CASA Connects Newsletter for September 28, 2015

September 28, 2015
Ask Governor Brown to Ban Microbeads
AB 888, the bill that would ban the sale of personal care products that contain plastic microbeads for the purpose of exfoliation in facial scrubs, soaps, and toothpaste is on the governor’s desk and you can help ensure its passage.
If you have not yet written a letter to the governor, please take a moment to do so now. The governor may make a decision on this matter any day now, and we know from decades of first-hand experience that your letters make a huge difference.
Public Utilities Commission Finalizes Structure of SB 1122 Program
On September 18, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a final decision related to the SB 1122 program, which creates a 250 Megawatt bioenergy carve-out for the state’s Feed-in Tariff program. Under the new program, electrical utilities are required to purchase a specified amount of bioenergy from certain sources, one of which is wastewater treatment facilities that produce biogas through anaerobic digestion processes. Read more…
Top Priorities Identified at CASA Retreat
Eric Sapirstein, Jessica Gauger, Tim Becker, Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold and Kevin Hardy win the “Marshmallow Challenge” team exercise
The CASA Board of Directors, staff and consultants met for a two-day planning session September 17 and 18 to begin the development of CASA’s FY 2016 Strategic Plan.
Key initiatives include enhancing CASA’s communications program to improve education and information for decision-makers, and providing additional communication tools for member agencies. Other ideas include providing improved opportunities for younger professionals to participate in CASA in order to ensure the association’s future success and expanding strategic partnerships. Staff is in the process of developing a strategic plan for Board review and approval later this fall.
Join the “Imagine a Day Without Water” Campaign

Imagine a Day Without Water is a series of events, policy resolutions, social media campaigns, and more that seeks to educate and engage the public and stakeholders about how water is essential, invaluable, and worthy of investment. Water and wastewater providers, agencies, utilities, elected officials at every level, advocates, engineers, and others are invited to participate to help raise awareness and make a difference in California. The campaign runs October 6-8. Read more…
Tools Available to Communicate the Value of Water

The Value of Water Coalition has created a fantastic toolkit to help you communicate the value of water to your customers. And, while some were designed to accompany the Imagine a Day Without Water campaign, many of these tools can be used apart from the campaign. You’ll find useful tools such as:
  • Tips for Hosting a Good Press Event
  • Sample Op-ed
  • Sample Press Release
  • Key Messaging
  • Graphics for your Social Media Sites
  • and more!
Just visit The Value of Water’s website and access all the tools on one page.
Water Board Update: No Permit Fee Increase for Wastewater Facilities

Last week we advised you that the The State Water Resources Control Board was scheduled to adopt the Core Regulatory Program Fee Schedule for fiscal year 2016 on September 16. We’re happy to report that the fee schedule was adopted without change.
Agency News
DSRSD General Manager, Bert Michalczyk
Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) General Manager, Bert Michalczyk, has announced he will be retiring in early November, 2015.Read more…
The DSRSD also has a vacancy on the Board of Directors, which will be filled by appointment rather than by election.

To apply for the position, interested candidates must submit an application to the District Secretary, Nicole Genzale, by 5:00 p.m. on or before Monday, September 28. Please contact the District for an application and instructions.
The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District recently received the covetedPlatinum-17Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The District achieved 100% success in ensuring every drop of more than 236 billion gallons of treated wastewater met all federal, state and regional water quality standards as it was discharged into Suisun Bay during the past 17 consecutive years.


Ironhouse Sanitary District’s new recycled water fill-up station is proving to be a fast success.

Local residents didn’t take long to adapt to the idea of coming in during the fill station open hours of just three days a week to fill up on water. By the end of August the district had already given out nearly two million gallons of water and the demand continues.Read more…
 
Speaking of Ironhouse Sanitary District, they recently celebrated their
70th anniversary. They held an

event that included the dedication of a bronze plaque honoring the men and women responsible for building the strong, environmentally sound sanitary district you see today. Congratulations Ironhouse Sanitary District! Read more…
 
Dr. Robert W. “Doc” Affeldt

We’re sad to learn of the loss of Truckee Sanitary District Board Member, Robert W. “Doc” Affeldt, DDS. Dr. Affeldt passed away on September 6 at the age of 90 following a brief illness.

“Doc Affeldt devoted nearly 50 years to serving the public, protecting Lake Tahoe, and helping CASA advance its goal of ensuring clean water for all Californians,” said Bobbi Larson, CASA Executive Director. “His dedication and leadership will be greatly missed by his colleagues in the wastewater community.” Our best to his family, friends and colleagues.
Got news? Send it to us!
Mixed Bag

The State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance presents its September/October 2015 issue of the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions Newsletter. 
The Public Policy Institute of America shares insight into common drought concerns between California and Australia in their blog post, Reducing the Costs of Drought: Lessons Learned from Australia.
The California Section of the WateReuse Association is accepting abstracts for presentations at the 2016 WateReuse California Annual Conference to be held March 14-16, 2016 in Santa Rosa. Deadline to submit is Monday, September 28.
Don’t forget to register for the California Bioresources Alliance: Building Healthy Soils workshop on November 4! And along those lines, check out this one-day workshop on October 15 put on by the Association of Compost Producers and Inland Empire Utilities Agency, and co-sponsored by CalRecycle on the benefits of compost and how to use it in building healthy soils.

Opportunity for Consultants:
A municipality is looking for assistance in developing a Corrective Action Plan Cost Estimate for Non-Water Releases for its closed landfill, in accordance with Section 22100 of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

The CCR requires that the municipality establish costs for initiating and completing known or reasonably foreseeable corrective actions for a non-water release from its landfill due to a causal event (e.g., earthquake, flood, fire). If you can perform this work and are interested in this opportunity, please contact Gorman Lauwith Larry Walker Associates.
Careers
Best of Facebook This Week
Like CASA on Facebook

A Mercury News article provides a clear snapshot of the problems microbeads in personal care products are causing. Former CASA President, Dave Williams, was quoted in this article, which mentions several bay area agencies.
Events
Date
Organization
Event
Location
Sept. 26-30, 2015
Water Environment Foundation (WEF)
The Water Environment Foundation’s annual technical conference, WEFTEC.
Chicago
Oct. 16, 2015
Orange County Sanitation District
State of the District Breakfast
E-mail for more information
Fountain Valley
Oct. 22, 2015
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
Los Angeles
Oct. 28-29, 2015
Stanford University Global Projects Center
Stanford
Nov. 4-5, 2015
California Bioresources Alliance
Rancho Cordova, CA
Nov. 4-5, 2015
WateReuse
Brisbane, Australia
Nov. 4-6
NACWA
Henderson, NV
Jan. 20-22, 2016
CASA
Palm Springs
Feb. 22-24, 2016
CASA
Washington, D.C.
Aug. 10-12, 2016
CASA
Monterey
In Case You Missed It…
  • Legislative Session Adjourns
  • Water Board Permit Fees
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