The new Buy America requirements in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that was signed on November 15, 2021 will have wide-ranging implications for future infrastructure projects. Based on two surveys conducted of WWEMA members and broader input from the water sector, WWEMA identifies the challenges and issues that need to be addressed and resolved to ensure that we are able to Build Back Better as a Nation (click here to view.)

While WWEMA fully supports American businesses, it (along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations) has been opposed to “Buy American” language since it was first included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for water and wastewater systems. While purporting to “help” U.S. companies, it can in fact have many unintended consequences such as disrupting global supply chains, creating lost jobs and economic opportunities, creating monopolies for a few select U.S. companies while shutting others out of long-established markets, increasing costs and paperwork for already cash-strapped municipalities and small systems, and leading to retaliation by U.S. trading partners such as Canada and Mexico and others (click here to view).

By understanding the regulatory oversight and progress in both chemical/facility security and water security, the industry can best influence and prepare for future regulatory changes (click here to view).

Active engagement with EPA is critical in the planning for new drinking water contaminant regulations, many of which will impact technologies of choice by utilities (click here to view).

As part of any major infrastructure effort, a systematic reduction with the ultimate objective of eliminating failing septic systems, needs to be implemented (click here to view).

Barriers and/or resistance to new technology and alternative project delivery methods can make it difficult to implement innovative and low life-cycle-cost solutions. Asset management, benchmarking, and funding are critical pieces to encourage development and implementation of new technology (click here to view).

There is rapidly growing demand for green technologies in the water industry due to the increasing importance of water use efficiency, energy efficiency, and sustainable design. This has created a unique opportunity for water and wastewater equipment suppliers to re-brand their products by featuring the green aspects of their technologies (click here to view).

Proposed regulations should be based on sound science and, more importantly, available technology with reasonable financial impacts (click here to view).

Nutrient pollution represents one of the top three significant impairments to waterways in the United States. A new approach must be taken to develop standards that are achievable, measurable, and fiscally reasonable (click here to view).

WWEMA proposes 14 elements that should be considered as EPA works to develop a Peak Wet Weather Flows Management Rule (click here to view).

WWEMA is asking for state and Federal policymakers to protect technology solution providers who are actively working to address our country’s PFAS contamination crisis from future liability (click here to view)

Proposed regulations should be based on sound science and, more importantly, available technology with reasonable financial impacts (click here to view).

There is great market potential for equipment suppliers in the municipal sector with technologies that can address the nation’s aging water infrastructure and sanitary sewer overflows. This will not happen, though, without defensible and enforceable national standards and adequate infrastructure investment (click here to view).

It is imperative that utilities engage in procurement practices that are efficient, fair, and maximize the value that public utility customers receive. Rather than awarding contracts to the lowest bidder, utilities should consider life cycle costs that include capital and operation and maintenance costs over the expected life of the asset (click here to view)

If present practices remain unchanged, water and energy are on a collision course of supply and demand that has already proved to be unsustainable. We need to champion funding structures that support innovation and the development of technologies that positively impact the water/energy equation (click here to view).

There are no federal regulations or legislation directly addressing water reuse practice in the United States, just a patchwork of various state rules related to performance requirements. Water Reuse is an important part of conserving one of our most precious resources (click here to view).