News
EPA Updates PFAS Destruction Guidance
EPA released updated, science-backed guidance for the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The updated interim guidance reflects the most recent data available and is designed to give states, utilities, waste handlers, and local communities the information they need to manage these chemicals safely and protect human health. EPA’s updated guidance recommends technologies with the lowest potential for releasing PFAS to the environment based on site-specific conditions, including three existing technologies that stand out for having lower potential for environmental release of PFAS than other technologies:
- Using Class I underground injection wells for long-term waste storage.
- Disposing PFAS in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulated hazardous waste landfills.
- Using hazardous waste combustors that operate under specific conditions to destroy PFAS and minimize harmful byproducts and air emissions.
EPA and other government, academic, and private sector institutions are working simultaneously to advance innovation, develop new technologies and methods, and better understand PFAS destruction. To support these developments, EPA’s updated guidance also includes a new technology evaluation framework to assess the safety and effectiveness of emerging tools. In support of EPA’s commitment to unparalleled transparency, the agency encourages technology developers and researchers to generate and publicly release data consistent with the principles of gold-standard science. EPA will accept comments on the interim guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
EPA’s 2021 MSGP Administratively Continued
The 2021 MSGP expired on February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., eastern time. EPA did not reissue a new permit prior to its expiration. Therefore, the 2021 MSGP has been administratively continued in accordance with section 558(c) of the Administrative Procedure Act (see 40 CFR 122.6) and remains in force and effect for facilities/operators that were covered under the permit prior to the 2021 MSGP’s expiration. On EPA’s webpage you will find information on:
- Existing facilities with active MSGP coverage
- New facilities/operators that intend to begin discharging after February 28, 2026
- Facilities/operators with or seeking a “No Exposure” exclusion
- Existing facilities/operators without 2021 MSGP coverage that began discharging prior to February 28, 2026
EPA Launches Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to “Advance Agency’s Core Mission and Strengthen US Industry, AI, and Energy Dominance“
On April 16, EPA announced the launch of the Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) 2.0, the stated goal of which is to “harness the power of water reuse for American industry, the artificial intelligence (AI) future, and American energy dominance while strengthening public health protections and safeguarding the nation’s water resources.” WRAP 2.0 builds on the original 2020 WRAP framework and focuses on expanding reuse in areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, data centers, and energy production. It outlines new federal commitments and collaborative efforts with state, local, and industry partners, emphasizing that the initiative is not a regulatory mandate but a voluntary, partnership-driven approach. EPA announced that, through WRAP 2.0, the agency will prioritize three areas: supporting domestic manufacturing and agriculture, advancing water reuse for technology infrastructure such as microchip fabrication and data centers, and enabling water use in energy production. Click here for more information about EPA WRAP 2.0 and its launch.
USACE Soliciting Public Input on Nationwide Permit Program
On March 13, President Trump issued an executive order – Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction – directing (among other things) EPA and USACE to review and potentially revise several Clean Water Act permitting and water quality requirements that the administration says may be contributing to higher housing construction costs. The order calls for evaluation of requirements affecting stormwater, wetlands, and other waters with the goal of streamlining permitting and reducing regulatory burdens associated with residential development. Among the programs identified for review are EPA’s Construction General Permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity, federally established total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and construction and post-construction requirements in municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits.
The order also directs the agencies to examine federal standards governing dredge-and-fill permitting and state or tribal program assumption under Clean Water Act Section 404. In response, USACE has announced that it will be soliciting public input on potential revisions to its nationwide permit program. In order to be considered, comments must be received by May 15, 2026.
Association Updates
2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop
This week, ACWA held the 2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas. 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 brought together 104 participants from 34 states as well as representatives from three EPA Regions and Headquarters. Topics discussed included case studies from states, stakeholder engagement, emerging contaminants, human health criteria, and the triennial review process.
View materials from the meeting here.
ACWA 2026 Annual Meeting – Draft Agenda Now Available
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
ACWA has provided a draft agenda for attendee travel approval purposes. View the draft agenda here.
Check here on our website for more information regarding registration, lodging, and agenda updates.
Your Chance to be Featured in ACWA’s 2026 Annual Report!
As we gear up for our annual report, we’re looking to expand our photo library. We invite you to be a part of the Annual Report by sharing your photographs with us!
Here’s how you can participate:
- Select your best high-resolution water photos
- Email them to Lexy Bailey by June 15th, 2026
- Include your name and the location of the photograph
Thank you!
Meetings and Webinars
Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Tool Training
Date and Time: April 29, 2026, 1-2:30 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
EPA’s Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity (OWERC) will demonstrate how to use EPA’s Cybersecurity Procurement Evaluation Checklist for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems to assess and compare cybersecurity-related vendors.
EPA FCA Guidance Stakeholder Calls
Date and Time: April 29, 2026, May 7, 2026, 1- 2:30pm ET
EPA invites you to Clean Water Act (CWA) Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance public stakeholder engagement webinars. These webinars will provide opportunities to contribute or listen to feedback about the FCA Guidance. Interested parties can sign up to give oral comments through the webinar registration links, no later than April 24 and May 1, respectively. Due to anticipated interest, comments will be limited to 3-5 minutes. All public commenters are encouraged to also submit their comments in writing via the Federal eRulemaking portal.
Building Cyber Resilience Using EPA’s Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Template
Date and Time: April 30, 2026, 1-2:30 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
EPA invites water sector professionals to learn about its new Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Template. This fully customizable template is designed to help all utilities prepare for, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents affecting both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems.
SWC and SPFW Webinar on Tools and Resources to Advance Landscape Partnerships for Drinking Water Protection
Date and Time: April 30, 2026, 2-3:30 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
On Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 2:00–3:30 pm ET, the Source Water Collaborative (SWC) and Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water (SPFW) will host a webinar entitled, “Stronger Together: Landscape Partnerships for Drinking Water Protection.” During the webinar, participants will learn about tools and resources to assist new and established collaborations with identifying needs, communicating issues, and finding funding to protect drinking water sources on a landscape scale. Speakers will provide information from the Source Water Collaborative, Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water, and Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests & Water. Presentations will be followed with a breakout discussion—your chance to connect with peers and explore how these strategies could benefit partnerships in your own region. For more information, view the webinar flyer and register for the webinar here.
NNCR Advanced Training: Schedule Violations
Date and Time: April 30, 2026, 1:30-2:30 PM EST
Register for this training on ZoomGov
This training focuses on schedule violations on the quarterly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Noncompliance Report (NNCR), which provides a comprehensive list of Clean Water Act violations and their resolutions to the public. It will provide an overview of when schedule violations are generated, criteria for assigning Category I versus II noncompliance, resolution of schedule violations, and a demonstration of searching and filtering schedule violations on the quarterly NNCR.
This is an advanced training and assumes you have attended or watched a recording of the quarterly NNCR training before attending.
NNCR Advanced Training: Single Event/Other Violations
Date and Time: May 5, 2026, 3:00-4:00 PM EST
Register for this training on ZoomGov
This training focuses on single event/other violations on the quarterly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Noncompliance Report (NNCR), which provides a comprehensive list of Clean Water Act violations and their resolutions to the public. It provides an overview of when single event/other violations are generated, criteria for assigning Category I versus II noncompliance, resolution of single event/other violations, and a demonstration of searching and filtering single event/other violations on the quarterly NNCR.
This is an advanced training and assumes you have attended or watched a recording of the quarterly NNCR training before attending.
Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) Webinar
Date and Time: May 13, 2026, 1-2:30 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
EPA’s Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity (OWERC) will demonstrate how to use EPA’s Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) to conduct cybersecurity assessments at water and wastewater systems.
How Water Sector Utilities are Building Resilience to Natural Hazards: Utilities Recount their Engagement with EPA SWIFT Technical Assistance
Date and Time: May 20, 2026, 1-2 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Join US EPA’s Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) initiative to learn how water sector utilities are benefitting from natural hazard risk assessment technical assistance. The technical assistance provided by SWIFT’s experts is tailored to meet the needs of each utility request, from improving the understanding of natural hazard impacts to their system to quantifying the potential reductions in risk that specific projects can deliver. Hear directly from utility representatives across the country that have engaged in the process to build system resilience to various natural hazards.
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Technical Assistance & Open Office Hours
Environmental Finance Center Network [external with federal funding] provides State Revolving Funds (SRFs) Office Hours. These sessions are designed to help state agencies, utility operators, and stakeholders navigate SRFs with practical insights and strategies. Each session begins with a theme to provide clarity on managing SRF-funded projects, followed by an open “Ask Me Anything” Q&A
- May 6: What is the best way to calculate rates?
- May 18: Federal award compliance, part 1
- June 3: Federal award compliance, part 2
Job Opportunities
Planner Principal State – Environmental Project Coordinator
Location: Duluth, Brainerd, St. Paul, Rochester, Detroit Lakes, Marshall, or Mankato, MN
Closing Date: April 28, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Minnesota Careers.
Wetlands Section Manager
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: April 29, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Ecology Job Opportunities.
Petroleum Remediation Project Leader
Location: Duluth, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, St. Paul, Rochester, Mankato, Marshall, MN
Closing Date: April 29, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Minnesota Careers.
NPDES Permit Writer (Natural Resource Specialist 3)
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: April 30, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Environmental Specialist III
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: May 7, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Careers at State of Maine.
Environmental Analyst or Engineer – Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: Open until filled
To apply, email your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #26-Lowell-001 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Watershed Management Section Manager
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Watershed Management Section Manager (WMS2)
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
