ACWA’s ten committees provide a powerful forum for ACWA members to engage with peers in their areas of expertise and responsibility, to learn from experts, share best practices, and help shape the future of our industry to achieve shared goals.
Some of ACWA’s committees meet regularly, and you can track meetings and agendas on the ACWA calendar. Some of the committees, like the Legal Committee and the Education Committee, don’t meet regularly, but they serve as resources for other ACWA committees and the Board of Directors on an as-needed basis. Committees also identify areas of need for education and outreach tools, and they set to work to develop resources for members. Some of the committees also help plan and convene educational workshops to support the broader ACWA membership. Finally, some committees, like the Water Quality and Legislative Committees, actively work to advocate on behalf of ACWA members in the public policy arena.
ACWA’s strong leadership in supporting local communities’ wastewater, stormwater, and watershed management strategies is driven by the volunteer efforts of members who are professional experts and those who can contribute their time on behalf of ACWA members statewide.
Check out ACWA’s committees and sign up to get involved or keep informed in your area of interest. All committee meetings can be accessed remotely, so it doesn’t matter where you are in the state. There is no obligation to attend meetings–to get more involved or to sign up for committee emails, contact the ACWA Office.
Biosolids & Recycled Water Committee
ACWA’s Biosolids and Recycled Water Committee promotes safe and sustainable beneficial use of biosolids and recycled water by providing a forum to share the latest research, stay abreast of regulatory challenges and possible solutions, provide educational opportunities, and maintain a strong peer-to-peer network for information and problem-solving. We also work closely with the Oregon DEQ to ensure that regulations are protective of health and the environment and facilitate feasible, implementable, beneficial resource recovery programs. We generally meet quarterly or as needed.
Communication and Education Committee
ACWA knows the importance of providing accessible education and outreach communications resources to support ACWA members’ shared goal of protecting and enhancing Oregon’s water quality. The ACWA Communication and Education Committee provides a forum to explore, develop, and share effective water quality outreach and education tools and resources for ACWA member agencies to use in their communities. The Committee works hand in hand with other ACWA committees, the Board, and the Executive Director to carry out high-priority public outreach and education initiatives. The Communication and Education Committee meets bi-monthly.
Energy Committee
The Energy Committee works to provide information to members on energy efficiency and renewable power sources at treatment plants. The Committee also tracks state and federal regulations and rules, participates in advisory committees, and develops comments on behalf of statewide wastewater utility interests. The Committee meets approximately quarterly and distributes timely information about new incentive programs as it becomes available.
Groundwater Committee
The Groundwater Committee works to ensure municipal activities are protective of groundwater quality, especially stormwater management programs. The Committee shares resources on best management practices and groundwater protection technologies. The Committee provides peer support for communities with underground injection control (UIC) permits and works closely with DEQ staff to ensure that regulations are both protective of health and the environment and feasible and affordable to implement. The Groundwater Committee meets bi-monthly.
Legal Committee
The Legal Committee includes city and environmental attorneys specializing in resolving legal water quality issues, as well as land use and general city governance issues applicable to the wastewater and stormwater service sector. The Committee includes both in-house General Counsel and private firms that are ACWA members, as well as other ACWA members concerned with legal issues. The Committee does not meet unless needed to address emergent legal issues or to support an ACWA member’s request for peer advice.
Legislative Committee
ACWA’s Legislative Committee works to represent the interests of ACWA members at the state and federal levels. ACWA works hand-in-hand with our local government advocacy partners—the League of Oregon Cities and the Special Districts Association of Oregon—to educate and inform the Governor’s Office, cabinet officials, and legislators on critical issues and concerns of ACWA members. We also work closely with our national partner, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and provide input on critical issues to Oregon’s federal delegation. We track and weigh in on legislation that impacts ACWA members’ ability to meet their clean water regulatory obligations, manage sustainable and affordable wastewater and stormwater utilities, and protect workers and the public. From time to time, ACWA champions legislation, with lobbying assistance from our local government partners. ACWA Legislative Committee members play a critical role in developing fact- and data-based information on behalf of our members and presenting it to legislators in a compelling manner.
Pretreatment Committee
The largest of Oregon’s wastewater treatment systems are required to have Industrial Pretreatment programs in place to regulate businesses and industries that discharge to their systems. The ACWA Pretreatment Committee provides a forum to stay abreast of regulatory challenges and compliance strategies, provides educational opportunities, and maintains a strong peer-to-peer network for information and problem-solving. The Committee provides informational presentations and develops tools and resources for ACWA members. The Committee meets bi-monthly.
Stormwater Committee
The ACWA Stormwater Committee supports local government stormwater programs by providing a forum to stay abreast of new regulatory challenges and best management practices, share information and resources, host educational presentations and workshops, and engage in peer-to-peer networking. The Committee emphasizes efforts to implement stormwater best management practices that are effective at reducing pollutants and managing stormwater flows for safe and resilient systems. We also work closely with DEQ to ensure that regulatory programs are feasible, implementable, and effective at targeting stormwater management activities to achieve real water quality benefits. The Committee generally meets on the second Wednesday of every month. The Committee co-hosts the Annual ACWA Stormwater Summit every May.
Utility Management Committee
ACWA’s Utility Management Committee shares resources and promotes opportunities for ACWA member utilities to advance effective utility management practices, establish sustainable funding and financing, and maintain trained workforces. The Committee often provides evaluations and input to the Legislative Committee on legislative proposals that may impact local government operations, financing, and regulation. The Committee meets two to four times per year.
Water Quality Committee
The Water Quality Committee is instrumental in carrying out ACWA’s mission and initiatives related to representing wastewater and stormwater management agencies in the development and implementation of State environmental policies and programs. The Committee engages in constructive dialogue and collaboration with DEQ, providing advocacy and member agency support for the development of implementable and cost-effective municipal wastewater discharge permits, and for compliance strategies and initiatives that achieve meaningful water quality results through sustainable “one water” strategies. The Committee develops and provides educational presentations and resources related to wastewater permitting, facilities planning, and compliance strategies. The Committee meets monthly and provides a forum to stay abreast of regulatory challenges and compliance strategies, provides educational opportunities, and maintains a strong peer-to-peer network for information and problem-solving.
Open ACWA Member Work Groups:
- PFAS Work Group
- PFAS Biosolids Study Work Group
- ACWA Reuse Technical Team
- NPDES Water Quality Permit Review Team
- FOG Work Group
- MS4 Phase I Permittee Work Group
- MS4 Phase II Permittee Work Group