Governor’s May Revise Contains Significant Water Investment
This week Governor Newsom is unveiling his May Revision of the Budget, which reflects changes in tax revenue and significant revisions to the January Budget proposal. Significantly, the Governor has revealed in a series of press conferences this week that California has an unprecedented revenue surplus and he has been promoting multiple components of his $100 billion “California Roars Back” stimulus plan for investing the revenues. The detailed May Revise plan will be released in its entirety on Friday.
On Monday a significant component of the “California Roars Back” plan was revealed to be a $5.1 billion Drought Relief Package, including $1.3 billion in funding for water and wastewater. The Governor also proposes an additional $2 billion in gas, electric, and water utility arrearages relief, with $1 billion set aside just for water and wastewater utilities. Both the drought relief and arrearages proposals are substantial increases from the package approved by the Senate several weeks ago. Moving forward the Administration will work with the Legislature to reconcile the differences between the proposals to negotiate a final Budget deal by the June 15 deadline. Given there is support for both a drought relief and utility relief package from the Administration and the Senate, it greatly increases the likelihood of the final Budget package including this funding.
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Governor Newsom Expands Drought Emergency
On Monday, May 10, Governor Gavin Newsom significantly expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties where accelerated action is needed to protect public health, safety and the environment. Forty-one counties are now under a drought state of emergency, representing thirty percent of the state’s population. Climate change-induced early warm temperatures and extremely dry soils have further depleted the expected runoff water from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unanticipated reductions in the amount of water flowing to major reservoirs, especially in Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties. “With the reality of climate change abundantly clear in California, we’re taking urgent action to address acute water supply shortfalls in northern and central California while also building our water resilience to safeguard communities in the decades ahead,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re working with local officials and other partners to protect public health and safety and the environment, and call on all Californians to help meet this challenge by stepping up their efforts to save water.” Read more here.
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Education Foundation Deadline Approaching!
Does your local college or university know about CASA’s financial aid to students interested in a career in water? The CASA Education Foundation helps ensure clean water for Californians and energizes the future of the clean water sector by awarding scholarships to promising students on a path to serving the environmental community. The Foundation is accepting scholarship applications through Sunday, May 16, 2021. Help us get the word out to California college students about this great opportunity! If you have a relative, neighbor, or friend studying for a degree in the water sector, be sure to share this application with them. For information on how to apply, and who is eligible and the scholarship guidelines, please visit the webpage here.
These $5,000 scholarships are funded by donations from individuals and agencies across California. It is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the next generation of environmental professionals and to identify your organization as a leader. If you or your agency would like to contribute to the CASA Education Foundation and support the future of California’s clean water community, please fill out this Pledge Form or contact dwelch@casaweb.org.
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2021 Salary Survey Results Now Available
Results are in on the 2021 CASA Salary and Benefits Survey. The survey provides valuable information for our members and is very helpful when conducting a salary classification and review. If you’re interested in the 2021 salary and benefits survey results, please contact Debbie Welch. A big thank you once again to Monterey One Water for graciously volunteering to coordinate and produce the survey report.
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Need Communications Advice?
Ask a communications professional! Don’t have the money or time for a complex contract to get the help you need? Want a trusted communications expert to talk an issue out? We are here to help! In the coming months the CASA Communications Committee has generously offered their professionals to answer questions directly from the CASA membership. Simply give the comms pro a call or send them an email with any question you may have. This month’s communications professional is Emily Barnett, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Manager at the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District in Martinez, California. If you’ve got a communication-related question, she’s sure to have an answer! Contact Emily by email at ebarnett@centralsan.org, connect via LinkedIn or directly on her cell at 925-378-0355.
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U.S. Treasury Opens Access to State and Local Government COVID Assistance
The U.S. Department of Treasury has opened a portal to allow states and local governments access to secure $350 billion in COVID-19 assistance. Special districts are not eligible to receive direct assistance but can request assistance from local city and county officials to transfer awarded funds to help address pandemic response-related expenditures and needs.
Of the $350 billion, states and the District of Columbia will receive $195.3 billion, counties will receive $65.1 billion, and metropolitan cities will receive $45.6 billion. The Treasury will release funds in two tranches, with the first half of the funding being provided starting this month and the other half a year later. However, the Treasury makes an exception for “states that have experienced a net increase in the unemployment rate of more than 2 percentage points from February 2020 to the latest available data as of the date of certification will receive their full allocation of funds in a single payment; other states will receive funds in two equal tranches.”
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House Committee Circulating Revised Clean Water Infrastructure Draft Legislation
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has developed a revised discussion draft of H.R. 1915, Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021. This new discussion draft includes all the provisions in the current H.R. 1915, plus a handful of additional new sections that were brought to the committee's attention over the past two months. The committee is developing this new version of H.R. 1915 ahead of a markup, expected to occur in the coming months. CASA submitted a letter of support highlighting areas beneficial to the clean water sector in the updated legislation.
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Senate Passes Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Package
The Senate has passed the first significant water infrastructure legislation of the year in the form of S. 914, Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Assistance Act. It passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support on a vote of 89-2 and sent to the House to be considered. In the House, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is considering its own water infrastructure legislation (H.R. 1915), focused specifically on the clean water sector, and is expected to markup its legislation in the coming months. It is possible that S. 914 will be conferenced with H.R. 1915 to create a combined water infrastructure package to be debated and voted on later this year.
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IEUA Board President Jasmin A. Hall Receives Women of Excellence Leadership Award
On Tuesday, May 4, during Diversity Professional’s 4th Annual Women of Excellence Awards ceremony, Jasmin A. Hall, Inland Empire Utilities Agency’s (IEUA) Board President, and CASA’s Board Vice President was presented with their 2021 Women of Excellence Leadership Award. Hall was recognized for her outstanding professional excellence, achievements and contributions to her community. She has a proven track record of growth, success and influence in her profession, as well as maintaining a passion for and commitment to the small business community. “I am humbled to receive such an important award that encompasses the values of diversity, leadership, empowerment, professional excellence, and inclusion,” said Hall. “As a representative for the Inland Empire community and as President of the IEUA Board, I am committed to supporting initiatives that provide information, access and opportunity. As reinforced by all of the Diversity Professional award winners, it is imperative to use leadership as a tool to help others succeed.” Read the full press release here. The CASA Staff sends their congratulations to Jasmin, well deserved!
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City of Roseville Receives WIFIA Funding
The City of Roseville is the recipient of $33 million in low-interest financing from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. This funding will accelerate water supply planning and implementation under Roseville's Water Future Initiative. WIFIA program funding and utility operation funds will advance two critical efforts under Water Future. The City of Roseville will increase the number of groundwater wells and examine how they can expand water recycling over time. "We are taking a long-term approach to plan and implement a water strategy to serve our community through 2050, "said Sean Bigley, assistant director of water. “What is clear is that maintaining reliability starts with a plan. As important is implementing these infrastructure projects as soon as possible because they can take time, and we want to be ahead of the curve for our thriving community." Read the full press release here.
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Exciting News from Koff & Associates
CASA would like to congratulate associate member Koff & Associates for their recent merger with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., one of the world’s largest and most respected consulting and risk management companies. With operations in more than 150 countries, Gallagher is a Fortune 500 company that has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute for the tenth consecutive year as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Koff & Associates will continue to operate as an independent branch office with the same leadership, management, staff, and culture that has always been associated with Koff & Associates. Congratulations on this exciting milestone Koff & Associates!
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Regulation and Wastewater Innovation
A new report finds that “water and wastewater utilities are having a hard time keeping up with climate change, aging infrastructure, and urban population growth” and that there is a common perception that the regulatory process stands in the way of innovation. Empirical research from the team that put together this report calls into question a common assumption that utilities and regulators are generally at odds with each other in their views on innovation. The team conducted a nationwide survey of wastewater utility managers and regulators, and the results suggest that utility managers and regulators generally agree about how regulation gates innovation in the wastewater sector, and how innovation could be encouraged.
Explore these findings and possible steps forward in a new paper published in Environmental Research Communications by Alida Cantor, Luke Sherman, Anita Milman, and Michael Kiparsky.
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California’s Latest Drought in Four Charts: PPIC
California is grappling with drought again, facing many of the same conditions and challenges that were features of the 2012–16 drought—including stressed ecosystems, depleted reservoirs, hard-hit farms and rural communities, threats to urban water supplies, and the potential for extensive wildfires. Knowing what’s different and what’s similar to our last major drought can help us better prepare the most vulnerable sectors for ongoing dry times. Check out the drought charts and read more here.
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Webinars, Workshops & Events |
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NACWA: National Pretreatment Virtual Event
On May 17 through May 20, 2021, NACWA is partnering with the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) to bring the latest developments and analysis of the national, state and local issues affecting pretreatment programs from the perspective of both utilities and regulators. Join virtually for the popular roundtable sessions discussing the latest EPA region and pretreatment issues. Then, hear from featured experts who will examine the following hot topics; PFAS Developments, Marijuana Industry and the Potential Impact on Pretreatment, FOG: Strategies for Investigations and Lessons Learned, CROMERR Compliance: Bringing Pretreatment into the Digital Age, and Breaking Down Barriers: EPA, States, and POTWs as Co-Regulators. Be sure to register here today!
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CWEA Annual Conference
Be sure to join the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) this June, for the AC21 Virtual Conference. This conference will provide vibrant education programming, impactful networking, and opportunities to reflect and connect over emerging and salient topics in our field. Register soon and don’t miss out!
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CASA Annual Conference 2021
Be sure to save the date for CASA’s Annual Conference set for August 11-13. More details to come in the next edition of CASA Connects!
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ACT EXPO
CASA is proud to participate as an endorsing organization partner of the 2021 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ACT Expo is North America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. Bringing together more than 4,000 stakeholders across the industry for an expansive showcase of the technologies, fuels, policies, and organizations to drive innovation and sustainability on our roadways. The 2021 event will be held August 30 through September 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information is available on the website.
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CASA represents more than 125 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment and recycling of Wastewater and biosolids to protect public health and the environment. Our mission is to provide trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California clean water agencies, and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources. |
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