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P. Sinicropi: “Water recycling programs can ensure broader water accessibility and affordability”

Patricia Sinicropi, Executive Director, WateReuse Association.
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Water reuse entails using the right water for the right purpose. The WateReuse Association focuses on advancing laws, policy and funding to increase this practice, advocating for a safe and reliable water supply that protects the environment and sustains economic growth.

In recent years, water reuse has emerged as a crucial and innovative solution to global water scarcity, marking a significant shift towards sustainable resource management. By treating and repurposing wastewater, communities can create a reliable and resilient water supply that reduces dependence on traditional water sources. This approach not only conserves precious freshwater resources but also mitigates the environmental impact of wastewater discharge. The advancement of purification technologies has enabled the production of high-quality recycled water, suitable for various uses, from agricultural irrigation to industrial processes and even potable applications. In this interview, Patricia Sinicropi, Executive Director, WateReuse Association, discusses recent developments in this field.

Published in SWM Print Edition 22 - June 2024
SWM Print Edition 22

Please tell us briefly about your career path and your current role at the WateReuse Association.

I first got involved in solving the nation’s water challenges in college, through activism related to the Federal Clean Water Act. After studying law at the University of Maine, I came to Washington, DC where I joined the Clinton Administration’s Council on Sustainable Development in 1996 and learned holistic approaches to watershed and natural resources management. My interest in water grew as I worked on environmental policy and community support programs at the United States Department of Agriculture and representing the Rural Communities Assistance Partnership. These experiences exposed me to the ways in which water and wastewater systems are foundational to the growth and functioning of communities. From there, I joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF) in 2004 as a Legislative Counsel and then became the Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), taking a lead on many of the policy issues related to the Clean Water Act that had sparked my passion twenty years prior.

Water challenges have raised the profile of water recycling as a solution not just in the drought-prone, arid West, but across the U.S.

I was tapped to lead the WateReuse Association as Executive Director in 2017, where I am focused on water recycling: one of the key resource management tools that I have addressed throughout my career.

How has the field of water reuse evolved over the years?

In the past half-decade, the water industry as a whole has experienced the combined challenges of extreme weather driven by climate change, water quality and contamination issues, ageing infrastructure, and stricter effluent regulations. In the past half-decade, these challenges have raised the profile of water recycling as a solution not just in the drought-prone, arid West, but across the United States. As a response, WateReuse has had to pivot to engage with new members nationwide, create useful content, and advocate for funding and policies for a much wider range of regions and types of water recycling. WateReuse has responded by producing nationwide tools like the State Water Reuse Policy Map, and successfully advocated for the inclusion of the first nationwide water reuse grant program, the Alternative Water Source Grants Pilot Program in the landmark 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. WateReuse has also welcomed new State Sections to the organization, including Ohio, South Carolina, New Mexico, and the Mid-Atlantic region, helping to build local collaboration and advocacy in regions that are newer to water recycling.

Can you comment on recent policy developments concerning water reuse in the United States?

The federal government in the United States has taken great strides to support water reuse adoption. We are in the fourth year of a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal and non-federal partners to advance a National Water Reuse Action Plan. Major federal funding through the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have also created new opportunities for water reuse.

Pat Sinicropi announcing Save the Date for the 2025 WateReuse Symposium, March 16-19 in Tampa, Florida.

WateReuse Association is proud to have advocated for the Federal Interagency Working Group on Water Reuse, which was implemented via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The working group’s purpose is to ensure coordination and collaboration among the dozen or so federal agencies that have programs or policies related to water recycling. The group is coordinated by the EPA and has involvement from the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, General Services Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others.

Meanwhile, at the state level, WateReuse Association state sections are working closely with regulatory counterparts to develop safe and workable regulations to allow for a wider variety of water reuse projects. For example, Colorado and California both recently adopted statewide rules for Direct Potable Reuse. Similar rules are in development in other states as well.

What are the most significant challenges in promoting water reuse, and how is the WateReuse Association addressing them?

Regulatory frameworks will catch up to the proven technology we have, and technology solutions will become more widespread and affordable

While WateReuse has succeeded in securing new funding avenues for water reuse, adequate funding remains a challenge for many water reuse projects. In some places, regulatory limitations can also limit the implementation of water reuse. In other instances, a lack of community understanding of the goals, benefits, and safety of water reuse projects can be a hurdle to overcome. WateReuse members use our webcasts, conferences, and committees to share strategies for addressing these challenges.

What technological advancements or innovations do you believe will have the most significant influence on the future of water reuse?

We are seeing a greater focus on the advanced purification of recycled water to a drinking-level standard, as well as more innovative approaches to reusing wastewater and stormwater onsite in buildings and districts. I think we’ll begin to see regulatory frameworks catch up to the proven technology we have, and the technology solutions will become more widespread, affordable, and tailored to a variety of project types.

Pat Sinicropi congratulating Joe Mouawad, General Manager of Eastern Municipal Wa-ter District and WateReuse Association Board Member, for a 2024 WateReuse Award for Excellence.

What is the role of educational and outreach initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of water reuse and ensure best practices are implemented?

Education and outreach are key to the success of any water reuse program. Through WateReuse’s communications committee, as well as through coordinated research projects and efforts of the National Water Reuse Action Plan, we have facilitated information-sharing on some of the most successful approaches to engaging local communities about water reuse. These include identifying key stakeholders, demonstration facilities, tours, classroom education, and more.

Could you elaborate on the economic and environmental advantages of water reuse, particularly in comparison to other alternatives to augment water supplies?

Water recycling programs throughout the nation can help mitigate the water supply consequences of climate change, ensure broader water accessibility and affordability, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and support economic stability and growth.

One economic benefit of recycled water is the ability to supply the right water for the right use. Treating recycled water to a safe standard for irrigation, for example, is cheaper than treating it for drinking. Utilities like Eastern Municipal Water District are able to provide non-drinking recycled water for agricultural users at a fraction of the cost they would pay to use conventional supplies. Recycled water can also be economically beneficial due to its reliability. When other water sources can fluctuate in cost due to climate-driven shortages, recycled water can provide a stabilizing force.

Water reuse compares favorably to other new water sources in terms of energy and carbon footprint, while providing a high degree of resilience

Environmentally, water reuse often compares favorably to other new water sources in terms of energy and carbon footprint, while providing a high degree of resilience to the unpredictability of climate change. By reducing both our extractions of water as well as our discharges of treated wastewater, water reuse also can provide multiple benefits to our rivers, lakes, and streams.

What are the key priorities and initiatives for the WateReuse Association in the coming years?

Our mission is to empower communities and businesses to embrace water recycling as the cornerstone to safe, resilient, and sustainable water resources. In the coming years, we are focused on securing greater federal and state investment in water reuse projects, as well as expanding the adoption of water reuse in the industrial sector. As water reuse becomes more popular across all climates and regions, we will provide tailored support to our eleven state and regional sections, as well as support the creation of new sections and international collaborations.