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Water & Wastewater Market Monthly Roundup, June 2020

Written by FirmoGraphs Staff | Jul 3, 2020 3:25:30 PM

Dear Readers,

Here's our Water / Wastewater Market Monthly Roundup for the month of June. It's worth mentioning that this month's roundup includes data from both May and June, as we move the publishing schedule to the end of each month. Enjoy!

Industry Drivers

Driver: Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020

Status: Proposed 

Organization: United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works 

Summary: Introduced on May 4, 2020 to the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, this bill is meant to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act. Among other grants of around $2.5 billion, the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 grants $300 million to help in remediating PFAS contaminants to support clean drinking water.            

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Driver: America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020

Status: Proposed 

Organization: United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works 

Summary: May 6, 2020 The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a $19.5 billion Water Infrastructure Package, proposed on April 21, 2020. This Package includes two separate bills:

  1. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA), authorizing $17 billion for 25 Army Corps  of Engineers projects, and  
  2. Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 that includes approximately $2.5 billion in federal authorizations. It reauthorizes programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide resources and technical assistance to communities to help meet their drinking water needs.

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Driver: Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act) - May 13, 2020

Status: Proposed 

Organization: U.S. House

Summary: May 13, 2020 The U.S. House of Representatives released the HEROES Act, proposed relief package that includes $1.5 billion in funding to assist water ratepayers who are struggling to pay their service bills. This Act also includes $375 billion intended to assist municipalities dealing with revenue shortfalls. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) are aware of the importance of clean drinking water in this challenging time, and completely support this proposal.

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Driver: Implementing Statutory Addition of Certain Per - and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to the TRI Chemical List - May 18, 2020

Status: Proposed

Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

Summary: On May 18, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a necessary per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) requirement of the National Defense Authorization Act. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) added 172 PFAS to the list of chemicals required to be reported to the Toxics Release Inventory(TRI) and established a 100-pound reporting threshold for these substances. The agency is publishing a final rule that officially incorporates these requirements into the Code of Federal Regulations for TRI. Since the PFAS additions became effective on January 1, 2020, the rule is effective immediately. The EPA released a February list of 172 chemicals that facilities in the TRI-covered industry should track and collect data during 2020. TRI is a tool that provides the public with information about the use of certain chemicals by following their management and associated activities. Annually, it obligates U.S. facilities in different industry sectors to report how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment.

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Driver: 2020 Safe Drinking Water Act (A Bill To Be Entitled)

Status: Proposed

Organization: North Carolina State Legislature

Summary: On May 22, 2020, North Carolina lawmakers presented a bill that requires the North Carolina Commission for Public Health to settle the highest contaminant levels for PFAS and other toxic chemicals. It would grant $6 million in recurring funds that allows up to 37 full-time employees to complete the act's requirements.

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Driver: USDA Water and Environmental Program - May 27, 2020

Status: Effective

Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Summary:  On May 27, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed the investment of $281 million in 106 projects across 36 states, including Puerto Rico. USDA is funding these projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, and the intention is to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal systems in rural areas.

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Driver: Water Quality Standards and Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS

Status: Effective

Organization: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply and Geoscience

Summary:  On June 1, 2020, New Jersey adopted standards for PFOA and PFOS, ahead of U.S. national standards being established. As per those standards if water criteria are not met - 14 parts per trillion for PFOA and 13 parts per trillion for PFOS - utility operators would have to install treatment systems or take wells offline. 

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Driver: Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment Hazardous Substances Response

Status: Proposed

Organization: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Summary: On June 4, 2020, Colorado legislators proposed a bill that creates a fund to assist with PFAS, including takeback and technical assistance for communities and regulators. A  fee of $25 per truckload of fuel products would be collected until it reaches $8 million for the fiscal year.

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Driver: S.886 - Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act

Status:  Proposed

Organization: U.S. Senate

Summary: On June 4, 2020, the Senate passed the Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act with a replacement amendment. The four-bills package covers funding for water development projects, including prolonging the Aamodt water arrangement to 2028. Navajo-Utah Water Rights Settlement Act grants $198.3 million for a water development fund. The Act includes allocation of 81,500 acre-feet per year of water from the San Juan River in Utah.

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Driver: An Act prohibiting film-forming foam containing PFAS

Status: Proposed

Organization: New York State Legislature

Summary: On June 6, 2020, the Senate passed a bill that restricts various cities from incinerating aqueous film-forming foam containing PFAS substances.

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Driver: EPA’s Final Action On Perchlorate

Status: Effective

Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Summary: On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final action on withdrawal of the 2011 resolution to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This decision was made because of the  agency's determination that perchlorate doesn't meet the standards for regulation as a drinking water contaminant under the SDWA.

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Driver: Moving Forward Act

Status: Proposed

Organization: House Democrats

Summary: On June 18, 2020, the House Democrats introduced the Moving Forward Act, an infrastructure plan worth $1.5 trillion. This bill highlights the need for the investment of over $25 billion in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and other programs in order to ensure all communities have access to clean drinking water, according to H.R. 2. This includes removing dangerous contaminants like PFAS.

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Notable M&A May & June 2020

As per FirmoGraphs’ records, the following notable M&A transactions stand out in the US Water & Wastewater Industry, in the months of May & June, 2020.

  • May 08, 2020, Rayonier Inc. announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Pope Resources, A Delaware Limited Partnership. 
  • May 15, 2020 - Illinois American Water announced the company’s acquisition of the Village of Shiloh wastewater system for $3.6 million. 
  • May 27, 2020 - Illinois American Water announced the Company’s acquisition of the Village of Andalusia water and wastewater systems for $3.3 million.
  • May 29, 2020 - Illinois American Water announced the company’s acquisition of the City of Rosiclare wastewater system and drinking water production system for $600,000.
  • June 01, 2020, Hawaii American Water acquired the assets and operations of the Waimea Wastewater Company, Inc.
  • June 04, 2020, Washington Water Service, a subsidiary of California Water Service Group announced that it has completed the acquisition of Rainier View Water Company’s water system assets, with approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. 
  • June 24, 2020, California American Water closed its agreement to acquire the operating assets of the Hillview Company to become the new water provider to its approximately 1,500 customers.

Meeting Planner

There is no replacement for face-to-face meetings with your prospects and customers!  We track meetings of interest to our customers serving the US water and wastewater industry, so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines. 

Meetings in July, 2020

Due to the impact of the COVID-19, the following organizations have updated their meetings approach:

  • (Cancelled) AWWA NJ Annual Conference, Jul. 7 to Jul. 10, 2020, Atlantic City, New Jersey, http://ow.ly/FU7750A4ffR

  • (Cancelled) AWWA New York Water Event, Jul. 7 to Jul. 9, 2020, Saratoga Springs, New York, http://ow.ly/xyqi50A4fhp

  • (Rescheduled and Shifted to Virtual Event) AZ Water Annual Conference, from Jul. 13 to Jul. 24, 2020, Phoenix, Arizona, http://ow.ly/bmPV50A4fiV

  • (Rescheduled and Shifted to Virtual Event) TX AWWA Texas Water, from Mar. Jul.  13, 2020, Fort Worth, Texas, http://ow.ly/rV9q50A4fjH

  • (Postponed) KN/TN Water Professionals Conference, Jul. 19 to Jul. 22, 2020, Chattanooga, Tennessee, http://ow.ly/REVI50A4fqO

  • Annual Water Reuse in Texas Conference Jul. 20 to Jul. 21, 2020, Frisco, Texas, http://ow.ly/5AWu50A4frK

  • (Postponed) Ontario's Water Conference & Trade Show, Jul. 27 to Jul. 29, 2020, Niagara Falls, Ontario, http://ow.ly/69UQ50A4fsW

  • (Rescheduled and Shifted to Virtual Event) ACWA Spring Conference & Exhibition, Jul.  29 to Jul.  30, 2020, Monterey, California, http://ow.ly/SCah50A4fuq

Early Bird Registration Deadlines

  • Event: WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition - 2020 (Cancelled)
    URL: http://ow.ly/jtRK50A4fwl
    Dates: Sep. 30 to Oct. 1, 2020
    Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
    Date Early Registration: Jun. 30, 2020
  • Event: ACWA Spring Conference & Exhibition - 2020 (Rescheduled and turned into a virtual event)
    URL: http://ow.ly/6HpU50A4fxL
    Dates: from May 5 to May 8, 2020 to Jul. 29 to Jul. 30, 2020
    Location: Monterey, California
    Date Early Registration: Jul. 10, 2020
  • Event: WEF Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference - 2020
    URL: http://ow.ly/cOc250A4fyH
    Dates: Oct. 3 to Oct. 7, 2020
    Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
    Date Early Registration: Jul. 24, 2020

Call for Papers Deadlines

  • (Virtual Event) Annual Water Resources Conference - 2020
    Association: American Water Resources Association
    URL: http://ow.ly/8Te150A4fAF
    Dates:  Nov.  9 to Nov.  12, 2020
    Location:  Kissimmee, Florida
    Call for Papers Deadline:  Jun. 30, 2020
  • Event:  FSAWWA Annual Fall Conference - 2020
    Association: American Water Works Association, Florida Section
    URL: http://ow.ly/RyoH50A4fCC
    Dates:  Nov.  29 to December 3, 2020
    Location:  Championsgate, Florida
    Call for Papers Deadline:  Jul. 15, 2020

 

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