News
Enforcement Alert: Drinking Water Systems to Address Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
This week EPA issued an Enforcement Alert providing community water systems (CWSs) with information on immediate steps that can be taken to ensure compliance with the SDWA to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities. EPA says that “implementing basic cyber hygiene practices can help your utility prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.” EPA notes that recent disruptive cyberattacks from adversarial nation states have impacted water systems of all sizes, including many small systems and as a result of these increased threats, EPA is increasing its enforcement activity to protect our nation’s drinking water. Some basic actions EPA, CISA, and the FBI strongly recommend can be found in the Top Actions for Securing Water Systems. Examples include:
- Reduce exposure to public-facing internet
- Conduct regular cybersecurity assessments
- Change default passwords immediately
- Conduct an inventory of OT/IT assets
- Develop and exercise cybersecurity incident response and recovery plans
- Backup OT/IT systems
- Reduce exposure to vulnerabilities
- Conduct cybersecurity awareness training
EPA notes while on site “EPA inspectors have identified alarming cybersecurity vulnerabilities at drinking water systems across the country and have taken actions to address them.” EPA has also created a multi-year drinking water NECI Increasing Compliance with Drinking Water Standards. Enforcement actions have been based on various findings, including failure to certify, and not addressing the statutorily required elements in the RRAs and ERPs, which include looking at cyber threats. More information on the Enforcement Alert can be found here: Enforcement Alert: Drinking Water Systems to Address Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities | US EPA
Guide for Using Clean Water Act Discharge Permits to Protect Drinking Water Sources
This week the Source Water Collaborative published a new guide to provide fundamental information for Public Water Systems (PWSs) and stakeholders to understand and provide meaningful comments on Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that impact drinking water sources. The guide includes tips, tools, examples, and a template for providing comments on different types of NPDES permits, including permits with discharges that may contain PFAS and other contaminants. The guide aims to help related stakeholder:
- Understanding which upstream industrial, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint-source pollutant discharges are impacting, or have the potential to impact the quality of their drinking water sources and associated treatment processes; and
- Learning how to provide comments, data, and information on the CWA NPDES permits for these sites and facilities to affect changes in monitoring, pollution discharge limits, and notifications to the PWS.
More information on the guide can be found here:
CWA-SDWA COORDINATION – Source Water Collaborative
FERC Announces New CWA Sec. 401 Regulations
On May 23, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposed to amend its regulations to clarify that for all proceedings before the Commission that require a water quality certification pursuant to CWA Section 401(a)(1), the reasonable period of time during which the certifying authority may act on the water quality certification request is one year from the certifying authority’s receipt of the request. The proposed rule also clarifies that all FERC authorizations that have the potential to discharge into waters of the United States require a Sec. 401 water quality certification or waiver, including hydropower exemptions, amendments, and surrenders. Finally, the proposed rule provides updated terminology in FERC’s hydropower regulations and updates the timing of the filing requirements for the FERC’s expedited hydropower licensing process. You can find a copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking at the following link: H-1 | RM24-5-000 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (ferc.gov).
Association Updates
2024 Annual Meeting – Registration and Lodging Now Available!
Reserve Your Lodging at Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette French Quarter Area.
Early Bird Registration rates are now available. Register here. Please reach out to Lexy Bailey, Member Services Associate, for assistance.
More information can be found here on ACWA’s website.
Your Chance to be Featured in ACWA’s 2024 Annual Report!
As we gear up for our annual report, we’re looking to expand our photo library. We invite you to be a part of the Annual Report by sharing your photographs with us!
Here’s how you can participate:
- Select your best high-resolution water photos
- Email them to Lexy Bailey by June 9th, 2024
- Include your name and the location of the photograph
Thank you!
Save the Date: 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop
Dates: September 16 – 20, 2024
City: Philadelphia, PA
ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, will be holding the 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, the week of September 16, 2024. The 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop supports implementation of state programs by continuing to build a community of practice among state agency staff who use or want to use water quality modeling in state water quality programs.
This year we will be offering hands-on trainings on WASP, SWAT+, and a Modeling 201: Demystifying your Modeling Project course which will feature presentations, case studies, and discussions.
This workshop is for state program managers and staff involved in water quality modeling, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff.
Lodging is available at the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square at the local per diem rate. The workshop will also take place in the hotel’s event space. You may Reserve your hotel room here.
ACWA does anticipate having some travel support for airfare and lodging.
Save The Date: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable
Dates: October 22 – 24, 2024
City: Washington, DC
Meeting Space: EPA HQ Meeting Space
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Washington
Website: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable
This week ACWA sent out emails regarding agenda topics, potential presenters, volunteers for the Agenda Planning Committee, and travel support. If you did not receive a related email, please contact Sean Rolland at srolland@acwa-us.org.
Meetings and Webinars
Redefining “Disadvantaged Communities” in a New Water Infrastructure Era
Date: May 30, 2024
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Register: Here
BIL created a number of opportunities for equitable outcomes for disadvantaged communities in the financing of water infrastructure. The law now requires SRF programs to provide 49% of BIL money to disadvantaged communities as principal forgiveness loans or grants. This allows additional communities that have struggled to access water infrastructure funding to receive the support they need. This webinar will share:
- How the SRF programs are given authority to determine what constitutes a “disadvantaged community” and this varies greatly across the country.
- How states have ensured their definitions bring about the most equitable outcome possible.
- The role public participation requirements had in modifying their definitions.
- Challenges states have had in implementing the funding.
- What clean water advocates can do to help states achieve the most equitable process possible for source water protection in their programs.
The webinar is targeted to states, water utilities, source water protection staff, state BIL funding program staff, source water collaboratives, federal agencies, and other water stakeholders.
Sign up here to receive notification about future BIL-related information and other news from the national Source Water Collaborative.
EPA Water Affordability Needs Assessment – PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION
Date: June 3rd, 2024
Time: 1:00–3:00 PM ET
Register: HERE
Water affordability is a growing issue that impacts millions of households throughout the United States. Low-income households are struggling to pay their water bills, and some utilities also struggle to meet rising costs for operations and maintenance and upgrading aging infrastructure. A cornerstone of EPA’s work to address water affordability will be the development of a Water Affordability Needs Assessment and Report to Congress. The report will characterize the extent and scope of water burden impacts to households and utilities Across the country. This session will focus on hearing from communities, utilities and advocacy groups who have not yet been involved in the report’s development. We invite you to share your experiences, perspectives, and ideas regarding these questions:
- How are people in your community impacted by water affordability challenges?
- What recommendations do you have for how EPA can support communities where
households struggle with water bills? - What do you think is important for EPA to understand about water affordability?
June 2024 In-person NPDES Permit Writers Course Announcement
Dates: June 10-14, 2014
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Cost: Free
Registration: EPA NPDES Permit Writers Course – Baltimore, MD Mon, Jun 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
The objective of this course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The course was designed for permit writers with six months to one year of experience in the NPDES program, but experienced permit writers wanting a refresher course and other water program staff wanting to learn more about the NPDES program also are welcome. Microsoft Teams will be utilized to provide electronic course materials and can be accessed through the desktop application or a web browser. Course materials will be provided on the Microsoft Teams classroom site for download by the participants prior to the start date. As a foundational course, the training does not address in detail specialized topics such as industrial and municipal stormwater, concentrated animal feeding operations and pesticide discharges. For more information on these specialized topics, please visit EPA’s NPDES Web site at www.epa.gov/npdes. If you have questions regarding the course, please contact Sean Ramach at npdestraining@epa.gov or call him directly at (202) 564-2865.
Cumulative Impacts: How Potential Flood Exposures, Resource Access, and Social Vulnerability Affect Resilience Outcomes
Date: June 11, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET
Register: HERE
This webinar will cover geospatial model development and model applications in cumulative impacts research. The presentation will discuss the basic concepts and data that drive the models, as well as case studies that illustrate their utility in decision-making, goal setting and goal tracking. The research is grounded in environmental justice and resilience frameworks and is meant to connect local disparities to broader resilience outcomes, with a focus on delivering information at multiple geographic scales.
EPA Infrastructure Finance Webinar: Opportunities to Advance Water Reuse
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Register: Here
On June 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET, EPA will host an Infrastructure Finance Webinar: Opportunities to Advance Water Reuse. The webinar will highlight different federal infrastructure financing programs available for water reuse projects – including EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Title XVI Program, and USDA’s Rural Development. Representatives from the federal agencies will briefly discuss their funding programs, application requirements, and examples of previous water reuse projects funded under those programs.
Job Opportunities
Senior Loan Specialist, Clean Water State Revolving Fund (Loan Specialist 3)
Location: Portland, Eugene, or Salem, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: May 27, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Assistant Scientist
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: May 28, 2024
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by May 28, 2024.
Please reference #24-LCBP-006 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.
Environmental Analyst – Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Program
Location: Montpelier, VT
Closing Date: May 29, 2024
Please note that recruitment for this position is occurring at multiple levels: Environmental Analyst IV, Environmental Analyst V, and Environmental Analyst VI. For more information and to apply, click here.
Basin Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3)
Location: Coos Bay or Eugene, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: June 4, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Underground Storage Tanks
Location: Providence, RI
Closing Date: June 9, 2024
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by June 9, 2024.
Please reference #24-RIDEM-002 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 listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst – Water Quality Division
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: June 9, 2024
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by June 9, 2024. Please reference #24-Lowell-008 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.
Environmental Analyst – Technical Assistance Provider
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: June 9, 2024
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by June 9, 2024. Please reference #24-DHHS-DWP-002 in the email subject line. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Specialist IV, Maine Healthy Beaches Program Coordinator (Position 1900)
Location: Portland, ME
Closing Date: June 10, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Secretary (Secretary Senior)
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Permit Developer and Facility Manager (Environmental Specialist 3)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
