Sunday, April 24 marked the beginning of Water Week 2022, as hundreds of water professionals from across the country come together in Washington, D.C. to advocate before Congress and the Administration on behalf of the local communities they serve.
On the heels of the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and its $55 billion in new funding for water infrastructure over the next five years, Water Week 2022 will focus on how the sector is implementing this historic investment and how the Administration and Congress can further elevate water as a national priority.
U.S. water needs are immense: according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure will require nearly $750 billion over 20 years just to maintain current service levels, a level of need far outpacing present funding. Billions of dollars are also needed for innovative solutions like water recycling that help communities build climate resilience and solve complex water management challenges.
The cornerstone event of Water Week is the National Water Policy Fly-In on the afternoon of April 27, featuring senior EPA and Bureau of Reclamation officials, Members of Congress, and leaders from across the sector. The Fly-In is co-hosted by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF), and the WateReuse Association.
The Water Week website has a full slate of events available now.
Ahead of Water Week 2022, NACWA CEO Adam Krantz said, “As an organizer of Water Week 2022, NACWA welcomes the sector to Washington for a week of meaningful engagement with Congress and the Biden Administration on the state of federal water infrastructure investment. The water sector is incredibly grateful for the historic investments included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and looks forward to equitable and efficient implementation of the funds.”
“WateReuse Association and our members are excited to take part in Water Week 2022 at this pivotal juncture,” said WateReuse Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi. “We’re seeing historic investment in water recycling from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and exciting opportunities to improve our communities’ sustainability and resiliency by funding the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program, convening a federal Interagency Working Group on Water Reuse, and establishing an industrial water recycling tax credit. The path forward is clear: innovative water management approaches like water recycling are essential for our communities as they address the threats of climate change and water insecurity.”
