News
ACWA Provides Feedback on FY 2025-2026 National Program Guidance
ACWA provided feedback to the Office of Water on the development of the FY 2025-2026 National Program Guidance. The Office of Water (OW) is beginning to develop the FY 2025-2026 National Water Program Guidance (NWPG) and is soliciting feedback from strategic partners. The NWPG is a document issued on a two-year cycle. The document provides the Assistant Administrator an opportunity to highlight the priorities for EPA’s national water program, outlines performance measures, and provides a trusted source for grant guidance. If you would like to review the current version, the FY 2023-2024 NWPG, you can find it under the National Program Guidance Home Page. Early engagement, before OW begins drafting the document, is intended to identify common priorities to inform the development of the NWPG. ACWA’s comments addressed climate change and environmental justice and suggested an additional priority focus area to support the implementation of water quality standards and criteria in NPDES water permitting.
Septic Career Opportunities Video Series
Members of the Decentralized MOU Partnership produced a series of videos highlighting career opportunities in the field. The videos target young professionals entering the workforce or deciding on a career path. They may be shared on Instagram, YouTube, or other short video social media platforms.
EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater Management Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partnership is designed to improve the overall performance and management of decentralized systems. The Partnership is a collaboration between EPA and national organizations representing practitioners in the decentralized wastewater industry.
The MOU partners work together to facilitate information exchange on system technology, collaborate to support training efforts, promote public awareness on septic system care and maintenance, and produce materials on decentralized systems. The Partnership ensures collaboration at the national level to improve decentralized performance and protect the nation’s public health and water resources.
The Decentralized Wastewater Partnership’s MOU is renewed every three years and previously signed in 2017, 2014, 2011, 2008, and 2005.
Source Water Protection Week – Protect The Source
Next week, September 24-30, 2023, is Source Water Protection Week! This year’s theme is once again “Protect the Source.” Source Water Collaborative (SWC) members and partners can celebrate and promote the week by sharing information with your networks, creating posts on social media, and helping to encourage actions aimed at protecting our nation’s drinking water sources. The campaign supports programs that protect drinking water sources such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs and underground wells from pollution, which is the most effective and least expensive way to keep drinking water safe and healthy. It also seeks to foster collaboration and partnerships with various stakeholders, including agriculture, forest management, states, water utilities, local businesses, developers, and all of you.
To mark Source Water Protection Week, the SWC is pleased to announce updates to their Clean Water Act (CWA) Infographic as well as the development of a new NPDES Permit Comment Guide.
- Updated SWC CWA Infographic: The SWC is launching the 2nd round of improvements to our online interactive infographic How to Use the Clean Water Act to Protect Source Water. The infographic provides information on how to engage in implementation of specific CWA programs, represented by images on the infographic. Last year, we updated the image itself and modernized navigation within the tool. This year, we have expanded and updated the underlying content.
- New NPDES Permit Comment Guide is in Development: A focus group of the SWC is currently working to develop a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Comment Guide for drinking water utilities. The purpose of the guide is for drinking water utilities to improve and protect the quality of their drinking water sources and ensure public health protection from contaminants in upstream discharges that are regulated by NPDES permits under the CWA. The guide will help with:
- Understanding which upstream discharges are impacting their drinking water source (raw water) quality and associated treatment processes; and
- Learning how to provide comments, data, and information on the associated NPDES permits from these sites and facilities to inform and affect changes in monitoring, contaminant discharge limits, and notifications to the drinking water utility.
SWP Week Graphics and Resources: AWWA’s website includes ready-to-use graphics and messages for different social media platforms, case study examples from four different communities, a Whiteboard Animation on Nutrient Runoff, and more! For questions, please contact Megan McDowell, AWWA’s senior communications specialist.
EPA Awards over $7.5M Towards Research to Advance Groundwater Availability
EPA announced on September 21 that it was awarding funding to research the use and risks of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) to improve groundwater availability and quality.
EAR involves the use of water sources to replenish and supplement existing groundwater supplies. Common uses are for water storage, potential reuse, and streamflow restoration. Other terms that are used interchangeably with EAR include managed aquifer recharge, artificial recharge, and aquifer storage and recovery.
The goal of this research is to enable state, Tribal, and local water quality managers to adopt safe EAR practices while understanding the risks, benefits, and consequences from using different source waters and given differing subsurface geology and groundwater end use.
Watersheds Academy Announces a New Nutrient Pollution Module
This week, EPA has announced that the Watershed Academy’s new Nutrient Pollution Module is now available.
“This module is intended to provide an overview of nutrient pollution and the associated water quality and human health impacts. This module covers the science behind the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, the impacts of nutrient pollution on human health and the environment, the sources of nutrient pollution, and federal, state, tribal, and territory actions underway to mitigate nutrient pollution impacts. It also includes the current science on how climate change may impact nutrient pollution. Finally, the module covers the tools, opportunities, and activities available for the public to get involved in these issues. This module is eligible for the Watershed Management Training Certificate program.”
You may begin the course at the following link: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/nutrient-pollution-module.
EPA Announces $4.6 billion in Competitive Grants to Cut Climate Pollution
On September 20, 2023, EPA announced that it launched $4.6 billion in competitive grants to fund state, local, and tribal programs and policies that cut climate pollution, advance environmental justice, and deploy clean energy solutions throughout the country. The two new grant competitions (one general and one specifically for tribes and territories) are funded through EPA’s $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act.
EPA will hold two one-hour informational webinars about the general competition on September 21, 2023, at 2:30 pm ET and October 3, 2023, at 3:00 pm ET and two informational webinars for the Tribes and territories on September 27, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET and on October 5, 2023, at 1:00 pm ET. Additionally, EPA has published the two official Notice and Funding Opportunities for these grant competitions: General Competition NOFO; Tribes and Territories NOFO. For more information, please visit EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants website.
Association Updates
State/EPA Region 4 Water Quality Meeting
This week ACWA, through an EPA cooperative agreement, helped support a State/EPA Region 4 Water Quality Meeting. Topics for the event included: state and EPA program updates; 304(a) criteria adoption, implementation, and recommendations; state and tribal nutrient reduction strategies; triennial review updates; 401 rule; human health criteria; analytical methods and MDLs; microbial source tracking; updates on EPA PFAS plan; reasonable potential analysis for nutrients; MS4 census rule; funding opportunities for POTWs; EPA/State MOAs and permit review; and examples of state permit appeals processes. This meeting was held in Decatur, Georgia, there were 68 attendees, and all 8 Region 4 states participated along with 2 tribes.
Meetings and Webinars
ACWA Water Quality Modeling Workshop: October 23-27, Salt Lake City, UT
Registration is still open for our upcoming Surface Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Salt Lake City, UT! This workshop will run October 23-27, with an optional pre-conference “Modeling 101” session on October 23.
This workshop will be an in-person event, in partnership with USEPA. This event will take place at the Utah DEQ Offices. This year, we will be offering three tracks: (1) HSPF (2) CE-QUAL-W2 (3) Modeling for Nutrients. We have a great planning team of state and EPA representatives working hard to finalize the agenda. Attached are one-page summaries on some of the topics covered this year.
To register, you will need access to ACWA’s member portal. If you are EPA staff, please reach out Lexy Bailey (abailey@acwa-us.org) for help getting set up. This workshop has 3 distinct tracks – including two hands-on trainings. Hands on trainings will be offered for HSPF and CE-QUAL-W2.
Space is limited for the HSPF and CE-QUAL-W2 tracks – once you register, you will automatically be placed on the wait list. You will receive a confirmation email at a later date.
If you are a new staff-person, or if you would like a refresher, please indicate that you will be attending the pre-conference “Modeling 101” session, set for the afternoon of October 23.
Lodging will be available at the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel, in Salt Lake City, UT. ACWA has procured the local gov’t per diem rate of $128/night from Saturday, October 21 – Friday, October 27, 2023. You may reserve your hotel room here. The limited room block will be open through October 1, 2023. We recommend you secure your room as soon as possible to ensure your stay at this hotel.
Creating the Water Workforce of the Future: Webinar Series
September 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Register Here
Today’s water workforce is becoming more diverse, with more and more organizations actively seeking to attract and retain women to a variety of challenging careers. Women are providing much needed energy, skills and innovation to help water sector utilities become truly sustainable and provide 21st century water services to their communities. While women are advancing to executive level positions, this webinar will focus on the journey of three women who are making critical contributions through both operator, engineering, and scientific positions. Speakers will provide a brief overview of their current job and address some of the challenges and opportunities they see for women wishing to make water a truly exceptional career. The remainder of the webinar will focus on a conversation between the speakers and the audience, to answer additional questions, and provide other perspectives on ways to attract women into a career in water.
Moderators
· Jim Horne, U.S. EPA
Speakers
· Jamie Hughes, Program Manager, Clean Water Services
· Maggie Macomber, Engineering Program Manager, Charlotte Water
· Rochelle Verspui, Assistant Wastewater Shift Supervisor, East Bay Municipal Utility District
This webinar is part of an ongoing webinar series hosted by EPA, in partnership with leading water sector organizations around the country. More information on this webinar series can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-sector-workforce-webinars
ITRC Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms Training
The ITRC Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms (HCBs) two-part training reviews key information found in the two ITRC HCB Guidance Documents: Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB-1) and the companion document focused on benthic HCBs (HCB-2). For regulators and other government agency staff, these materials present the state of the science on cyanobacteria and approaches to manage and reduce the occurrence of blooms. These trainings will help the audience understand:
- The basic ecology and physiology of planktonic and benthic cyanobacteria, and the harmful effects they have on health, the environment, and local economies
- An overview of cyanotoxin classes and available cyanotoxin thresholds for human health (recreational and drinking water) and domestic animals
- Common approaches to monitoring for cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, and how to build a monitoring program
- The importance of good communication and coordinated response during HCBs, and the elements of a good response plan
- Available options for in-lake management and control of HCBs, including an introduction to possible treatment options for benthic cyanobacteria
- Nutrient management options to reduce the likelihood of HCBs in your water body
HCB-1 Training: Thursday, October 5, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00pm ET.
HCB-2 Training: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00pm ET.
To register for either event or both, please visit https://clu-in.org/conf/itrc/hcb-2/.
Public NNCR Trainings in Fall 2023
EPA recently scheduled and posted the next round of the NNCR public trainings to the ECHO Training page. The trainings will be hosted on ZoomGov and do require registration to attend. Since we recorded the NNCR trainings from this spring, this series will not be recorded. We will direct those interested in training recordings to the existing recordings available on the ECHO Training page.
NNCR Training Schedule
- Quarterly NNCR
- September 13, 2023 1:00 – 2:00 pm eastern (register here)
- Annual NNCR
- September 26, 2023 1:00 – 2:00 pm (register here)
- Quarterly NNCR: DMR Reporting Violations
- October 11, 2023 1:00 – 2:00 pm eastern (register here)
- Quarterly NNCR: Effluent Violations
- October 19, 2023 1:30 – 3:00 pm eastern (register here)
- Quarterly NNCR: Schedule Violations
- November 1, 2023 2:00 – 3:00 pm eastern (register here)
- Quarterly NNCR: Single Event/Other Violations
- November 16, 2023 1:00 – 2:00 pm eastern (register here)
Please contact Courtney Tuxbury (tuxbury.courtney@epa.gov) with any questions.
Job Opportunities
TMDL Basin Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4)
Location: Bend, Pendleton, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Application Deadline: 10/2/2023
You will serve as one of the region’s experts for developing and implementing pollution limits (TMDLs- Total Maximum Daily Load of Pollution) on waterbodies that have complex water quality problems and require innovative and creative approaches to solving these problems. You will lead teams of scientists as they conduct long-term studies and extensive analyses of water quality issues in 4 major basins in the state: Grand Ronde, Umatilla John Day, and Harney County Closed Lakes. . Much of your responsibilities will involve working with other agencies and Tribal governments with minimal to no supervision, developing complex quantitative plans that address multi-faceted interagency and natural-resource issues. You will need to coordinate with Federal, State, and Local agencies; Tribes; watershed councils; conservation districts; irrigation districts; businesses; and landowners.
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Southwest Region Watershed Resources Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
In this role you will supervise our 10-person unit that implements our municipal stormwater program and our nonpoint pollution activities in Southwest Washington. The nonpoint program addresses sources of pollution from agriculture and other non-permitted activities. As a motivated manager you will make personnel decisions, manage and coach professional-level staff, and plan work for the unit.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Senior Water Quality Permit Specialist (Environmental Specialist 5)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
In this role, you will help guide and support a team of statewide permit writers, scientists and managers who implement the dynamic National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the State Waste Discharge Permit program in order to protect and restore Washington’s waters.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Water Quality Management Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
The Washington Department of Ecology is looking for a supervisor who is committed to protecting Washington’s surface and groundwater. You will be responsible for providing support and guidance to keep work moving forward, staff engaged and supported. As an active and engaged leader, you will roll up your sleeves and do what it takes to support the team. You will be managing a unit a section that has three units developing water quality policy for Washington State. The section is engaged in dynamic high-profile work and, if you are interested in the implementation of federal and state water quality regulations and want to share your experience, people skills, and work with a great team, then please apply.
For more information and to apply, please visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Enforcement & Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
Responsible for conducting highly complex or controversial compliance and enforcement actions. You will gather evidence, document findings, and write and issue warning letters, notices of violations, administrative orders, penalties, or other enforcement actions. The work includes conducting inspections and relying on information gathered by other Department of Ecology inspectors and permit managers. You will be a subject matter expert at meetings with the public, regulated communities, attorneys, local governments, and other Ecology employees. You will represent Ecology as the expert on enforcement appeals to the Pollution Controls Hearing Board (PCHB).
For more information and to apply, please visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Municipal Stormwater Grant Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Shoreline, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
You will manage Department of Ecology municipal and nonpoint stormwater grants with local governments and special purpose districts to fund projects that improve water quality. You will also be the lead and point of contact for Ecology’s stormwater and nonpoint grant recipients during the life of their grant agreements; rank grant applications; work with grant recipients to provide technical assistance; and conduct field inspections of Ecology-funded projects.
For more information and to apply, please visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Colorado Water Quality Standards Positions
Location: Colorado
Upcoming Announcement: September 2023
Colorado’s Water Quality Standards Unit currently has openings for two new staff members. These staff will review and develop standards to protect the beneficial uses of water by conducting scientific research and statistical analyses, evaluating regulatory and policy mechanisms, conducting fieldwork, and holistically considering health equity and environmental justice principles. This work will result in recommendations for water quality standards and classifications to be considered by the Water Quality Control Commission. These positions also provide technical assistance and support to other sections of the Water Quality Control Division, develop standards implementation guidance, and assist other Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment programs implementing water quality standards.
We are recruiting nationwide for these positions, so if you are looking to relocate to Colorado this could be your chance! Please reach out to blake.beyea@state.co.us for more information and view an example of preferred qualifications here.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program Environmental Engineer
Location: Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Application Deadline: 9/27/2023
You will serve as the primary resource for providing engineering analysis and needs assessments of wastewater treatment facility operations and infrastructure, and of water quality projects that could qualify for clean water state revolving fund loans. You will be responsible for reviewing site specific wastewater treatment operations and water quality improvement projects, and you will provide technical and engineering expertise on water quality rules and program requirements. In addition, you will act as a liaison to local governments and public agencies as they attempt to assess their operations and infrastructure needs.
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Environmental Specialist III
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: 9/22/2023
This position is a wastewater discharge permit writer in the Division of Water Quality Management (DWQM). The positions drafts wastewater discharge permits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges and overboard discharge permits for a variety of commercial and residential dischargers, as well as other point source dischargers. The position interacts closely with compliance, enforcement, technical engineering staff in the DWQM and water quality engineers and biologists in the Division of Environmental Assessment (DEA). This position also interacts with federal and state regulatory agencies as well as the regulated community and other interested parties.
Candidates interested in any of these positions need to complete and submit an online State of Maine application, along with a detailed resume, and cover letter at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#dep
Quality Assurance Analyst – Environmental Analyst IV
Location: Worcester, MA
Closing Date: 9/25/2023
Under the supervision of the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section Chief or designee, duties for the Quality Assurance Analyst will include overseeing the quality assurance and quality control system for WPP’s monitoring program; ensuring data produced by WPP are of known and documented quality and suitable for intended purposes; reviewing external monitoring plans, QAPPs, SOPs, and data submittals to MassDEP; and coordinating with external groups to ensure data of sufficient quality and quantity are available to WPP. The Quality Assurance Analyst will additionally be responsible for coordinating QA activities for MassDEP’s Bureau of Water Resources. Excellent organizational skills are required, as well as the ability to manage and work on multiple projects concurrently, meet deadlines, and work well both independently and as a member of a team. The position will be subject to a hybrid work environment (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), with a minimum of one day per week in Worcester at the Watershed Planning Program’s office.
For more information and to apply, visit MassCareers Job Opportunities.
Water Resource Engineer/Scientist
Location: West Trenton, NJ
Closing Date: 10/6/2023 at 4 pm
The WRE/WRS will review projects/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) submissions
for compliance with the DRBC requirements and compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and will
provide recommendations to the Project Review Manager for approval, disapproval or modification
based on sound engineering/science knowledge and judgment. Duties will also include the preparation
of project summaries for public notice, preparing lists of parties to receive information on projects, using
Commission’s computer facilities to store and retrieve project information and the analysis of projects
and coordination with Commission technical, administrative, and legal staff. The WRE/WRS may also
work on cross branch teams under the direction of supervisors from other sections, as needed, for
discrete projects. The WRE/WRS will also participate in the coordination of revisions to the
Commission’s Water Quality Standards.
To apply, submit cover letter and resume via email to: jobs@drbc.gov. For more information visit DRBC Employment Opportunities.
