Water Insecurity: State Revolving Fund Website.

For more information, including state-by-state allocation of 2024 funding and a breakdown of EPA State Revolving Fund funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website. 

California Issued: Feb 20, 2024 (3:28pm EST)  Biden-Harris Administration announces over half a billion for California drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

Guam Issued: Feb 20, 2024 (3:44pm EST)  Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $23 million for Guam drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

Hawai’i Issued: Feb 20, 2024 (3:58pm EST)  Biden-Harris Administration announces over $50 Million for Hawai’i drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

Nevada Issued: Feb 20, 2024 (4:29pm EST)   Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $45 Million for Nevada drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

Northern Mariana Islands Issued: Feb 20, 2024 (3:46pm EST)   Biden-Harris Administration announces over $20 million for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

Environment: Water Insecurity: Louisiana Salt Water Intrusion. September 2023

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4221849-new-orleans-faces-drinking-water-crisis-from-shrinking-mississippi-river/ ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT New Orleans faces drinking water crisis from shrinking Mississippi River BY MIRANDA NAZZARO - 09/25/23 1:07 PM ET   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews use dredges and pipes to move silt onto an underwater sill along the bottom of the Mississippi River on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, about 20 miles downriver from New Orleans. The sill aims to keep saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico from moving upriver. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP) New Orleans is facing a drinking water crisis amid a saltwater intrusion on the quickly shrinking Mississippi River.  Local water resources in south Louisiana are being strained as saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico intrudes into the historically low water levels of the lower Mississippi River, posing a potential health risk for the public water systems that rely on this water. The National Weather Service Mississippi River expects the river volume to fall to new lows over the next several weeks, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said in a statement. “Unfortunately, without any relief from the dry weather we are starting to see the saltwater intrusion creep further up the river despite efforts to mitigate the problems by the Army Corps of Engineers,” Edwards said in a Friday statement.  New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D) signed an emergency declaration over the saltwater intrusion last week, writing that the city is “closely” monitoring the situation.  During a Friday press conference, Edwards said the state was days away from requesting an emergency declaration from the federal government to assist with the impacts of the saltwater intrusion.  Edwards urged residents not to panic or rush to buy bottled water, adding residents will be notified in advance if salt water is impacting their area, according to The Associated Press. Around 15 million gallons of fresh water is being brought in for residents in impacted areas, the AP reported.  Plaquemines Parish in southeastern Louisiana has dealt with the impacts of the saltwater intrusion since June. Residents there are under a drinking water advisory, and bottled water is being distributed in the area.  Edwards noted Friday that worsening drought conditions in recent weeks could pose a risk for other communities. No parishes upriver from Plaquemines Parish are likely to see the impact in drinking water until mid to late October, Edwards’s office said. Areas that could see effects include the parishes of St. Bernard, Orleans and Jefferson.  The Louisiana Department of Health said it is conducting water quality testing and analysis while warning against trying to remove sodium through boiling or filters. Those who are affected will be told to use bottled water or another freshwater source until told otherwise, the Health Department said.  Officials are trying to find ways to fight the intrusion of saltwater, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) construction of an underwater barrier sill last July to help delay the flow of saltwater. Edwards said the intrusion overtopped the sill last week as crews prepared for additional work.  “The Corps of Engineers will pursue every effort within our authority to support the state and local response to the extreme low-water conditions,” said Col. Cullen Jones, USACE New Orleans District commander.  Jones said crews will augment the existing underwater sill to delay the intrusion by around 10 to 15 days.

Environment: Climate change is hurting the water quality of rivers, according to new scientific review

Climate change is hurting the water quality of rivers, according to new scientific review

By University of Maryland on Sep 13, 2023 02:44 pm
Published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the paper showed that droughts, heatwaves, rainstorms, floods and long-term climate change diminished the water quality of rivers in most cases. 

Environment: Webinar on Water Resilience! Wednesday, December 13th, 2:00-3:00 PM

 

  Bolstering Water Resilience in the Greater Capital Region Wednesday, December 13th, 2:00-3:00 PM Are you interested in learning more about ongoing water resilience efforts in California's Capital Region? Join this upcoming webinar to hear about the ways in which our region continues to explore innovative ways to effectively and reliably deliver water to its residents. This upcoming webinar hosted by the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRCRC) will feature speakers from the Department of Water Resources, the Regional Water Authority, and the City of Woodland. This event will highlight some of the key efforts from within the region being led by practitioners. This will include, among other efforts, recent investments from the State in local water resilience measures, the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, and innovative local actions such as the City of Woodland's Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells. Register for this Event Here! Meet our Speakers! Paul Gosselin joined the Department of Water Resources (DWR) as the Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management in July 2021. In this capacity, Paul oversees DWR’s groundwater management activities statewide, including the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Paul joined DWR after serving 13 years as Butte County’s Director of Water and Resource Conservation. Prior to Butte County, Paul was Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. From 1989 to 1993, he was the Director of Regulatory Services for the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture. Paul received a Bachelors degree in biochemistry and a Masters degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts. Paul Gosselin Deputy Director, Department of Water Resources Ryan Ojakian Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Program Manager, Regional Water Authority Ryan Ojakian is responsible for coordinating and leading advocacy efforts on all issues effecting RWA members ability to reliably provide high quality, affordable water. Ryan has more than a decade of experience working on a wide range of complex issues in the California state legislature. Prior to joining RWA, Ryan was most recently a senior consultant for the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. In addition to working for the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, Ryan has also served as legislative director for Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) and legislative aide for former California State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). Ryan holds a master’s degree in economics from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in animal physiology and neurosciences from the University of California at San Diego. Matt Cohen, a self-proclaimed “energy and water sustainability guy” has worked in utilities engineering for the City of Woodland for over 6 years. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. As an Associate Engineer for Woodland, Matt has conducted water loss audits, managed water and sewer R&R projects and is currently managing a recycled water project and an ASR (aquifer storage and recovery) Well project, all while being in charge of the City’s water quality data, reporting, and regulatory compliance. He also updated the City’s Urban Water Management Plan and Emergency Response Plan. Recently, Matt was featured on FEMA’s “Level Up Audio Project” podcast episode entitled “Mitigating Drought with the City of Woodland, CA.” Matt Cohen Associate Engineer, City of Woodland Register Here The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative is a membership based collaborative network designed to promote greater climate change resilience planning coordination in the six-county Sacramento Region. The purpose of this collaborative network is to create a forum where leaders from government, academia, environmental and community groups, the business community, and labor can come together to exchange information, identify vulnerabilities and data gaps, leverage resources, and advance comprehensive solutions in an effort to create stronger, sustainable, and economically viable communities in the Capital Region.  CRCRC is a program of CivicWell.

Water Insecurity: 1 in 3 children exposed to severe water scarcity – UNICEF

1 in 3 children exposed to severe water scarcity – UNICEF

By United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Nov 13, 2023 04:18 pm
The climate changed world – with dwindling water supply and inadequate water services – is also changing children, altering their mental and physical health, new report warns.