News
Navajo Nation NPDES Program
Last week EPA announced the approval of Navajo Nation’s application for “treatment in a similar manner as a state” (TAS) under the CWA for the NPDES program. The Navajo Nation is the first Tribe in the country to attain TAS status for permitting programs. With this new level of authority Navajo Nation would be able to:
- Issue permits that set discharge limits and monitoring and reporting requirements for discharges of pollutants into Tribal waters
- Regulate the use and disposal of sewage sludge
- Carry out related enforcement and administrative functions, similar to states exercising this authority under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act
For more information see the EPA press release found here:
Navajo Nation Becomes First Tribe Eligible to Administer Clean Water Act Permitting Programs | US EPA
CRS: Carbon Sequestration Wells
Last week the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report on underground injection of carbon dioxide, known as Class VI wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Under SDWA, EPA is authorized to delegate primary enforcement authority to individual states that meet minimum UIC program requirements. As with most statutes that allow states to seek authorization/delegation/primacy, EPA establishes minimum requirements such as well siting and construction, operation and maintenance, monitoring and testing, reporting and recordkeeping, site closure, financial responsibility, and post-injection site care. The minimum requirements in a permit are established in regulation, but each Class VI permit is developed and approved based on the site-specific characteristics of the injection well project. For more information any Class VI wells and carbon sequestrations, please find the report here: Class VI Carbon Sequestration Wells: Permitting and State Program Primacy | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Data Centers and Water Utilities
This week AWWA announced the release of a white paper titled Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World. The white paper notes that “[w]ater utilities are increasingly at the center of community discussions about how proposed data centers could impact water resources, infrastructure and system capacity.” This new report, produced in collaboration with Carollo Engineers, is intended to help guide utilities as they navigate those conversations and includes adaptable resources to assist utilities in screening proposed projects, identifying information gaps, evaluating utility capacity, comparing infrastructure and water-supply alternatives, establishing development conditions, and preparing for negotiations with data center owners and developers. A copy of the report can be found here: Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World.
EPA Releases PFAS TECH Strategy to push Innovation in Research and Technology to Address PFAS
This week EPA launched its first ever agency-wide PFAS Technology, Evaluation, Coordination, and Harmonization (PFAS TECH) strategy. This new effort is designed to help push forward technology innovation on PFAS while supporting practical tools, funding, and technical assistance to benefit communities addressing local PFAS challenges. The PFAS TECH strategy prioritizes collaboration between EPA, federal partners, states, local leaders, and the private sector.
Association Updates
2026 National NPDES Program Efficiency Workshop – Registration Closing!
Date: November 4 – 6, 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm Eastern
Purpose: The 2026 National NPDES Program Efficiency Workshop supports implementation of federal and NPDES permitting programs nationwide by highlighting administrative efficiencies, sharing best management practices, showcasing innovative federal and state programs, improving data quality, highlighting new approaches and technologies, facilitating coregulator collaborations and identifying challenges and barriers. Program areas to be considered for the workshop include jurisdictional determination, permit application, public process, permit issuance, monitoring and reporting, data management, compliance monitoring, inspections, violations and response, enforcement, and oversight.
Meeting Details: 2026 National NPDES Program Efficiency Workshop
2027 State Summit on Water Reuse – Save the Date!
ACWA, ASDWA, ECOS, ASTHO, GWPC, and U.S. EPA are pleased to announce that the 2027 State Summit on Water Reuse will take place on Monday, March 1, 2027, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with the annual WateReuse Association Symposium. This free, state regulator-only event provides an opportunity for state regulators from across the country to exchange information, share experiences and best practices, and engage with federal partners on emerging water reuse issues. The Summit will feature perspectives from a variety of states and facilitate discussions on water reuse priorities, opportunities, challenges, and regulatory developments. Previous Summits have addressed topics including potable and non-potable reuse, agricultural and industrial applications, emerging water demands associated with data centers, and federal initiatives such as EPA’s Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). Additional information, including the Summit agenda and registration details, will be shared in the coming months.
ACWA 2027 Spring Clean Water Act Regulators Summit – Save The Date!
Dates: March 24, 2027 at 8:00 am – March 25, 2027 at 12:00 pm
Board of Directors will meet March 23, 2027.
Venue: The Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, VA
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.
2027 National CAFO Roundtable Workshop Announced
Date: April 13 – 14, 2027
Purpose: The 2027 National CAFO Roundtable supports the implementation of animal agriculture programs nationwide by helping support states and EPA to further identify challenges & barriers to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) program implementation, sharing new technologies, best management practices, showcasing innovative state programs and initiatives, 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 agriculture industry and other stakeholders.
Meeting Details: 2027 National CAFO Roundtable Workshop – ACWA Meeting Page
Other Meetings and Webinars
Cybersecurity Exercises and Technical Assistance Courses
The Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan and Tabletop Exercise sessions remain one of the best ways to provide a structured foundation and practical tools for building a comprehensive Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan. Facilities can take the Cybersecurity Incident Action Checklist and align it with their operational needs, develop actionable procedures, and generate a complete department-coordinated plan that integrates with their existing Emergency Response Plan. EPA’s clear explanations and real-world insights make it easier to turn guidance into something functional and site-specific. EPA remains committed to providing exercises and technical assistance on cybersecurity topics to the Water Sector. View the upcoming schedule through December 2026 and register here.
Hawaii’s Wastewater Alternatives & Innovation (WAI) Online Training Approach for Small, Rural, and Tribal Communities
Date & Time: November 5, 2026, 2:00–3:30 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Discover how Work-4-Water is reshaping workforce development in Hawaii’s water sector. Originally piloted under U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) funding on two islands, this 8-week pre-apprenticeship program was expanded under EPA funding to cover all Hawaiian islands, incorporate on-the-job training (OJT) support, and establish the WAI Decentralized Training Center. Designed to remove barriers to entry, these free online programs equip participants with both scientific knowledge and practical skills. The Decentralized Training Center offers career, water, sanitation, and funding resources to water systems statewide, while Work-4-Water features a flexible, learn-at-your-own-pace hybrid model that delivers real-world, collaborative learning experiences for pre-apprentices.
Water Research Seminar | Practical Monitoring of Wastewater and Surface Water: From Sampling to Data Interpretation
Date and Time: 11-10-2026 @ 01:00 PM (EDT) to 11-10-2026 @ 02:00 PM (EDT)
REGISTER HERE
The session will discuss how wastewater and surface water monitoring can be integrated to identify biological and chemical contaminants, including pathogens and emerging contaminants such as PFAS. Practical monitoring strategies, treatment considerations, and data interpretation approaches will be presented, with emphasis on supporting early detection and informed decision-making. The presentation will also introduce how data analytics and predictive tools can help identify water quality trends and support proactive management. The goal is to provide small-system professionals with practical concepts and examples that can be applied to improve water quality protection and public health decision making.
Driving Transportation MS4 Improvements Through Coordination
Date and Time: November 18, 2026, 2:00 – 3: 00 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
State Departments of Transportation permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System’s municipal separate storm sewer system program must manage their highway stormwater effectively while achieving their mission of safe transport of goods and the public. There are some key differences between how traditional MS4 permittees (cities and counties) manage stormwater and how transportation departments manage stormwater. For example, DOTs have different legal authorities to control stormwater and use mechanisms other than ordinances. In addition, their linear roadway systems often cross multiple watersheds and have limited right-of-way space. Collaboration between state DOT MS4 permittees and state NPDES permitting authorities helps identify these unique challenges and find opportunities to acknowledge and tailor the permit requirements. Join speakers from two states as we explore examples of collaborating to tailor transportation MS4 permits for highway systems and deliver better environmental results.
Speakers:
- Heather Goss, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Cindy Dionne, Maine Department of Transportation
- Gregg Wood, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Chris Swanson, Virginia Department of Transportation
- Jaime Robb, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
To request accessibility accommodations for this webinar, please email goss.heather@epa.gov by November 4, 2026.
The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds
Date and Time: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 1:00PM-2:30PM ET
Topic: The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds
EPA is holding a webinar on a new resource “The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds” is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 1:00PM-2:30PM EST. This webinar will feature presentations highlighting the measurable economic returns of watershed protection. Experts will provide a primer on healthy watersheds and economic valuation.
Register for this webinar here.
Speakers:
- Dr. Tammy Newcomer-Johnson and Dr. Leah Sharpe, USEPA Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions
- Dr. Peter Caldwell, USDA US Forest Service– Southern Research Station
- Dr. Roger von Haefen, NC State University- Center for Environmental and Resource Economics Policy
- Dr. Marie Gutgesell, ORISE USDA US Forest Service – Pacific Northwest Research Station
Wastewater Lagoon Optimization Strategies
Date and Time: 12-1-2026 @ 01:00 PM (EDT) to 12-1-2026 @ 02:00 PM (EDT)
REGISTER HERE
This webinar covers practical operational optimization practices that can help operators maximize treatment efficiency and maintain compliance in lagoon systems. While lagoons are highly cost-effective, utilities often experience performance declines due to excessive sludge buildup, hydraulic or organic overloading, and short-circuiting. Mastering lagoon optimization techniques empowers personnel to accurately calculate retention times, analyze effluent data, and implement strategies to prevent short-circuiting and optimize overall treatment.
Water Sector Utility Case Studies for Building Resilience to Natural Hazards
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
REGISTER HERE
SWIFT technical assistance is tailored to meet the needs of each utility’s request, from building risk and resilience assessments, to updating emergency response plans, to quantifying the potential reductions in risk that specific resilience projects can deliver. Learn how water sector utilities are benefitting from SWIFT technical assistance. Hear directly from utility representatives across the country that have engaged in the process to build system resilience to various natural hazards.
For questions or additional information about the webinar, please email ramming.audrey@epa.gov.
Please note that continuing education units (CEUs) are not available for this webinar; however, supporting documentation can be provided to attendees who choose to approach their respective state agencies.
Building Winter Weather Resilience for Water Sector Utilities
Date and Time: Wednesday, January 13, 2027, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
REGISTER HERE
Ready for the winter season? SWIFT’s experts can provide customized technical assistance to help your utility build resilience to winter weather hazards through risk-informed project planning and investment. Review this winter’s seasonal outlook, learn about the SWIFT technical assistance experience, and explore tools that can help your utility better understand and assess system impacts and identify resilient solutions.
For questions or additional information about the webinar, please email ramming.audrey@epa.gov.
Please note that continuing education units (CEUs) are not available for this webinar; however, supporting documentation can be provided to attendees who choose to approach their respective state agencies.
Job Opportunities
Deputy Director (Deputy / Chief 6)
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: November 9, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Environmental Analyst – Trainer and Technical Assistance Provide
Location: Northeast, USA
Closing Date: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Seeking multiple part-time Environmental Analysts to join our collaborative team for our wastewater training and technical assistance programs, which offer more than 100 training events annually and support communities throughout the Northeast. To apply, email your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #27-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 may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Information Officer – Land Acquisition Specialist
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference job code #26-NYS-SW-DEC-006 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.
Environmental Hydrogeologist 2
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
For more information and to apply, visit this link.
Manager, Office of Stormwater Permitting & Compliance
Location: Richmond, VA
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
This position leads DEQ’s construction and municipal stormwater programs. For a full position description and information on how to apply, please follow this link: Manager, Office of Stormwater Permitting and Compliance.
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.
