The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently held a meeting to identify challenges and map solutions to continue advancing the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). The event lays the groundwork to help ensure the security, sustainability and resilience of our nation’s water resources.
“Water reuse must be a central theme in EPA’s efforts to meet 21st century demands for water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross. “While we are extremely proud of the progress made, the WRAP was designed as a living plan where EPA and its partners can build momentum from successes to continue diversifying our nation’s water portfolio while supporting our water economy for generations to come.”
During a live interactive session on envisioning the future of water reuse, assistant administrator Ross delivered remarks that outlined a vision for reuse where communities, agriculture and businesses in both water-scarce and water-rich regions increasingly turn to reuse to diversify their supply portfolios for current and future needs. The panel discussion considered reuse through the lens of a water-scarce community, a water-abundant community, and an industrial customer. It featured New York City Department of Environmental Protection senior policy advisor to the Bureau of Sustainability Dr. David Lipsky; Austin Water Systems planning engineer Katherine Jashinski; and Coca-Cola North America supply chain water/wastewater technology manager Paul Bowen.
The WRAP identifies 37 specific actions led by a spectrum of federal, state, local and other water sector interests to improve the security, sustainability and resilience of our nation’s water resources.
Over the coming months, EPA will be seeking input from stakeholders that will help inform the next iteration of the Action Plan, which is slated for release in Spring 2021. The next version will highlight progress on individual actions, demonstrate collective impact and onboard a new suite of actions to continue to advance water reuse considerations. For more information on the WRAP effort and action implementation progress, visit: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/water-reuse-action-plan.
