www.nacwa.org/
US Water Alliance (USWA)
Abigail Gardner
412-421-0809
agardner@thevalueofwater.org
http://uswateralliance.org/
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Travis Loop
703-684-2465
tloop@wef.org
http://www.wef.org/
The Water Research Foundation (WRF)
Carrie Capuco
571-384-2097
ccapuco@werf.org
https://www.werf.org/
The Water Research Foundation (WRF)
Kelsey Beveridge
571-384-2099
kbeveridge@werf.org
http://www.werf.org/
WateReuse Association (WateReuse)
Zachary Dorsey
571-445-5503
zdorsey@watereuse.org
https://watereuse.org/
Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA)
Vanessa Leiby
703-444-1777
vanessa@wwema.org
http://www.wwema.org/
