CASA Asset Management Workshop Speakers Announced 
CASA has confirmed a series of excellent speakers for our asset management workshops on September 17 in Chino and September 18 in Martinez. Sam Paske from Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities will discuss asset management and its importance to wastewater agencies. Sam has more than 20 years of utility experience and recently helped guide his agency through a large-scale asset management program. The program addressed the challenges of aging assets, rising debt service costs, knowledge loss and increasing regulatory requirements.

Tacoma Zach, CEO of Uberlytics, author of “Criticality Analysis Made Simple” and thought leader about complex facility criticality analysis is also speaking. The workshops will feature case studies from CASA member agencies focusing on the best ways to integrate asset management into your agency’s culture. Register today to make sure your agency is on the right track!
Heading to the CASA Annual Conference this Week? Find Out Who Else Will Be There! 
Connect with your fellow clean water professionals at CASA’s Annual Conference as it kicks off tomorrow in Monterey. Attendees will hear from clean water leaders and innovators on renewable resource issues while networking with colleagues. Check out the final program and registration list . Connect with CASA this month—don’t miss out.
Want to Stay in the Loop? Connect with CASA through our LISTSERVs!
CASA membership has considerable benefits. One is the opportunity to join our email distribution lists (LISTSERVs) which focus on the following issues:
  • Regulatory
  • Biosolids
  • Climate Change and Energy
  • Collection Systems
  • State Legislative
  • Federal Legislative
  • Communications
We use them to connect with you and others through email, letters, meeting notices, forums and comment opportunities. If your agency is interested in having staff join any of these LISTSERVs, please contact Cheryl MacKelvie at cmackelvie@casaweb.org and start participating today!
PPIC Poll Shows Californians Focused on Water and the Environment in Upcoming Election
The Public Policy Institute of California recently conducted its annual statewide poll and found that water, followed by air pollution, were identified as the most important environmental issues facing the state. At their July 27 public presentation, Alyssa Dkyman, PPIC research associate and co-author on the study, noted the most interesting finding from their survey was the 40 percent increase in respondents (since 2014) who said that gubernatorial candidates’ positions on the environment were “very important.”
Legislative and Regulatory Updates
CASA to Address International Committee on Agricultural Standards for Biosolids
In September, CASA’s Director of Renewable Resources Greg Kester will present a proposal to the "Global G.A.P. Technical Committee, Crops" to revise their standards for the use of biosolids on agricultural crops. CASA has been leading a national and international (European Union, Japan, Australia, Canada) coalition of associations and other stakeholders seeking changes to the standards.  
 
Global G.A.P. (Good Agricultural Practices) is a voluntary standard for food retailers to have confidence in the agricultural practices and safety of food they buy from farmers. Farms are inspected and certified by Global G.A.P., allowing them to sell to Global G.A.P. subscribing retailers. Global G.A.P. started in Europe, but now is subscribed to by major retailers around the world, including Walmart and Costco. Farmers (including some in California) who use biosolids and also sell internationally have run into issues, because the retailers they sell to require Global G.A.P. certification and biosolids are not currently allowed under Global G.A.P.
Federal Infrastructure Plan Released, Recognized as Starting Point for Future Negotiations
In recent weeks, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman, Bill Shuster (R-PA), released a discussion draft infrastructure plan in order to “further the national conversation about the current state of America’s infrastructure.” The draft plan includes provisions to accelerate project permitting approvals and delivery, revise and enhance clean water funding programs and promote water infrastructure investments.

The draft legislation contains several provisions CASA previously supported in concept. These provisions include advancing the notion of "one federal decision" to accelerate infrastructure project delivery and adopting elements of the state-focused SRF-WIN proposal for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. 
Member News
Chino Basin Project Awarded $206.9 million to begin Construction for Water Treatment Facility
The California Water Commission unanimously approved full-funding for Inland Empire Utilities Agency’s Chino Basin Project. The advanced water treatment facility and distribution system will store up to 15,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water for 25 years, creating a new local water supply. The project relies on recycled water instead of depending on external water supplies. Read more .
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Granted $699 million Loan for Wastewater Infrastructure Upgrades
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s request for a $699 million loan—the largest loan issued under EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program to date. This loan will do more than finance San Francisco’s ability to modernize its wastewater treatment facilities. It will also provide 3,000 local jobs and job-training opportunities. The project is expected to begin in late 2018 and be completed in 2025. Read more .
Congratulations to Regional San for Procuring $208.5 million in Funding for South County Ag Program
Regional San was just awarded $280.5 million—the maximum requested funding amount—in Proposition 1 grant funding to help make the South County Ag Program a reality for the Sacramento region. The South County Ag Program will deliver highly treated recycled water for agricultural irrigation in the southern portion of Sacramento County, reducing the need for groundwater pumping. Among the eight proposed water storage projects recently considered by the Commission, the South County Ag Program ranked second overall.    Read more .
Kudos to the Orange County Sanitation District - Winner of NACWA’s Peak Performance Award
The Platinum Peak Performance Award honors facilities with a consistent record of full compliance for a consecutive five-year period. OCSD received this award for their outstanding compliance record for their Reclamation Plant in Fountain Valley and Treatment Plant in Huntington Beach.  This is the first time OCSD has been recognized with this award!   Read more .
Save the Date
Third Annual Water Data Summit Presents Plans for Modernizing California’s Water Industry
Join the California Data Collaborative, WaterNow Alliance and USC Center for Sustainability Solutions for the Third Annual Water Data Summit, August 23 -24. The Summit will present a roadmap for modernizing the California water industry and a touchpoint for future water data work.  RSVP here .
August 8-10
Sept. 17-18