An updated “common-sense” definition for what the phrase “waters of the United States” means under the Clean Water Act (CWA) has been...
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2025
Proposed Changes Aim to Reduce PFAS Reporting Burden
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has announced a proposal to improve its perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances...
New Cybersecurity Tools for Water Systems
Water systems have access to new and updated tools to help prevent and respond to cybersecurity incidents. The U.S. Environmental Agency (USEPA) tools can assist public drinking water and wastewater systems by protecting access...
How Does Your State’s UCMR5 Lithium Results Compare?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently published its ninth set of national drinking water data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring...
Federal Shutdown Halts NRWA Circuit Rider Program
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) pleaded for the Federal government shutdown to end, as the organization’s Circuit Rider Program...
PFAS Study Indicates Widespread Contamination
Researchers at the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University have made an unsettling discovery – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)...
Proposed Revisions to Chemical Reviews under TSCA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a proposed rule to revise the process for conducting risk evaluations for chemicals...
Chemicals Used in Data Center Projects Under Expedited Review
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers continue to pop up around the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...
Proposed PERMIT Act Would Codify WOTUS Exclusions
Congress is expected to consider the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act in September. The PERMIT Act, H.R. 3898, aims...
Ninth Set of UCMR 5 Data Released
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published its ninth set of national drinking water data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant...
USEPA Comprehensive Guidance Document Website Relaunched
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) relaunched a streamlined website for accessing important guidance documents related to water protection, hazardous...
Security Alerts: City Cyberattack, Utility Billing Software Vulnerability & Free Services to Protect Your Organization
The capital of Minnesota became the latest municipal victim of a major cybersecurity attack in late July. Governor Tim Walz...
2024
New Initiative to Tackle PFAS & Identify Emerging Contaminants in Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) launched a new, no-cost technical assistance effort in November that is focused on reducing...
Holiday FOG Warning: Remind Customers Not to Flush Fats, Oil & Grease
This holiday season, wastewater utilities are encouraged to share a FOG alert with their customers. Not a weather alert –...
What the Final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Mean for Water Systems
The final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) rule was announced a few days before the Lead and Copper Rule...
LCRR Public Notifications Deadline
Now that most service line inventories have been completed and submitted, water systems must send notification letters by November 15th...
LCRR Deadline Fast Approaching – When Will the LCRI Be Finalized?
The water industry is anxiously awaiting the finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) by the U.S. Environmental...
Small Public Water Systems to Provide Recommendations to National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced it will include small public water systems to participate as Small Entity Representatives...
LCRR Deadline Looms, USEPA Provides Public Notification Templates
There are just a few weeks until the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) October 16, 2024, deadline. Water systems...
Legislation Introduced to Fast Track Construction of Rural Water Systems
U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of...
U.S. Senate to Consider Water Resources Development Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) prior to leaving for August recess. The bill,...
U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Codify Chevron Doctrine
A group of 11 U.S. Senators came together in late July to introduce legislation to codify the Chevron Doctrine, which...
Water Industry Organizations Appeal Final PFAS Drinking Water Rule
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) filed a petition with the U.S....
Five Chemicals Proposed as High-Priority Substances Under Toxic Substances Control Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposes to designate five chemicals as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation under the nation’s...
2023
Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Published
On the last day of November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the much-awaited proposed Lead and Copper Rule...
Holiday FOG Alert – Clogged Pipes Ahead
Tis the season…. for clogged drains? This time of year means big trouble for wastewater utilities when residents pour fat,...
Cybersecurity No Longer a Requirement for Sanitary Surveys
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rescinded its 2023 Cybersecurity Rule in October due to a lawsuit in the State...
Clean Water Act of 2023 to be Considered by Congress
In mid-October, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives brought forth the Clean Water Act of 2023 in an attempt...
Rule Finalized to Require Enhanced PFAS Reporting to Toxics Release Inventory
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) finalized a rule that improves reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the...
Have you started your lead service line inventory? The LCRR deadline is 12 months away!
In mid-2021, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions deadline, October 16, 2024...
Amended “Waters of the United States” Rule Now in Effect
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) announced an amended version of the...
Novel Approach to Address Effluent Mercury Regulatory Limit
A novel approach to addressing a new effluent mercury regulatory limit will help a northern Minnesota town’s wastewater treatment facility...
USGS Study Detects PFAS Contamination in 45% of Tap Water
A new U.S. Geological Survey study found at least 45% of the tap water in the United States is contaminated...
USEPA Releases Results of Nationwide Monitoring for 30 Chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released the first set of data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule...
Study Identifies Urgent Need for PFAS Prevention and Affordable Cleanup Options
A recently published report serves as a wake-up call for the need for a comprehensive solution to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl...
WOTUS Lawsuit Suspended Until Amended Rule Published
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Army Corps of Engineers claimed a small victory in July when a U.S....
2022
Final List of Drinking Water Contaminants Announced for Potential Regulatory Consideration
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published the Final Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), which will serve...
USEPA Proposes Rule to Enhance Reporting of PFAS Data to the Toxics Release Inventory
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed a rule that would improve reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to...
Supreme Court Hears Wetlands Protection Case, WOTUS Expected to be Impacted
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) began hearing a high-profile wetlands protection case, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency,...
USEPA Announces Opportunities for Public Input on Lead and Copper Rule Improvements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) will host two virtual public meetings to discuss and solicit input on environmental justice...
New Online Tool Provides Information on Environmental Enforcement & Compliance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced an online tool available to the public that provides additional information on environmental...
Three Steps to Begin the LCRR Process
The Lead & Copper Rule Revision (LCRR) is the largest change in drinking water regulation in two decades. Although the...
Supply Chain Disruptions Illustrate Importance of Current Chemical Inventories
Railway unions thankfully came to an agreement in mid-September, within hours of the commencement of a strike. Otherwise, it is...
Guidance for Locating Lead Pipes to Develop Serviceline Inventories
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has new guidance to help communities and water utilities identify lead pipes that connect...
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Control Systems
The cyber threat landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Cyber threats are more prevalent, destructive, and financially devastating than...
Leading Water Industry Organizations Oppose Proposed Rule that Could Impact Domestic Chlorine Production
Three respected national water industry organizations are coming together against a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). ...
USEPA Local Government Advisory Committee Adopts PFAS Recommendations to Support Communities Nationwide
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) adopted recommendations on how USEPA can support local governments...
USEPA Announces New Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Chemicals
In mid-June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released four drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)...
2021
Public Comments Accepted on WOTUS Definition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (Army) announced a proposed rule to re-establish the...
President Biden Signs Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
President Joe Biden signed the long-awaited Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (H.R. 3684) on November 15. The signing...
Build Back Better Act Passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $1.85 trillion Build Back Better bill (H.R.5376) on November 19. If the bill...
MPCA Accepting Public Comments on Draft Impaired Waters List
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released its proposed impaired waters list for 2022, which includes 305 water bodies with 417...
Do You Want to Host a Regional WOTUS Roundtable?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Department of the Army are calling on communities to propose roundtables to...
Comprehensive National Strategy Announced to Confront PFAS Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has announced a Strategic Roadmap to confront per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination nationwide....
Validated Test for PFAS in Wastewater, Surface Water, Groundwater & Soil Announced
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), published a draft of the...
USEPA Announces New Wastewater Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has released Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15), which identifies opportunities to better...
2020 Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule Implementation Challenges
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) issued a joint memorandum regarding implementation...
Next Steps for Waters of the United States
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (Army) announced plans for upcoming community engagements to...
Four Resources to Address Nutrient Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has released four new resources to assist State, territorial and authorized Tribal partners to...
Drinking Water Contaminants Identified for Potential Regulation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the Draft Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL 5), which provides the latest list...
2020
AWIA Deadline Approaches for Medium Size Water Systems
There is an America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) certification deadline quickly approaching for medium size community water systems. The systems...
Cold Weather + Holiday FOG = Sewer Clogs
The holidays may look a little different this year, with fewer people gathering in large groups due to COVID-19 concerns....
President Signs Executive Order to Create Federal Water Subcabinet
President Donald Trump has signed the “Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure” Executive Order. The Executive Order is...
Help Available to Meet New MS4 Permit Requirements
Winter is approaching and icy roads are likely in parts of the country. In many areas, that means laying sand...
Firefighting Chemicals PFAS Survey Results
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently published the results of a statewide survey of fire departments to determine...
Upcoming Risk Assessment Deadline for Medium Size Community Water Systems
The first certification deadline under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) for community water systems that serve 50,000-100,000 people is...
USEPA Reports Aggressive PFAS Response
Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority according to U.S. Environmental Protection...
Lead in Plumbing Materials & LCR Final Rules Announced
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has announced its final rule to reduce lead in plumbing materials used in public...
USEPA Submits Proposals Related to UCMR 5 and Disposal of PFAS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently submitted two proposals to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for interagency review...
USEPA Declines to Regulate Perchlorate in Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has issued a final action regarding the regulation of perchlorate under the Safe Drinking...
New Water Data Transparency Tool Educates Consumers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has unveiled a new tool that assembles publicly available water quality data into a...
USEPA Releases Draft Criteria to Protect Lakes and Reservoirs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently issued new, draft ambient water quality criteria recommendations for nutrients in lakes and...
2019
USEPA Continues Progress Under PFAS Action Plan
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) extensive efforts to help communities address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)...
USEPA Updates UCMR 4 List
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently updated the results of the Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4),...
SMART Infrastructure Act Introduced
A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives introduced H.R. 4687, the Sustainable Municipal Access to Resilient Technology in Infrastructure (SMART Infrastructure)...
New Resources Available for Chloride Pollution Reduction
Cities across Minnesota are working to reduce chloride pollution in lakes and streams, by reducing road salt usage or reducing...
Proposed Updates to Lead and Copper Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a proposed rule that significantly improves the actions that water systems must take...
USEPA & ND DEQ Agree on State’s Self-Audit Law
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently entered into a...
AWWA Updates Cybersecurity Guidance & Tools
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has updated its Water Sector Cybersecurity Risk Management Guidance and assessment tool. The new...
USEPA Releases Draft National Water Reuse Action Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a draft National Water Reuse Action Plan that identifies priority actions and the...
WOTUS Rule to be Repealed
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Department of the Army announced in September that the Waters of the United...
AWIA Tools & Templates to Meet New Requirements
Community water systems are facing new requirements for water supply security, resiliency, and emergency response under the America’s Water Infrastructure...
USEPA Announces Proposed Rule on Clean Water Act Quality Certification
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a proposed rule in August to implement Section 401 of the Clean Water...
USEPA Seeks Comments for Regulating Perchlorate in Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is seeking public input on a range of options regarding the regulation of perchlorate...