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WASWD Update for October 7, 2025
- By: WASWD
- On: 10/07/2025 14:00:02
- In: WASWD Updates 2025
- Comments: 0
| 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 |
| Federal Government Update |
| Federal Government Shutdown - Impacts on Water and Wastewater Utilities |
| As of October 1, the federal government has entered a partial shutdown following Congress's failure to pass FY26 appropriations. While essential operations continue, many Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activities critical to water and wastewater utilities are temporarily paused. Below is a summary of what this means for districts and the broader water sector: |
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EPA Activities Continuing
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EPA Activities Paused
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What This Means for Districts
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| Emergency Response EPA emergency response teams remain operational. Any contamination events, spills, or threats to water supply safety will still receive federal support. |
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| Bottom Line For now, the shutdown should not disrupt local utility operations, but members should anticipate slower federal response and potential delays in project approvals and reimbursements. WASWD will continue monitoring federal developments and share updates as more information becomes available. If your district experiences direct impacts related to EPA funding or project delays, please let us know at info@waswd.org so we can elevate concerns through our state and federal partners. |
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| 2025 Leadership Conference for Women in Water and Wastewater |
| As part of WASWD's commitment to building a skilled, diverse, and inclusive clean-water workforce, we're highlighting this national virtual event bringing together women leaders from across the water and wastewater industries. The 2025 Leadership Conference for Women in Water and Wastewater offers two days of inspiration, collaboration, and professional growth for emerging and established leaders alike. Program Highlights
Boston Water and Sewer Commission · City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services · Evansville Water and Sewer Utility · Great Lakes Water Authority · Greater Cincinnati Water Works · Portland Water Bureau · Santa Clara Valley Water District · West Valley Water District · WSSC Water · and more! Invest in your career — and in the future of the water sector. Register and view the full agenda |
| The Community Builders Collective - A Statewide Network for Project Leaders |
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Launching this fall, the Community Builders Collective (CBC) is a free, statewide peer network from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) for the people behind community and economic development infrastructure projects in rural, tribal, and historically under-resourced communities.
CBC members get:
For more information sign up here. |
| Additional Events of Interest to Special Districts |
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Health Care Policy: Prior Authorization Scrutiny
On September 29, Health Affairs hosted an event examining criticisms of insurers' prior authorization practices, which have come under increased scrutiny from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Members of the panel discussed how current prior authorization processes affect access to pharmaceuticals, oncology/cancer care, and opioid use disorder treatment. Special districts operating health clinics, emergency medical services, or behavioral health programs may be impacted by changing federal policies on prior authorization, which affect reimbursement timelines, treatment access, and administrative requirements. More information can be found at healthaffairs.org. Fiscal Policy: Emergency Spending Loophole On October 7, the Cato Institute will host a virtual briefing on “The $15 Trillion Emergency Spending Loophole.” Panelists will discuss ways to curb fiscal abuses tied to emergency designations. Changes to emergency spending rules could affect federal funding streams that many districts rely on during disasters and emergencies. For more information, please visit CATO Institute Briefing. Agriculture & Finance: Farm Credit Administration Meeting On Thursday, the Farm Credit Administration will hold a meeting on Farm Credit System funding conditions and a proposed rulemaking on loan performance categories and financial reporting. Districts that support agricultural communities or partner with farmers for economic development, water infrastructure, or land management may be affected by changes in agricultural lending standards and credit conditions. More information is available here. |
| Legislative News |
| House and Senate Action |
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House
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has cancelled votes for the week. Senate The Senate is scheduled to vote this evening on whether to advance the House-passed stopgap funding bill, which would reopen federal agencies and keep them operating through November 21. This will mark the fifth time the chamber has taken up the measure. So far, only three Senate Democrats have supported the GOP measure, and there are no signs of additional Democratic votes at this time. Later in the week, the Senate is expected to take up a War Powers Act resolution in response to recent U.S. military strikes on cartel boats allegedly carrying illegal drugs into the country. The resolution would require congressional authorization for U.S. military action against non-state actors, setting up a debate over the scope of executive branch authority for overseas operations. A vote on the measure could come as soon as Wednesday. |
| Shutdown Update: No Progress |
| Negotiations to end the federal government shutdown remain at a standstill, with no meaningful progress over the past week. Both parties continue to hold firm, and key deadlines for federal employee pay are approaching. The first missed paycheck for many federal employees is expected this Friday. Another significant deadline is October 15, when active-duty military personnel could also miss their pay, if Congress doesn't act. Historically, missed pay for service members has been one of the most politically sensitive consequences of a shutdown, often prompting heightened pressure on lawmakers to reach a resolution. The approaching military payday is viewed as a key flashpoint that could shift political dynamics if the stalemate continues. The White House has also signaled the possibility of mass layoffs and rescinding additional federal funds as the shutdown continues. However, Democrats have dismissed the layoff threats as legally questionable, arguing that any such actions would likely face swift legal challenges. Meanwhile, talks remain deadlocked over the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats have said they will not support reopening the government without a firm agreement on extending the subsidies, while Republicans have maintained that they will not negotiate on extending the insurance subsidies while the government is shut down. |
| Relevant Hearings & Markups |
| Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Wednesday, October 8 |10 a.m. ET | The full committee will meet to consider a slate of nominations and legislative proposals, including a bipartisan bill - the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 - that would reauthorize the nation's pipeline safety regulator. The panel will also markup legislation (S. 2245) that would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Digital Coast Program, which helps coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and plan for future development. Wednesday, October 8 |10:30 a.m. ET | The panel will hold a hearing to examine the federal government's interactions with technology companies and the extent to which those relationships may have influenced content moderation decisions. Hearing and Markup Details Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Wednesday, October 8 |10 a.m. ET | The full committee will hold a hearing entitled, "Labor Law Reform Part 1: Diagnosing the Issues, Exploring Current Proposals." Thursday, October 9 |10 a.m. ET | The full committee will meet to discuss AI's potential to support patients, workers, children, and families. Hearing Details |
| WASWD News | |
| WASWD 2025 Fall Conference Photos | |
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The photos from the Fall Conference are now available on the WASWD Website! From insightful sessions to the epic 90's dress-up, it was a night to remember.
Check out the highlights and relive the fun by scrolling to the bottom of the page here. |
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| Upcoming Meetings |
| Links to all virtual meetings are available on the Committee Documents webpage of the members only section of the WASWD website. |
| Workforce Development Committee |
October 8, 2025 @1:30PM |
| Government Relations Committee |
October 9, 2025 @10:00AM |
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Membership Committee |
October 14, 2025 @10:00AM |
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Section III Meeting |
October 14, 2025 @6:00PM |
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Conference & Training Committee |
October 16, 2025 @10:00AM |
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Section IV Meeting |
October 20, 2025 @7:00PM |
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WEBINAR: Retrospective Rating Program |
October 21, 2025 @10:00AM |
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Section I & II Meeting |
October 23, 2025 @6:00PM |
| Executive Committee Meeting |
October 27, 2025 @9:30AM |
| Board of Directors Meeting |
October 27, 2025 @10:30AM |
| Trainings, Conferences & Events |
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NEW - Cybersecurity Tools & Practices Webinar |
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Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 11:00AM to 12:30PM | ||||
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Join the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators in a conversation about cybersecurity tools and practices that partner organizations are working on. We will hear from the following partners in cybersecurity readiness. |
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NEW - WEBINAR: Retrospective Rating Program |
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Wednesday, October 21, 2025, 10:00AM to 11:00AM | ||||
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Join us for an informative webinar led by Tim Lundin, where he'll dive into the Retrospective Rating Program. This voluntary safety incentive program allows participating members the chance to earn refunds on their workers' compensation premiums. If you're interested in joining the program, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the application process and how you can benefit from this exclusive refund opportunity. Don't miss out—no registration needed! |
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| Associate Member Spotlight |
| BHC Consultants |
| BHC Consultants is an employee-owned engineering and planning firm helping local districts from our offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bellingham. We pride ourselves on our client service and the trust our District clients have in us though our contracts for District Engineering, on-call services and stand alone design contracts. In addition to having unique capabilities in the development of comprehensive water and sewer plans, our civil, structural, and electrical engineering staff provide project planning, design, and construction management services for sanitary sewer collection systems, pump stations, wastewater treatment plants, and water treatment, storage, and distribution systems. Contact Jon Davies at jon.davies@bhcconsulants.com or 206-505-3400 to see how BHC can support your district. |
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