ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The WateReuse Association applauds today’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announcement of a new federal Water Reuse Interagency Working Group. WateReuse developed the legislative language for this important effort and worked to have it enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The Working Group is charged with developing and coordinating actions, tools, and resources to advance water reuse across the country. WateReuse will continue to support the Working Group in breaking down silos, leveraging resources throughout the federal family, and facilitating stakeholder engagement on water recycling.
“Water reuse is a multi-benefit solution that can expand water supplies, protect the environment, reduce costs, and improve resiliency in our communities,” said WateReuse Association Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi. “WateReuse Association is proud of our role in advancing this collaborative approach to unlocking the full potential of water reuse in the United States.”
The federal Water Reuse Interagency Working Group is composed of senior officials from 15 federal agencies including: Council on Environmental Quality; Office of Management and Budget; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Federal Emergency Management Agency; General Services Administration; U.S. Agency for International Development; U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Army Public Health Center; Department of Energy; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Department of State. They will be collaborating with states, Tribes and water sector partners to advance the National Water Reuse Action Plan by building capacity for communities pursuing water reuse.
U.S. EPA will capture Working Group activities and findings in a biannual report to Congress, beginning in 2024. The Working Group will remain active until at least 2028 and can be extended at the discretion of the Chair.