News
EPA to Establish a PFAS Coordinating Group
On February 6, EPA announced plans to establish “a coordinating group to ensure the continued sharing of research, innovation, and actions to accelerate the cleanup of PFAS contamination and protect human health and the environment.” The coordinating group will be supported by the Office of Administrator and the Office of Water and will initially focus energy on:
- Regulate new and existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requiring companies to provide safety data and limiting harmful uses.
- Set protective drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act and monitor water supplies nationwide.
- Clean up contaminated sites under Superfund and other environmental laws when contamination exceeds safe levels.
- Control air and water pollution from industrial sources under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
- Advance cutting-edge research to understand the thousands of PFAS compounds and develop new treatment technologies.
More details can be found here:
EPA Highlights One PFAS Actions | US EPA
2nd Circuit Court Will Hear Steam Electric Rule Challenges
This week the United States Panel on Multidistrict Litigation randomly selected the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit as the venue for consolidated challenges to the Steam Electric rule that extended several deadlines by six years. Competing petitions for litigation from environmental groups against EPA occurred in the 2nd Circuit, 4th Circuit, and 9th Circuit.
UCMR 5
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the eleventh set of national drinking water data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for 30 chemical contaminants: 29 PFAS plus lithium. The data collected under UCMR 5 improves understanding of the prevalence and amount of 29 PFAS and lithium in the nation’s drinking water systems.
With this data release, the EPA is now reporting approximately 95% of the total results that the agency expects to receive. The twelfth and final UCMR 5 data release will be in early fall 2026. The EPA will be updating results in the UCMR 5 Data Summary, UCMR 5 Data Finder, and Occurrence Data Files. The eleventh data release includes approximately 1.9 million sample results for 10,299 public water systems. With the normal lag between sample collection, analysis, and reporting, the data represent approximately 11 (of 12) quarters of monitoring results (i.e., Q1 2023 through Q3 2025). This data collection effort will help inform EPA’s new PFAS OUT initiative to enhance engagement with water utilities and share resources, tools, funding, and technical assistance to help utilities address PFAS in drinking water. Services offered to utilities include water quality testing, development of technical plans, operator training support, designing public engagement and outreach strategies, and support for accessing federal funding opportunities.
Association Updates
Notice – No Wrap the Week of February 16, 2026
In observance of the holiday week, ACWA will not publish a Weekly Wrap the week of February 16, 2026. Look out for our next edition the week of February 23, 2026.
ACWA Experts Directory – A Member365 Resource
Over 85 state staff have volunteered to be part of an Experts Directory, which is an ACWA service provided in the Member365 Environment. These subject matter experts (SMEs) volunteered to make themselves available should their peers in other states have programmatic related questions. This Directory has been added as a drop down on the Member365 dashboard page and is organized by Expert Subject Area. The subject matter areas include 316(b), 401 Certification, 404 Assumption, CAFO/Animal Agriculture, Enforcement and Compliance, Funding, Legal Affairs, Monitoring & Assessment, Nutrients Policy, NPDES Permitting, Nonpoint Source, Oceans and Coastal Issues, Pesticides, Pretreatment, State Implementation of CWA Programs, Steam Electric, Stormwater – Municipal, Stormwater – Industrial, Technology and Innovation, Water Quality Trading, Water Quality Standards, Water Quantity, and Watersheds & TMDLs. If you have programmatic questions, this may be another option to help you find out how other states are addressing the issue. Several volunteers offered to help research a question if they did not have an answer readily available. Beyond answering Member questions, ACWA may also ask the SMEs to identify:
- Challenges & barriers to program implementation
- Opportunities for state program improvement & enhancement
- State advances and innovations
- Needs for training, guidance, tools, and other support materials
- Positions the Associations wishes to take on specific issues
If you would like to volunteer as an SME, please contact Lexy Bailey at abailey@acwa-us.org. For more details on Member365, please check out our FAQ Page.
Association of Clean Water Administrators Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS)
What is it?
The ACWA Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS) is a new Board directed initiative intended to encourage participation in leadership activities and help future leaders in the organization improve their understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Who can participate?
All current state and interstate members and their staff interested in learning more about leadership in ACWA (Committee/Workgroup Chairs, Regional Board Members, Executive Officers) can volunteer to participate in LEADS.
How do I engage?
To learn more about the LEADS initiative, please contact Sean Rolland to get access to a short questionnaire. Upon completing the questionnaire, participants will be provided access to a new Member365 Workspace, which holds materials developed expressly for the ACWA LEADS program.
What if I have more questions?
After reviewing the materials, should a participant have more questions and/or be interested in further discussing future leadership opportunities in ACWA, a volunteer advisor with experience in that leadership role will be notified and will reach out to you.
2026 State Summit on Water Reuse – Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 2026 State Summit on Water Reuse, which will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown. Please click here to register for the State Summit before February 13, 2026 (Please note that registration to this event is limited to state regulators-only).
This free, state regulator-only event is hosted by ACWA, ASDWA, ECOS, ASTHO, GWPC, and U.S. EPA, and will be held once again in conjunction with the WateReuse Association Annual WaterReuse Symposium, which begins March 8.
The primary goal of the State Summit is to provide a place for state regulators to share and learn about a range of water reuse issues, network with state colleagues, and coordinate with representatives from select federal agencies. The Summit will feature perspectives from many states and provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and key questions with colleagues from around the country. Past Summit session topics have included: developments in potable reuse around the nation, non-potable reuse for agriculture, industrial reuse trends and experiences (e.g., data centers, produced water), as well as federal updates on the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) and Interagency Working Group.
ACWA and ASDWA may be able to assist with reimbursement for costs relating to state travel and lodging for the Summit. However, space and reimbursement funds are limited. Please contact Ward Scott (wscott@acwa-us.org) to request travel reimbursement or for more information. Additionally, State Summit participants are eligible to register for the Annual WateReuse Symposium at a discounted (Presenter) rate.
ACWA 2026 Mid-Year Meeting – View the Updated Draft Agenda!
Dates: March 25-26, 2026
Location: Alexandria, VA
View the updated draft agenda here.
Registration is now open!
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
Check our event webpage for more information.
2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop – Registration Now Available!
Dates: April 7-9, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Agenda: 2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop Agenda – 1/16/2026
Meeting Registration: Register to the meeting using this link.
Hotel Registration: The hotel for this meeting has room nights at government rate. Please book your hotel room using this link. The room block will close on March 16, 2026.
View more details here on our website.
2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop – Registration and Draft Agenda Now Available!
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.
Registration is available here.
View the draft agenda here.
The workshop will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock. Reserve your hotel room here. The room block will close on March 30, 2026. 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
Workforce Solutions in Action: NRWA’s Apprenticeship Program Driving Skilled Talent in Rural Water
Date and Time: February 17, 2026 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Water sector utilities are essential to providing clean and safe water for every American. Within each utility, administrative professionals are critical to achieving compliance and to ensuring the technical, financial, and managerial capacity to address both current and future challenges, all while providing the reliable service, especially in small and rural communities. Please join us on February 17, 2026 to hear from NRWA about their apprenticeship program to build the Water Workforce of the Future.
Stormwater Management Essentials for Small Systems and Communities
Date and Time: February 19, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Small wastewater systems with limited budgets and staff face stormwater challenges such as flooding, pollution, and aging infrastructure. Small communities face the same stormwater challenges as large cities, flooding, pollution, and aging infrastructure but with limited budgets and staff. This 1-hour webinar provides a practical introduction to stormwater runoff and hydrology, with a focus on how stormwater affects wastewater systems and local watersheds. Participants will learn how nutrients and contaminants in runoff impact receiving waters, and how green infrastructure can be used to manage stormwater. The webinar will end with a walkthrough of free EPA tools that can be used to support planning, decision-making, and grant applications.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how stormwater runoff and hydrology affect flooding, water quality, and wastewater system performance
- Identify common nutrients and contaminants in stormwater and understand their impacts on wastewater systems
- Describe green infrastructure approaches
- Use free EPA stormwater and green infrastructure tools to support planning, decision-making, and funding applications
Presenter: Danish Kumar, Climate Change Program Manager, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center
Who Should Attend:
- Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
- Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
- Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems
ECHO Biosolids Facility Searches and Report Training
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
REGISTER HERE
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its next Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) webinar on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET on ECHO Biosolids Facility Searches and Reports.
With the implementation of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule (eRule), facilities in the 41 states where EPA implements the Federal Biosolids Program and four authorized states – Arizona, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah began submitting biosolids annual reports electronically.
This training will focus on ECHO tools under the Clean Water Act NPDES biosolids program. It will provide an overview of electronic biosolids annual reporting, describe biosolids data available in ECHO and demonstrate how to use the Biosolids Facility Search, Biosolids Annual Report Search, and Biosolids Facility Report.
ECHO tutorials and recorded webinars are available at any time.
Job Opportunities
Information Officer – Thriving Communities Specialist
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: February 16, 2026
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 16, 2026. Please reference #26-LCBP-004 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.
Senior Environmental Engineering Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: February 17, 2026
If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Senior Environmental Engineering Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5)
Wetlands Team Supervisor (Supervisor Water Resources)
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Closing Date: February 24, 2026
For more information and to submit your application, please follow this link https://careers.share.nm.gov and search for Job ID# 161124.
Senior Water Resource Professional (Advanced TMDL Writer)
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Closing Date: February 24, 2026
Job ID #161194
NMED #12203
The Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) preserves, protects, and improves New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. This position will support the mission of the SWQB by developing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) planning documents, assisting with assessment of surface water quality data to develop the Clean Water Act List of Impaired Waters and developing other water quality planning documents. This position is responsible for developing TMDL planning documents, managing water quality data, running moderately complex water quality models, and presenting technical documents to the public. This position also assists with periodic water quality monitoring surveys and water quality assessments.
If you are interested in applying, please visit NM’s Job Opportunities website to review the job posting and complete your application!
Drinking Water Protection Program Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5)
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: February 25, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities (Announcement REQ-194701). Please contact Connie Dou at (503)853-6517 with questions regarding this position.
Community and Program Assistance Manager (Grants, Loans, and Programs Manager 2)
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Biologist II – Lake Assessment Section
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: March 2, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Careers at State of Maine.
Municipal Wastewater Unit Supervisor
Location: Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, or Duluth, MN
Closing Date: March 4, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Minnesota Careers.
Water Quality Intern
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: March 8, 2026
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by March 8, 2026. Please reference #26-Lowell-002 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.
Youth and the Environment Program Coordinator – Wastewater Division Intern
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: March 8, 2026
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by March 8, 2026. Please reference #26-Lowell-003 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, accepting applications until the positions are filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
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.
