News
PFAS Payments Coming In
This week’s E+Eleader is reporting that 3M and Dupont are making good on their settlement package payments to 200+ drinking water utilities receiving funds to help offset the significant costs associated with new treatment systems and cleanup efforts to address PFAS contamination in their source water. These initial payments are part of a broader $6 billion settlement package resulting from years of litigation in the Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) multi-district case. More details on this article can be found here.
EPA Cites ‘Cooperative Federalism’ in Justifying FY26 Budget Reductions
The Trump administration’s proposed FY 2026 EPA budget seeks a 54% cut, including the elimination of $1 billion in state grants and reductions in water infrastructure loans. The EPA argues that decades of investment and collaboration with states now allow it to embrace cooperative federalism, shifting more responsibility to states while the agency focuses on core statutory duties. EPA’s budget justification claims states are now capable of managing many environmental programs efficiently, aided by technologies like E-Enterprise.
However, officials have strongly opposed the cuts, warning they could cause programs to collapse, delay permits, halt projects, and have negative economic impacts. Despite this, EPA leadership insists the approach will reduce duplication and modernize operations, framing it as part of a broader initiative to streamline government and advance cooperative federalism.
View ACWA’s Impacts of President’s FY 26 Budget Proposal on State Water Quality Programs here.
Association Updates
ACWA’s 64th Annual Meeting in Madison, WI – Registration is Now Open!
Dates: August 13-15th, 2025
Board of Directors will meet August 12th, 2025.
Member Rate – $550
Non-Member Rate – $570
(email Lexy at abailey@acwa-us.org for assistance with registration)
View the draft agenda here.
Lodging is now open for reservation! The room block will close July 18, 2025.
Venue:
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club
One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703
Room rate: $138 per night
Check back here for more details.
ACWA Leadership Elections – Cast Your Ballot Today!
The ACWA Leadership Election ballot is open.
ACWA’s Leadership Election ballot is currently open and all ACWA members should have received an email with a link to the ballot from the Executive Director. If you did not receive a link to the ballot, contact Julia Anastasio. The even numbered Regions are up for election this year, along with the Executive Officers. Please vote no later than August 7, 2025. All “members in good standing” may participate in these elections, but cast only one vote per state/interstate. The “member in good standing” is the formal or primary ACWA representative for the state/interstate agency that paid dues for the previous fiscal year (FY2025). If you are unsure whether your FY2025 dues are paid, contact Julia Anastasio or Annette Ivey.
ACWA Water Quality Modeling Workshop – Registration Now Available!
Dates: September 16-19, 2025
Location: Atlanta, GA
Registration is available here.
ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, will be holding the 2025 Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Atlanta, GA, the week of September 15, 2025. The 2025 Water Quality Modeling Workshop supports implementation of state programs by continuing to build a community of practice among state agency staff who use or want to use water quality modeling in state water quality programs.
This year we will be offering hands-on training on LSPC and EFDC, as well as a Modeling 201 track, a course featuring hands-on components, presentations, case studies, and discussions. The workshop will start Tuesday, September 16 and wrap up around noon on Friday, September 19.
This workshop is for state program managers and staff involved in water quality modeling, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff.
Lodging is available at the Embassy Suites Atlanta Centennial Olympic Park Hotel at the local per diem rate. The workshop will take place at the EPA Region 4 Offices at 77 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
You may reserve your hotel room here. ACWA will have some travel support available for state staff.
ACWA Member Survey — CWA Program Review Task Force
In 2025, the ACWA President established a Clean Water Act (CWA) Program Review Task Force charged with evaluating the effectiveness of the CWA in meeting its water quality goals. We are seeking 1 response per state and suggest that you coordinate with your teams for additional input. Please submit your response by July 31st. We are only accepting one response per state from the primary ACWA representative for the state/interstate agency that paid dues for the previous fiscal year (FY2025). Please coordinate with your teams if you would like additional input on the survey. If you did not receive an email with a link to the survey, please reach out to Julia Anastasio or Lexy Bailey.
Meetings and Webinars
Defining, Monitoring, and Assessing Different Water Reuse Approaches: A Research and Development Perspective
July 17, 10 – 11 am
Register HERE
Join WateReuse Ohio to learn about key research coming out of U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development.
Drs. Jay Garland and Michael Jahne will provide an overview of their research addressing three key areas for developing water reuse systems: 1) defining treatment targets for contaminant removal, 2) specifying and assessing system performance, and 3) evaluating life cycle costs and impacts of different reuse scenarios. The presentation will discuss their involvement in developing a risk based, fit-for-purpose strategy in collaboration with the National Blue-Ribbon Commission for Onsite Water Systems and include work on decentralized systems for reuse of domestic wastewater, roof-collected rainwater, stormwater, air conditioning condensate, and industrial wastes streams from food processing and oil & gas extraction.
Building the Ark: Neighborhood Stormwater Strategies for Grasslyn Manor
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Register HERE
This session will present the community-led development of a stormwater strategy for the Grasslyn Manor area of Sherman Park, Milwaukee. Residents have experienced persistent stormwater concerns; in partnership with firm Greenprint Partners, a group of engaged residents formed an Advisory Group to share their stories and concerns. Residents identified and explored potential solutions to stormwater issues. In collaboration with Greenprint, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), and the Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), they aim to reinforce their hopes for a dry Grasslyn Manor. Hear from the local community, as well as their technical partners, on how they engaged their neighbors, identified an action plan, and got to work to advance some early wins. Presenters: Sydney VanKuren, Director, Planning, Greenprint Partners and Steve O’Connell, Resident Leader, Grasslyn Manor
Job Opportunities
Environmental Analyst – Long Island Bioextraction Assistant
Location: Kings Park, NY
Closing Date: July 13, 2025
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by July 13, 2025. Please reference #25-NYS-LIS-DEC-001 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
EAP Eastern Operations Section, Modeling/TMDL/Groundwater Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1)
Location: Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: July 17, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit WA Ecology Job Opportunities.
Environmental Specialist III
Location: Portland, ME
Closing Date: July 18, 2025
This position is a stormwater compliance inspector in the Division of Water Quality Management (DWQM). The position requires extensive fieldwork conducting compliance inspections and audits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges in the Southern Maine region based out of Portland.
For more information on the specifics of the position, please contact Holliday Keen at (207) 242-4649 or visit Maine State Jobs.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
