• Water professionals gather in Washington, D.C., April 23-29 for World Water Week 2023.
• Finances, PFAS protections, low-income utility assistance, and wet wipe labeling regulations are among the topics to be discussed.
• The National Policy Fly-In, the week’s cornerstone event, is sponsered by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF), and the WateReuse Association.
  

Water Professionals Forge Our Future

Water professionals from the drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater sectors around the country are gathering during Water Week 2023 in Washington, D.C., to come up with national solutions for the most pressing local water challenges. Among the pressing issues that water professionals will address are water infrastructure funding, PFAS regulation, water affordability, and most important for MetroConnects, marketing regulation for so-called “flushable” wet wipes. Remember, no wipes down the pipes!

A Solution Snapshot

Finances

Water professionals are urging Congress to authorize the full funding for federal water programs established through the 2021-2022 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. If Congress provides full funding levels for water, wastewater, stormwater, and water recycling programs, local utilities will have the resources necessary to provide jobs and affordably invest in water infrastructure improvements that will meet federal regulatory obligations.

 

PFAS Protection

PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are found virtually everywhere. From non-stick coatings on frying pans to cleaning products, to food packaging, these “forever chemicals” have been linked to health hazards such as cancer, infertility, asthma, and more. PFAS regulations — especially at the manufacturing level — are among the topics that will be addressed this Water Week.

 

Water Affordability

Clean water and basic sanitation are key elements of everyday life. Yet, water infrastructure is deteriorating throughout the United States, and communities must find ways to fund improvement projects. Yet, millions of American households struggle to afford water and sewer bills. At the Water Week summit, water professionals will urge Congress to build a permanent low-income water customer assistance program to make utilities affordable while supporting infrastructure improvements to keep water resources safe and sustainable.

 

Protect the Pipes

Every day, sewer collection utilities and wastewater treatment facilities across the country spend thousands of dollars cleaning up improperly disposed of “flushable” wipes. Wastewater professionals at this year’s summit will be urging Congress to develop regulations around the labeling of wipes so that it is made clear that wipes should never go down the drain.

 

Learn More

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF), and the WaterReuse Association are presenting the cornerstone event, the National Water Policy Fly-In on April 25 and 26. Members of Congress will deliver remarks on Wednesday, and attendees will have the opportunity to network and share their visions for a clean water future throughout the event.  Visit www.waterweek.us to learn more about the issues that are being discussed this week.