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WASWD Updates for June 18, 2025

WASWD publishes this bi-weekly e-newsletter to convey current information about legislative and regulatory issues, other issues of importance to districts, and upcoming training and other events
WASWD Updates Archive
   
Add Your District's Voice
Smarter Water Use Reduces Emissions
West Point Treatment Plant Honored
DOH
Legal News
PFAS
Funding News
Regulatory News
Technology News
WASWD News
Trainings, Conferences & Events
Associate Member Spotlight

  
 Add Your District's Voice - Sign on to the WWUC Joint Letter Protecting SRF & WIFIA Funding
Many of you have already reached out to our congressional delegation about the Administration's FY 2026 proposal to cut the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) by 90 percent. Thank you — your direct advocacy matters.
 
Now we have an opportunity to amplify those individual efforts with a single, united message from water and sewer districts, engineering firms, contractors, and allied organizations across Washington State. A broad sign-on letter demonstrates that this issue affects every corner of the state and every part of our sector.
 
What We're Asking (Please respond no later than noon on June 20th)
  1. Review the draft letter (linked) to the Washington State Congressional Delegation urging full funding for the SRF and WIFIA programs.
  1. Add your organization's name to the sign-on list:
  • To do this, please send an email to Alisa Jackson at Seattle Public Utilities alisa.jackson@seattle.gov with the title of the letter as the email subject: “SRF Funding – FY26 Budget and Approps Request” and 1) the name of the person signing on 2) the title of the person signing on and 3) the organization/utility name/firm of that person. Alisa will collect the signatures and add them to the letter. Second – please reach out to at least a couple private firms (construction, consultation, engineering) your utility or organization work with, share the letter, and ask them to sign on as well. We'd like to see a lot of public and private organizations on the letter. 
Optional: Continue your own direct outreach—this joint letter complements, not replaces, your district's individual contacts.
 
 Domino Effect: Smarter Water Use Reduces Emissions from Wastewater Treatment
A newly published peer-reviewed study in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology highlights how urban water-use efficiency can directly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The research, led by the Harbin Institute of Technology, found that optimized water use upstream—such as household and agricultural conservation—can significantly reduce wastewater volume and pollutant load, resulting in up to 1.67 million tons of CO2-equivalent GHG reductions annually in ideal conditions.

Using machine learning and eco-efficiency analysis, the study reveals a “domino effect”: better water use at the source leads to measurable emission reductions downstream. This systems-based approach could help WWTPs achieve carbon neutrality up to seven years earlier than by technology upgrades alone.

The findings underscore the importance of integrating water management into broader climate strategies—especially relevant as U.S. utilities, including those in Washington State, seek cost-effective pathways toward decarbonization. Read More.
 
 King County's West Point Treatment Plant Project Honored with National Engineering Award
King County's Power Quality Improvement Project at the West Point Treatment Plant (WPTP) has received a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) as part of the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards. This prestigious honor highlights the innovative energy and resilience upgrades undertaken to protect public health and safeguard Puget Sound.
The project was also recognized earlier this year by ACEC Washington with two additional awards:
  • National Gold Award (Energy Category): Power Quality Improvement Building
  • Best in State Silver Award: Primary Sedimentation Area Roof Structure Project
Designed in response to a major system failure in 2017, the $170 million project was developed and delivered in just 3½ years under an emergency contract. It includes a new 24,000-square-foot electrical building and a battery-based uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system—a first-of-its-kind approach that ensures critical operations continue during voltage sags and short-term power disruptions, preventing untreated wastewater from bypassing into Puget Sound.

Brown and Caldwell, in partnership with King County and a multidisciplinary team including Jacobs, Clarity Engineering, ESA, Wagner Architects, True North, and Hoffman Construction, helped deliver the project from concept to completion.

“Delivering such a complex project with new technology on a fast-track timeline is an exceptional feat,”
— Bruce Kessler, Deputy Director, King County Wastewater Treatment Division

The project is also under consideration for the Water Environment Federation's Project Excellence Award.

Read More
 
 DOH
Dennis Worsham Appointed Secretary of Health for Washington State
Leadership Update
Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed Dennis Worsham as the next Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), effective July 7. Worsham brings over 32 years of public health leadership, a deep understanding of community-based health strategies, and a strong commitment to equity, resilience, and statewide collaboration.
A Washington native raised in Othello and educated at Eastern Washington University, Worsham currently serves as the first Director of the Snohomish County Health Department, where he began his public health career in the 1990s. His professional path has included numerous senior roles, including Deputy Secretary of Health at DOH, Interim Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County, and regional health leadership focused on communicable disease prevention, policy, and equity initiatives.
 
“Public health is not just about addressing illness and injury—it's about preventing them… and investing in systems that protect people before a crisis begins.”  — Dennis Worsham, Incoming Secretary of Health

Worsham's appointment signals a continued emphasis on strengthening Washington's public health infrastructure, rebuilding trust, and addressing health disparities in both urban and rural communities.
 
 Legal News
Washington Supreme Court Lowers Bar for Workers' Compensation in Latent Disease Cases
In a significant shift, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that employees suffering from latent diseases—such as cancer from asbestos exposure—may more easily pursue lawsuits against their employers under the “deliberate injury” exception to Washington's workers' compensation law.

In the case of Cockrum v. C.H. Murphy/Clark-Ullman, Inc., the Court held that employers can be liable if they had “virtual certainty” that long-term harm would result from hazardous exposure, even if injury was not absolutely certain. This marks a departure from prior rulings, which required proof of absolute knowledge that injury would occur—an almost impossible standard in many latent disease cases.

Key Implications for Employers:
  • Employer Immunity Weakened: The “exclusive remedy” protection under Washington's Industrial Insurance Act no longer shields employers where virtual certainty of harm can be shown.
  • Increased Litigation Risk: Workers exposed to substances like asbestos, chemicals, or diesel particulates may now sue if employers failed to provide adequate protection or warnings.
  • Proactive Risk Mitigation Recommended: Public utilities and districts should evaluate work environments where employees may face long-term chemical or airborne exposure risks. Review safety protocols, training, and documentation, especially for field, plant, and maintenance crews.
Important: WASWD members should consult legal counsel to assess risk exposure and ensure compliance with workplace safety standards and employee communication.
 
 PFAS
On Friday, May 13th, the New Jersey Attorney General and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner announced a settlement with multinational conglomerate 3M for up to $450 million to resolve multiple state lawsuits from 2019 regarding PFAS contamination. The settlement resolves the liability of 3M on two work sites and the DEP's Statewide PFAS Directive, as well as state litigation regarding PFAS in some firefighting materials.
With this additional $450 million, New Jersey now has commitments totaling $840 million from corporations to address PFAS contamination in New Jersey. This action, in addition to a settlement from 2023 that was the largest single-site PFAS natural resource damages and remediation case settlement in the state's history, make New Jersey a leading state in holding PFAS polluters accountable for their contamination.
 
 Funding News
EPA Announces Funding for States to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Child Care Facilities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $26 million in grant funding for states and territories to help reduce lead exposure in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. Since 2018, EPA has provided over $200 million through this program. Funds are distributed via the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program under the WIIN Act.

The funding supports testing, remediation, and public education through EPA's 3Ts Program—Training, Testing, and Taking Action. Nationally, the initiative has helped test water at more than 33,000 schools and child care facilities, with thousands completing remediation efforts.

State-specific allotments can be found on EPA's website. Tribal funding announcements are forthcoming.
WASWD will monitor Washington State's allocation and opportunities for districts to support testing and remediation in their service areas. Read More
 Regulatory News
Pasco City Council Reconsiders Water Fluoridation
Local Governance & Water Quality Update – June 2025
Five members of the Pasco City Council are exploring a proposal to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water, reopening a long-standing debate over the public health benefits and concerns of water fluoridation.

Pasco is currently the only city in the Tri-Cities region that adds fluoride
to its drinking water. The practice began nearly 30 years ago and is 
recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities as an effective tool to prevent tooth decay. More than 70% of U.S. residents served by public water systems receive fluoridated water.
Key Facts:
  • Washington State does not require fluoridation. The decision is made at the local level, although the Washington State Board of Health oversees fluoridation rules.
  • Utilities must notify the Department of Health (DOH) 90 days in advance of any decision to add or remove fluoride.
  • In 2024, West Richland reported that fluoride levels in two wells exceeded state standards, while Kennewick and Richland do not add fluoride due to undetectable natural levels.
  • Pasco's Butterfield and West Pasco Water Treatment Plants together treated over 5 billion gallons of water last year, fluoridated at the federally recommended level of 0.7 mg/L.
Considerations for Utilities:
If Pasco moves forward with this change, it may prompt broader discussions in other cities about public health roles, community engagement, and regulatory notification requirements. Water systems may also face increased scrutiny from both advocates and opponents of fluoridation practices.

WASWD will monitor developments and provide members with any regulatory updates or guidance that may emerge from the State Board of Health or DOH.

CDC Fluoridation Overview: Community Water Fluoridation
DOH Fluoridation Rule: Washington State Board of Health
 
Which states require fluoride in water and how RFK Jr. could influence it - Washington Post
Fluoridation in Flux: What State and Local Governments Can Do
Public Health & Policy Landscape – June 2025
As communities like Pasco, WA revisit the decades-old practice of water fluoridation, the national landscape is growing more uncertain. Fluoridation has long been endorsed by public health agencies for preventing tooth decay, yet decisions to fluoridate—or remove fluoride—are made almost entirely at the state or local level. Political alignment has not proven predictive: deep-red states like Kentucky and South Carolina boast fluoridation rates above 90%, while blue states like Oregon and New Jersey remain below 30%.

Currently, about a dozen states mandate fluoridation—often for water systems above certain population or connection thresholds. Many mandates are contingent on state funding or allow for local opt-outs through referenda or grandfather clauses.

Examples of State Mandates:
  • Minnesota (99%) and Kentucky (100%) require near-universal fluoridation for municipal systems.
  • Arkansas (87%) mandates fluoridation for systems serving 5,000+ people, with funding provided.
  • California (58%) requires systems with 10,000+ connections to fluoridate if funding is available.
  • Louisiana (38%) has a mandate, but low funding has kept rates among the lowest in the country.
Some mandates have been in place for 50+ years, while others are more recent. However, recent state-level repeal bills introduced in Georgia, Kentucky, and Nebraska (none of which passed) highlight a renewed push from anti-fluoridation activists.

Federal Role: Influence Without Mandate
The federal government does not mandate fluoridation, but its influence is significant through:
  • Recommended fluoride levels (0.7 mg/L) set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • Military base policies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers fluoridating water for 1M+ D.C.-area residents.
  • EPA regulations, which set the maximum allowable limit at 4 mg/L to prevent serious health effects.
Drought Declaration Expanded to 19 Washington Watersheds
Water Supply & Resilience Update – June 2025

On June 13, the Washington Department of Ecology significantly expanded its drought emergency declaration, now encompassing 19 watersheds across Central and Western Washington due to early snowmelt and unusually dry spring conditions. The expanded declaration includes areas in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Okanagan, Chelan, Clallam, Jefferson, and Ferry counties, as well as all of Whatcom and Skagit counties.
The drought declaration, originally issued in April for the Yakima Basin, now applies to major watersheds such as the Nooksack, Snohomish, Cedar-Sammamish, Puyallup-White, Wenatchee, Methow, and Okanogan, among others. These regions are experiencing less than 75% of normal water supply—the threshold for a drought declaration—due to rapid snowmelt and historically low precipitation.

Key Impacts:
  • Streamflows are projected to be significantly below average, with rivers such as the Chelan, Methow, and Okanogan forecasted at 48–71% of normal.
  • Agriculture and fish habitat are at risk, with hardship expected across both east and west side farming regions.
  • $4.5 million in emergency drought grants are available to public entities for water supply response and resilience.
  • Major utilities (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett) remain under advisory but do not anticipate service impacts due to proactive snowpack and reservoir management.

Long-Term Trends:
Ecology officials note that Washington's snowpack-dependent water supply is becoming increasingly unreliable. By 2050, snowpack drought conditions are expected to occur nearly every other year. Ecology emphasizes the need to treat drought as a recurring risk, not a rare emergency, and is urging systemic infrastructure planning and long-term resilience strategies.

“Even in western Washington, snowpack droughts are becoming the new normal, so we need to be prepared.” — Caroline Mellor, Statewide Drought Lead, Ecology
 
 Technology News
AI and Digital Twins Revolutionize Wastewater Treatment Operations

25% of the World's Public-sector Wastewater Treatment Plants to Use AI in 2025
As global water demands grow and environmental regulations tighten, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are rapidly evolving into smart, sustainable facilities. With stricter standards from the US Clean Water Act, utilities are investing in advanced technologies such as:
  • Membrane filtration and disinfection
  • Real-time monitoring via IoT sensors
  • AI-based Treatment System Optimization (TSO)
Currently, AI use in WWTPs is estimated at 10–15%, but is projected to reach 25–30% in 2025 and up to 60% by 2035 in developed regions. These tools are helping utilities anticipate failures, optimize chemical and energy use, and support water reuse strategies in agriculture and urban landscapes.

Six Key AI Trends in WWTPs:
  1. Operational Optimization – Real-time AI adjustment of energy, chemicals, and flows.
  2. Data-Driven Process Control – Advanced analytics to streamline treatment processes.
  3. Predictive Maintenance – Early detection of equipment failure risks.
  4. Enhanced Decision-Making – Faster, evidence-based operational responses.
  5. Sustainability & Resource Efficiency – Lower environmental impact and improved circularity.
  6. Water Reuse & Hydraulic Efficiency – Reuse of effluent paired with optimized system performance.
“WWTPs are becoming biorefineries and water regeneration centers—recovering energy, producing biofertilizers, and safely reusing water,” — Pablo Montalvillo, Water Consultant, Xylem Vu
How AI is Being Used in Water Reuse
Artificial intelligence is being used for many things in the water industry. Learn about how why there is confusion in the water reuse space, how AI is helping to reduce that confusion and where this tool was developed. Erin Mackey is the drinking water national technical leader at Brown and Caldwell, she presented this project at ACE, and she took a few minutes to discuss the topic with Endeavor Business Media water group Editor-in-Chief, Mandy Crispin.
Read More
 
 WASWD News
WASWD Forum
The WASWD Online Forum has a new member question regarding - Insurance Coverage. "We are a very small W&S district wondering how other small districts determine the appropriate amount of insurance coverage. What was your process? What resources helped you? We'd like to share thoughts. An offline discussion would be OK too if you prefer." You can respond to their question here.

Join the conversation, share your knowledge, and check out others' responses. Don't forget to follow the forum's Member District Seeks Information topic to be notified of future inquiries and answers. Learn how to do that here.
 
Upcoming Meetings
Links to all virtual meetings are available on the Committee Documents webpage of the members only section of the WASWD website.
 

Conference & Training Committee

June 20, 2025 @10:00AM
Location: Hybrid at WASWD Office

Executive Committee

June 23, 2025 @9:30AM
Location: WASWD Office 

Board of Directors Meeting

June 23, 2025 @10:30AM
Location: Hybrid at WASWD Office

Section I & II Meeting

June 26, 2025 @6:00PM
Location: Virtual Zoom
Membership Committee

July 8, 2025 @10:00AM
Location: Virtual Zoom
Section III Meeting

July 8, 2025 @6:00PM
Location: In-Person Only - Bob's Burgers & Brew

Government Relations Committee

July 10, 2025 @10:00AM
Location: Virtual Zoom
 
 Trainings, Conferences & Events

NEW - WASWD Webinar - Cyber Security - Sifting Through the Haystack
Presented by Seitel Systems, No Registration Required, Zoom Link

Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10:00AM

Please join Seitel Systems for a discussion around the various layers needed to protect your District –large or small—in the modern age, including a discussion of the importance of a 7x24 Security Operations Center, Endpoint Detection Response and Managed Detection Response.

NEW - Review & Prep for Wastewater Operator Level 3 &  4 Certification Exam Workshop - In-Person
Presented by Professional Training Association, $610. Registration Link

Tuesday, September 16 - 18, 2025

This In-Person workshop will explain what to expect from the exam, provide you with tips on “test taking”, and help you identify areas you may want to focus on during your additional exam prep activities.

NEW - Math Review & Exam Prep for Operator Level 3 & 4 - In-Person Workshop
Presented by Professional Training Association, $510. Registration Link

Wednesday, September 24 - 25, 2025

This is perfect for operators who understand the principles of water and wastewater math and are interested in obtaining their Wastewater Treatment Operator level 3 or 4 certificate. In this workshop you will learn not to just plug numbers into formulas but what the formulas actually mean and how to apply them.

2025 Western Washington Short School Trade Show
Presented by PNWS- AWWA, $325. Registration Link

Wednesday, October 1-2, 2025, 8:00AM – 5:00PM Renton

This course reinforces information covered in the ICS-100 through ICS-300 courses, and discusses several new topics, including Area Command, and modifications to the standard ICS organizational structure that might be helpful during Complex Incidents.
 Associate Member Spotlight
Psomas
At Psomas we specialize in working with public agencies and devoting our time almost exclusively to projects for municipalities and districts. Currently in our 30th year and over 100 professionals strong, we bring significant experience leading interdisciplinary teams in the planning, design, permitting, and construction of a variety of municipal and district capital improvement projects. To learn more about KPG and how we can help serve your district, please contact Jeff Kreshel, PE at jeff.kreshel@psomas.com or via phone (206) 286-1640.

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