Please forward this newsletter to anyone who may be interested.                                  May 23, 2016
Court Will Rule on Legality of Ban on Biosolids
A two week trial to determine the legality of Kern County Measure E concluded on May 6 in Tulare County Superior Court. The litigation was initiated over a ban on land-applied biosolids in the county. Numerous California organizations, including CASA, challenged Measure E on the basis that the ordinance violated state law and the constitution. Read more...
Congress Advances Water Development Legislation
On May 13, Governor Brown unveiled his May revision of the state budget. The May revision reflects adjustments to the governor's proposed January budget based on more current revenue projections and other issues identified in the spring. Read more...
Bills Leave Interested Parties in Suspense
The 2016 legislative session is nearly halfway over with almost all policy and fiscal committee hearings finished in their house of origin. All bills must be out of their house of origin by June 3, but the Appropriations Committees in the Senate and Assembly must first dispense with their "suspense files" next week, to determine which bills will continue moving. Read more...
Bill Would Eliminate Connection Fees at Existing Residences
CASA is working with Senator Bob Wieckowski on his newly amended SB 1069, relating to accessory dwelling units (such as a granny flat). The bill would preclude a water or wastewater agency from charging a new connection fee for the structure. Read more...
CASA Supports Congressional Action on WRDA
CASA recently submitted a letter of support to the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure encouraging members to expeditiously adopt provisions consistent with the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) already moving in the Senate. CASA had previously sent a letter of support to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works supporting their version of WRDA 2016, and highlighting several provisions that are crucial for CASA members. 
Unique Tour Offered at CASA Annual Conference
Participants at this year's annual conference will have the opportunity to tour the Pure Water Monterey program facilities. 

Pure Water Monterey is an advanced water recycling project, jointly developed by two public agencies - Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency. 

Pure Water Monterey provides both purified potable water for domestic use, as well as a supply for irrigating one of the state's most fertile agricultural areas in the Salinas Valley. The project will be the first of its kind to utilize not just wastewater, but stormwater, food industry processing water, and impaired surface waters in the State.

The tour is scheduled for August 10 at 2:00. Please contact Cheryl Franzen by email or at 831.645.4610 to reserve your spot.


Check out our event page to view the preliminary program, get hotel information, and register for CASA's annual conference.

Agency News
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County won the Grand Prize in Operations Management from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists for their Waste Not, Want Not Food Waste recycling project. Read more...   

Eastern Municipal Water District recently celebrated the completion of solar power generation systems at its five reclamation facilities - an investment that is anticipated to save ratepayers more than $1 million annually over the life of the system. Read more...

Robert Hill, General Manager, El Toro Water District
El Toro Water District was reaccredited with the 
District of Distinction by the Special District Leadership Foundation. The accreditation signifies that El Toro Water is operating at a high level of excellence in governance and is committed to ethical and sound operating practices.

Jonathan Loveland of Black & Veatch
Jonathan Loveland has joined Black & Veatch. Based in Irvine, Loveland will serve as Global Practice Leader for the Alternative Water Supply business line, which includes all types of desalination, reclaimed and recycled water projects. Read more...

Mixed Bag
The Freshwater Trust produced a video which offers a green solution for wastewater discharge. Medford, Oregon faced a problem common for cities nationwide. Upon treating sewage from nearly 200,000 people, the city's wastewater treatment plant discharges an average of 17 million gallons of clean - but warm - water to the Rogue River every day. To comply with its NPDES permit, the city had to offset the impact of its warm-water discharge, and The Freshwater Trust offered a natural solution... watch the video.

Now Hiring!

CASA member agencies and associates have numerous opportunities available. Visit our Job Board for details. 
Events
Greg Kester, CASA Director of Renewable Resources
Dates Changed for Seminars
The CASA/CWEA Biosolids and Innovative Technology seminars have been moved to July. The one-day seminars will be located at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District in Martinez on July 19, and at the Hyperion wastewater treatment plant in Los Angeles on July 20The seminars will focus on successful biosolids management strategies and innovative treatment technology, as well as innovative renewable energy technologies maximizing production and utilization. 



Date
Organization
Event
Location
June 29-30Rethink Methane Sacramento
July 10-13NACWAUtility Leadership ConferenceDenver, CO
July 19, 2016
CASA
Martinez
July 20, 2016CASA Los Angeles
Aug. 10-12, 2016
CASAAnnual Conference Monterey
Aug. 24-26, 2016
Urban Water Institute San Diego
Jan. 18-20, 2017CASA Palm Springs

In Case You Missed It...