Recent and Upcoming Water Reuse Activities

This page highlights recent or upcoming accomplishments and activities relevant to water reuse. Most items on this page are associated with the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), which is a coordinated and collaborative effort across the water community to advance consideration of reuse to ensure the security, sustainability, and resilience of our nation’s water resources.

Publications and Activities

Latest Issue of Water Environment & Technology Spotlights Water Reuse
WE&T’s May issue explores the benefits, challenges and real-life performance of the latest water reuse treatment technologies. The issue’s featured article, “Quenching Tomorrow’s Thirst,” reviews advanced treatment techniques and highlights community engagement practices utilized by water reuse facilities across the country. The issue also explores treatment solutions for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a challenge for drinking water, wastewater and advanced treatment facilities alike.

The Environmental Council of the States Releases a Compendium of State Actions Addressing PFAS
A new publication from ECOS compiles PFAS policies, science and guidance to highlight various U.S. jurisdictions’ efforts to address PFAS. This comprehensive document supports decision-makers aiming to better understand and craft PFAS-related policies. Water reuse stakeholders can also consult this resource to build awareness of different states’ approaches to addressing these chemicals.

New York City Publishes Nonpotable Water Systems Guidance Manual
NYC encourages the use of onsite nonpotable water reuse systems to collect, treat and beneficially reuse a variety of wastewater sources. The NYC Health Department and NYC Department of Environmental Protection collaborated to develop a new guidance manual for the design and operation of these systems. The manual explains reuse fundamentals and communicates key considerations for implementing onsite nonpotable reuse as a water management strategy.

Water Reuse Funding and Opportunities

The Water Research Foundation Announces $4.9 Million in Funding for 19 Research Projects, Including New Water Reuse Efforts
Two new projects under WRF’s Research Priority Program aim to address key water reuse topics. “Developing a Protocol for Evaluating Pathogen Concentrations in Secondary Effluent” (Project 5309) will craft best practices for measuring pathogens in effluent destined for potable and non-potable reuse. “A Framework for Evaluating the Economic, Environmental, and Social Costs and Benefits of Alternative Water Systems” (Project 5368) will assess the barriers faced by communities hoping to implement water reuse practices, among other alternative water systems. WRF expects to issue Requests for Proposals for these projects at a later date.

The EPA Publishes New Allotments for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
The Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs provide low-cost financing to communities for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects, including water reuse. For Fiscal Year 2025, the EPA is allocating $8.9 billion in new Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF funding opportunities. Learn more about how SRF funding can support water reuse projects here. (Action 6.2A: Communicate Eligibility of Water Reuse in SRF Programs)

The EPA Releases Fiscal Year 2025 Allotments for the Small, Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program
The SUDC grant program is designed to help public water systems in small, underserved and disadvantaged communities meet and comply with Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) drinking water regulations by providing funding for drinking water projects and activities. Water reuse projects, such as the development of aquifer storage and recovery systems, are eligible for the allotted $25 million in FY 2025 funding.

The EPA Announces $30 Million in Grant Funding to Strengthen Drinking Water and Wastewater Management in Rural America
New grant funding will provide training and technical assistance to improve water quality in small and rural communities across the country. Funding for the grant will be used for meeting technical, financial and managerial needs at small public drinking water and wastewater systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the SDWA and Clean Water Act. A portion of the grant funding is anticipated to support projects that may include water reuse to help strengthen system capabilities and enhance water quality. For example, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership plans to dedicate $1.25 million to help small publicly owned wastewater and onsite systems improve water quality.

Regulatory Update

The EPA Announces it will Keep Maximum Contaminant Levels for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)
The EPA will keep the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFOA and PFOS, which set nationwide limits for these “forever chemicals” in drinking water, including potable reuse water. As part of this action, the EPA also announced its intent to extend compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS, establish a federal exemption framework and initiate enhanced outreach to water systems, especially in rural and small communities, through EPA’s new PFAS OUTreach Initiative (PFAS OUT).

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Looking for something?

This page is updated frequently. If you’re looking for previously posted content that is no longer here (e.g., a past webinar, published report), you may be able to find it in our Water Reuse Information Library or Curated Topical Reuse Resources page. The latest entry on the Topical Resources page spotlights onsite non-potable reuse.

Links to websites outside of the EPA website are provided for the convenience of the user. Inclusion of information about a website, an organization, a product, or a service does not represent endorsement or approval by EPA, nor does it represent EPA opinion, policy or guidance unless specifically indicated. EPA does not exercise any editorial control over the information that may be found at any non-EPA website.