CASA Wraps Up Another Successful Conference
On August 10, CASA wrapped up its 63
rd
Annual Conference in Monterey after three days of insightful presentations and inspiring speakers. Keynote speaker Chad Pregracke was a resounding success as he shared his message about the power of one person to make a change and reminded the audience that “the new green is red, white and blue.”
At the conference luncheon, we honored Award of Excellence winners Ironhouse Sanitary District, Fairfield Suisun Sewer District, Irvine Ranch Water District and Delta Diablo. We also heard from CASA Education Foundation scholarship recipients about their experiences and their clear commitment to clean water assured us the future is in good hands. Graphic artist depictions of both Thursday sessions were a huge hit as were updates on the latest political happenings. Make sure to join us in January at the winter conference where we promise to have a similarly compelling program!
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Join us in September for our One-Day Asset Management Workshops!
Your assets are your agency. Billions of dollars of pipes, pumps and other infrastructure are the backbone of the clean water system. Along with your employees, functional infrastructure assets are the most important thing your agency uses to protect public health and the environment. Successful agencies invest significant time and energy in managing their people including succession planning and career advancement. It only makes sense to have a similar plan to manage your hard assets for years to come. Dedicated planning and asset management can mean the difference between properly managing risk through an efficient operation and confronting system failures, costly repairs and higher ongoing maintenance costs.
Plan to
join us
on September 17 at Inland Empire or September 18 at Central San for our asset management workshops.
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Legislative and Regulatory
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End of 2017-18 Legislative Session Approaches
The Legislature has just two weeks left to finish all of its business for the 2017-18 legislative session. The final fiscal committee deadline was Friday, August 17 and was preceded by the highly anticipated “suspense file” hearings in both houses. Many bills fell victim to the “suspense file” which is a highly guarded process in the Appropriations Committees that determines which bills are the highest priority for the year. High priority bills continue moving and those bills deemed to be lower priority end up being “held on suspense,” rendering them dead for the year.
Several bills CASA has been working on continue to move including our sponsored microplastics bill, SB 1263 (Portantino), which was passed off of the suspense file with bipartisan support. SB 1440 (Hueso), which creates a new biomethane procurement program, also passed off of the suspense file in the Assembly. Another bill we’ve been involved with relating to septic to sewer conversions, SB 1215 (Hertzberg), continues to move after being passed off of the suspense file as well.
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CASA Continues to Pursue Funding for Biosolids Fire Reclamation Research
CASA recently supported a proposal submitted by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County seeking funding from the Water Research Foundation to evaluate the reclamation of fire ravaged land with biosolids. This research would demonstrate and quantify the benefits of biosolids for fire reclamation. There is tremendous support for this project from across the nation including our association partners the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies and the Central Valley Clean Water Association, as well as CASA members Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Rosa, East Bay MUD, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Orange County Sanitation District, and San Francisco PUC. The new proposal anchored by WEF subscribers is an alternative to a previous CASA proposal for a fire reclamation project with biosolids.
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Napa Sanitation District and Delta Diablo recognized by the Water Environment Federation
CASA members Napa Sanitation District and Delta Diablo were among 32 water utilities recognized for transformational work in community engagement, watershed stewardship and recovery of resources such as water, energy and nutrients.
Read more
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Synagro Wins Global Water Award of Distinction
Congratulations to CASA member Synagro Technologies, Inc.,named as winner of the Global Water Award of Distinction for Water Deal of the Year. This was for the financing of a biosolids facility in partnership with the City of Hamilton, Ontario.
Read more
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CASA Emerging Leaders Recognized by
CWEA
Great work emerging leaders! Staff from five CASA member agencies were recognized as emerging leader all-stars by the California Water Environmental Association.
Chosen by CWEA's Editorial Advisory Group, these members stand out. It's inspiring to know these are the California clean water leaders of the future.
Congratulations to the following CASA leaders:
- Jordan Damerel, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District
- Theodore Higgins, City of Los Angeles
- Mark Koekemoer, Central Marin Sanitation Agency
- Dorien McElroy, Irvine Ranch Water District
- Robert Wilson, City of Petaluma
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Central San Refinances Existing Debt Providing $8.2 Million in Savings
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District recently received Standard & Poor’s “AAA” rating for $19.43 million of wastewater revenue refunding bonds. The “AAA” rating is the highest assigned by Standard & Poor and allows Central San to achieve low interest rates. The proceeds from the new bonds will be used to refinance bonds issued in 2009 saving customers more than $8.2 million in interest costs over the next 11 years.
Read more
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WEF Collection Systems Conference 2019 - Abstract Submission Deadline: September 12
Join professionals from the collection systems sector in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Water Environment Federation’s Collection Systems Conference 2019. The Conference takes place June 4-7 in Indianapolis. Abstract submission deadline is
September 12, 2018.
Learn more
.
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Water Board SRF Workshops
The Division of Financial Assistance will be hosting three public workshops to highlight and discuss proposed changes to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Policy. DFA anticipates publishing the draft policy amendment for public review and comment on or about September 10, 2018 and presenting the draft CWSRF Policy amendment to the State Water Board for consideration on November 6, 2018.
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Location
Sacramento (and Webcast)
Oakland
Irvine
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Date
September 18
September 21
September 25
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Time
10:00 AM - Noon
10:00 AM - Noon
10:00 AM - Noon
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Water Board Conservation Workshops
The Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board have scheduled three listening sessions in early September to take public comment from stakeholders on a
summary
of the newly chaptered, long-term water conservation legislation, AB 1668 and SB 606.
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Location
Sacramento
Los Angeles
Fresno
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Date
September 5
September 7
September 11
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Time
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
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Public comments on this draft summary may be emailed to WUE@water.ca.gov and received no later than 5:00 PM on September 14, 2018.
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