News
Federal Lapse in Appropriations Continues
As week three of the government shutdown continues, there are no negotiations scheduled between Congressional leadership to bring the stalemate to an end. This week, the EPA began issuing furlough notices to several regional offices and approximately half of the headquarters staff after carryover funds were expended.
OIRA Issues Memo: Streamlining the Review of De-Regulatory Actions
The White House office responsible for regulatory reviews, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), issued a memo outlining policies for agencies as they move forward with the Administration’s de-regulatory agenda. The memo establishes a presumptive maximum 28-day review period for deregulatory actions that are executed with factual records, and a presumptive maximum 14-day OIRA review period for facially unlawful rules. Historically, OIRA had 90 days to review regulatory actions and coordinate interagency consultations, with the option to extend the review period by up to 30 days. The memo also directs agencies to consider deregulatory actions as presumptively not triggering cooperative federalism consultations or substantive analytic requirements. This represents a significant change in the cooperative and collaborative relationship with state co-regulators.
EPA: Resources to Help Protect Water Systems – Cyber Resilience
This week EPA released new/updated planning tools that water systems can use to help prevent and respond to cybersecurity incidents. These tools will help public water systems protect access to safe water and aid systems conducting risk and emergency planning for cybersecurity.
- Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Guide for Wastewater Utilities: This updated plan describes strategies, resources, plans, and procedures utilities can use to prepare for and respond to an incident, natural or man-made, that threatens life, property, or the environment.
- Template for Developing an Incident Response Plan: This new template assists drinking water and wastewater systems with developing a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CIRP).
- Incident Action Checklists: EPA is publishing two new checklists, as requested by the water sector, to help drinking water utilities prepare for, respond to, and recover from specific emergencies such as wildfires, power outages, floods, and cybersecurity incidents.
- Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist: This checklist will help water and wastewater utilities incorporate cybersecurity into the procurement process. It will help utilities generally assess the cybersecurity practices of suppliers, including vendors and manufacturers, and their products during procurement.
Learn more about EPA’s water cybersecurity efforts.
Source Water Collaborative – Request for Case Studies
The Source Water Collaborative (SWC) Groundwater Discussion Group is seeking additional content for webinars, and to consider for inclusion on a new SWC groundwater page on the Resources and Webinars page of the SWC website. We are interested in including Clean Water Act section 319 or CWSRF examples where groundwater resources were protected or improved by using funding and/or leveraging NRCS funding to address stormwater, transportation, land conservation, green infrastructure, or abandoned oil and gas and water wells. The Discussion Group is currently seeking case studies from states to share about watershed projects with a source water protection or drinking water focus.
The goal of sharing this information is to encourage partnerships at the state, watershed, and local levels to advance achieving mutual goals of water quality improvement and protection for areas that provide community drinking water supplies.
Background: For a map that shows the diversity of issues considered for protecting drinking water sources, please visit EPA’s Drinking Water Mapping Application. To find your state’s source water contact, please visit this link from the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators: https://www.asdwa.org/sourcewatercontacts/
Note: While our focus is on groundwater for this effort, we would also welcome success stories or case examples of efforts that include protecting or improving surface water sources of drinking water.
If you or your state has a case study or success story available to share on a future SWC webinar or on the SWC website, please reach out to Lexy Bailey (abailey@acwa-us.org) and Sylvia Malm, Senior Advisor for Source Water Protection at the Ground Water Protection Council (smalm@gwpc.org). Please submit responses by October 31, 2025.
Cybersecurity and SRF Funded Projects
The week EPA released a resource outlining how states can strengthen cybersecurity at drinking and wastewater utilities that have received assistance from the State Revolving Funds (SRFs). This resource, Strengthening and Integrating Cybersecurity Measures into State Revolving Fund (SRF) Funded Projects, will help states educate and encourage SRF loan recipients to address cybersecurity risks and take steps for better resilience against threats. It outlines tools that are available to utilities, such as EPA’s free cybersecurity evaluation program, and suggests ways that states can incentivize SRF recipients to use cybersecurity practices.
Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World
This week the American Water Works Association (AWWA) published a report on artificial intelligence (AI), a rapidly growing element of the nation’s economy. The physical infrastructure needed for AI is primarily housed in data centers, which are also used to meet the needs of other digital services. Data centers power these services by providing the processing, storage, and networking needed to run them. Data centers are anticipated to consume considerable resources and, in some instances, strain infrastructure and water supplies. Specifically, data centers can require substantial volumes of water directly due to intensive cooling systems and indirectly through water consumed for electricity generation. Some large data centers are reported to directly consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day. To meet the needs of the communities they serve, water utilities must understand and explain the unique impacts that data centers exert on the water sector. They must also be prepared to communicate legislative and regulatory activity related to siting of data centers. As an organization serving the water utility sector, AWWA provides this report to help water utilities better understand some of the challenges, opportunities, key decision points, and other considerations involving data centers. This report discusses the opportunities for and impacts to the water sector and strategies to address them.
Washington State Assess PFAS Level in Biosolids
In 2024, WA Department of Ecology initiated a study to assess PFAS concentrations in biosolids generated at 44 WWTPs. Participating facilities varied in size, location, and types of residential and industrial inputs they receive. The goals of the study were to (1) begin collecting data on the levels of PFAS concentrations in Washington biosolids, and (2) gain a better understanding of the sampling process for EPA Method 1633. This study is also expected to strengthen the technical assistance the state provides to their 375 WWTPs in the future. During this study Ecology discovered a limitation with using EPA Method 1633 for liquid biosolids that were less than 5% solids. This limitation affected 7 of the participating WWTPs’ results. The results from the remaining 37 WWTPs show PFOS and PFOA concentrations in the biosolids were relatively low; samples from these facilities all contained less than 60 ppb (parts per billion) PFOS, and less than 20 ppb PFOA. Additional data is needed both in frequency and location to inform future policy decisions. A copy of the report can be found here: Assessment of PFAS Levels in Washington State Biosolids.
Association Updates
ACWA 2026 Mid-Year Meeting – Lodging & Draft Agenda Now Available!
Dates: March 25-26, 2026
Location: Alexandria, VA
Reserve your room now by calling 1-800-Hiltons (1-800-445-8668) and using group code 92N, or click here.
Group Rate: $276/night
View the draft agenda here.
Check our event webpage for more information.
2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop – Save the Date
Dates: April 7-9, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Purpose: The 2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop supports implementation of federal and state industrial permitting programs nationwide by sharing best management practices, showcasing innovative federal and state programs, highlighting new approaches and technologies, facilitating discussion on national program enhancements and improvements, identifying state resource needs including tools, training and guidance, and proposing solutions to challenges and barriers faced by the regulators and other stakeholders. More information can be found on ACWA’s event page.
2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop – Registration is Open!
Dates: April 21-23, 2026
Location: Little Rock, AR
Registration is open for the 2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop! This workshop will take place April 21-23, in Little Rock, AR. This workshop is a national meeting organized by ACWA for state staff involved in state water quality standards programs, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff. The workshop will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock.
You may register here!
The workshop will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock. Reserve your hotel room here. ACWA does anticipate having travel support for state staff.
When available, more information can be found on ACWA’s events page.
ACWA 2026 Annual Meeting – Save The Date!
Dates: August 5, 2026 at 8:00 am – August 7, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Board of Directors will meet August 4, 2026.
Venue: The Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe, NM
Check back here for more information regarding registration, lodging, and agenda.
Meetings and Webinars
Lift Station Operation and Maintenance
Date: Tue, Oct 28, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
REGISTER HERE
This webinar covers operation, maintenance, and inspection tasks for wastewater lift stations. Attendees will achieve the following learning objectives:
- Discuss maintenance and inspection tasks for wastewater lift stations
- Describe the main components of lift stations
- Explain how lift station control systems function
- Evaluate pumps and motors used in lift stations
- Apply safety principles related to lift station O&M
Join for an hour of practical tips and expert guidance to keep your lift stations running safely and efficiently.
Presenters: Gregory Pearson, Water & Wastewater Trainer, Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center
EPA Webinar: Quarterly Cybersecurity Vulnerability Snapshot Webinar
Date: October 30, 2025
Time: 1:00pm eastern
Registration: Meeting Registration – Zoom
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will provide the third quarterly overview of the most common cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified at water and wastewater systems via CISA’s Free Cyber Vulnerability Scanning for Water Utilities and EPA’s Proactive Vulnerability Identification Program for Water and Wastewater Systems. EPA and CISA will share cybersecurity best practices for water and wastewater systems to limit exposure to these common vulnerabilities. Participants may ask questions and will learn about the free cybersecurity tools and technical resources offered by both agencies to improve cyber defenses.
SERA-46 Lunch and Learn Series – Basin Breakthrough: Early Career Leaders in Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Research
Monday, November 3, 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
This three-part virtual seminar series will feature early career leaders in Mississippi River Basin water quality research to illuminate innovative solutions for improving agricultural water quality across the watershed. Each date will feature talks from three up-and-coming scientists across the upper, middle, and lower basins. The third webinar will take place on November 3 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET. Click here for more information about SERA-46 events.
SERA-46 is Southern Extension and Research Activities committee number 46. It is one of a group of formal USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and land-grant university funded committees designed to promote multi-state research and extension activities. SERA-46 brings together researchers and extension specialists who share a common interest and expertise related to the environmental, social, and economic factors that contribute to nutrient loss from agricultural lands and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.
ITRC: PFAS Introductory Training
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 1:00PM-3:00PM EST
REGISTER HERE
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large and complex class of anthropogenic compounds whose prevalence in the environment are an emerging, worldwide priority in environmental and human health. The ITRC PFAS Team, formed in 2017, has prepared readily accessible materials to present PFAS information to stakeholders, regulators, and policy makers. The PFAS team represents a diverse cross-section of expertise and experience working on PFAS.
This training will include emerging science on PFAS, including topics such as Properties of PFAS, Fate and Transport, Sampling and Analysis, and Treatment Technologies. The technical presentations will be focused on those who are relatively new to PFAS. The training will last approximately 90 minutes and include time for questions.
ACWA Legal Affairs Committee November Call
ACWA’s Legal Affairs Committee will host a call on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET, which will focus on the D.C. Circuit’s recent ruling in Village of Morrisville, Vermont v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In that opinion, the court held that a state does not waive its CWA Section 401 authority where an applicant for water quality certification unilaterally withdraws and resubmits its application.
We will be joined by Laura Murphy, Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Environmental Protection Unit at the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. Ms. Murphy – who argued the cause and filed a brief on behalf of the state intervenor in Village of Morrisville – will provide a summary of the case and some background on the issue. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A, time permitting.
Please reach out to Ward Scott (wscott@acwa-us.org) for more information and to register for this call.
Ask Me Anything SRF Office Hours
This initiative will expand your knowledge and enhance your ability to navigate the SRFs. These sessions are tailored for state agencies, utility operators, and stakeholders who support water infrastructure projects. Each session will open with a specific theme, providing clarity, strategies, and practical insights for preparing and managing an SRF-funded project. The remainder of the session will be devoted to ‘Ask Me Anything’. Participants can attend all sessions or select those that best meet their needs. Submit your questions in advance or bring them to the session for real-time support from our experts.
Wed., 11/5, 11-1 EST: What is an Intended Use Plan?
Meeting Registration – Zoom
Mon., 11/17, 2-4 EST: Summary of what was covered over the AMA sessions
Meeting Registration – Zoom
Stormwater Centers of Excellence
November 12, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Stormwater is a significant source of water pollution, threatening the health of waterways nationwide. However, financial & engineering challenges make stormwater difficult for communities to manage. Recognizing this challenge, EPA awarded $5M in grant funding to establish the new Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies Grant Program. Come meet the recently established Centers and learn about the research, training and technical assistance the Centers will be providing, as well as the Clearinghouse that will be used to share the Center’s activities and projects
ITRC: Microplastics Training
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 1:00PM-3:00PM EST
REGISTER HERE
In response to one of the biggest emerging environmental concerns, ITRC formed the Microplastics Team in 2021 to develop the Microplastics Guidance Document. Plastics have become pervasive in modern life and are now used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. Microplastics may result from the degradation and fragmentation of larger plastics, or they may be intentionally produced for specific applications and products. Regardless of their origin, microplastics are now ubiquitous in our environment. Because of their small size and pervasiveness in the environment, microplastics, along with any other contaminants which are adhered to the microplastics, may be inadvertently consumed by humans and other organisms. The target audience for the guidance and this training course includes state regulators and environmental consultants, as well as community and tribal stakeholders.
The guidance and this associated training course uses a conceptual site model to navigate microplastics in the environment and explore the following general areas. Prior to attending the training class, participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC Microplastics Guidance Document.
EPA Webinars: Wastewater Math
- Dates & Times:
- Part 1: November 19, 1-3 PM (Eastern Time)
- Part 2: November 20, 1-3 PM (Eastern Time)
- Registration: Register Here
- Flyer: Webinar Flyer_Q1 Nov2025_Wastewater Math.pdf
Overview: Join EPA for a comprehensive webinar focused on the essential math skills needed to accurately complete facility discharge monitoring reports (DMRs). This session will provide step-by-step guidance on translating lab reports and field measurements into DMR entries. To ensure a solid understanding of these concepts, we will work through a variety of wastewater problems live.
About the Presenter: Cornell Gayle, U.S. EPA HQ, Atlanta, GA is a Professional Civil Engineer who works with the Environmental Protection Agency providing support to states and local municipalities ensuring compliance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System requirements.
ACWA / EPA Water Reuse Webinar
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
ACWA and EPA will host a second Water Reuse Webinar on December 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET. This second webinar for state regulators will focus on water reuse issues surrounding data centers. Presentations and discussions will include considerations for permitting, treatment and cooling technologies. Participation in this event will be limited to state and federal regulators.
Job Opportunities
Environmental Consultant
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Closing Date: October 29, 2025
The Environmental Consultant (37020530) is an advanced environmental professional position in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Water Quality and Restoration Program, Watershed Planning and Coordination Section in Tallahassee. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating activities associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)/Watershed Management Program through the development and implementation of restoration plans, known as Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) covering the Indian River Lagoon area. The incumbent has the responsibility of handling various assignments, and representing the Program, as necessary, in both internal and external meetings. The incumbent deals with a variety of tasks, including extensive stakeholder outreach, and must use independent judgement and problem-solving skills to successfully accomplish the job. Critical thinking and highly effective communication and interpersonal skills are a must for this position.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Municipal and Industrial Permit Specialist (Water Resource Professional)
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Closing Date: October 30, 2025
The Surface Water Quality Bureau is seeking a Municipal and Industrial Permit Specialist to implement surface water discharge permits pursuant to Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program; evaluate Notices of Intent submitted under state regulations in 20.6.2 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC); provide technical and planning assistance to the regulated community; conduct anti-degradation reviews and ambient in-stream water quality analyses for permitting; certify federal NPDES pursuant to Section 401 of the CWA; review projects for surface water impacts; and coordinate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on projects that affect NPDES permit holders.
For more information and to submit your application, please follow this link https://careers.share.nm.gov and search for Job ID# 158548.
Environmental Hydrogeologist 1-2
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Closing Date: Open until filled
The Watershed Improvement Unit in the Water Quality Division is looking for a Hydrogeologist to remediate abandoned hardrock mines that are polluting rivers and streams. The Hydrogeologist will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating remedial designs, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and providing technical expertise to address the environmental and public health risks associated with abandoned hardrock mines. The Hydrogeologist will work with a multidisciplinary team to assess, plan, and execute remediation projects. This role plays a key part in protecting and enhancing Arizona’s waterbodies for the enjoyment of people and wildlife.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
