NATIONAL WATER REUSE
oEPA
I I n L" f n + n n
ACTION PLAN
united otaies
Environmental Protection
Agency
Celebrating Five Years of Progress
March 2025
When the EPA released the National Water Reuse
Action Plan (WRAP) in February 2020, it marked the
beginning of a transformative and collaborative initiative
designed to address critical state and water sector
needs. Since then, the effort has grown from 37 actions
to an impressive 73 action commitments.
One fundamental goal continues to guide the effort:
leveraging the convening power and scientific expertise
of the EPA, alongside the water sector, to empower
states and communities to solve local water challenges.
We thank all WRAP collaborators for their considerable
contributions and dedication to identifying opportunities
for reuse, promoting the latest science to protect public
health and creating technical resources that support new
projects and initiatives.
Thank you to our action plan partners across
the country for your continued commitment and
dedication to advancing water reuse. Our work
will help ensure a secure and reliable water
supply for the American people.
— Sharon Nappier, EPA National Program Leader for Water Reuse
WRAP YEAR 5 IMPACTS
The following are example activities from the past year that have helped advance water reuse across five
key impact areas.
Impact Area 1: Improved State Regulatory
and Policy Clarity
Convened cross-sector participants to identify ways to
accelerate onsite reuse at the Onsite Water Reuse Summit.
(Action 2,18, led by NBRC for OW/S and EPA; Action 3.4, led
by NBRC for OWS)
Reported on key actions that permitting authorities
and utilities can take to support innovative permitting
approaches, including for water reuse. (Action 2.19, led
by Stanford University, EPA and UC Berkeley)
• Published the quarterly "Potable Reuse Report."
which covered critical topics such as regulations and
pathogen reduction crediting frameworks. (Action 7.10,
led by USACE and the Water Reuse Consortium)
New action: Identify Opportunities to Support the
Mississippi River Basin States in Advancing Water
Reuse (Action 2.20, led by the WEF Reuse Committee
Mississippi River Basin Focus Group)
WRAP FIVE-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
A selection of WRAP accomplishments since 2020:
Summarized state and international reuse
regulatory approaches in the REUSExplorer.
Highlighted federal funding resources that
support resilient local water infrastructure.
Connected communities to technical
assistance providers.
Supported the workforce with training
resources for water reuse operators and
other water professionals.
Provided states and utilities with clear and
adaptable communications resources in an
online library.
Supported local governments' onsite reuse
initiatives by incorporating the latest science
into codes and standards.
See previous annual updates for more
accomplishments.
m
73 WRAP action commitments
190+ resources developed
178 organizations involved
Onsite Water Reuse Summit:
Integration of Science, Policy, and Operation for
Safe and Effective Implementation
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Presenters at the 2024 Onsite Water Reuse Summit.
Photo courtesy of ERG.
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Impact Area 2: Highlighted Infrastructure Investments
Bolstered the reliability of water supplies for about 9.5
million Americans through 20 WIFIA loans for water
reuse projects since 2020. (Action 6.2B, led by EPA)
Supported water recycling projects in California and
Utah by providing $304 million to 10 recipients under
the Bureau of Reclamation's Large-Scale Water Recycling
Program. (Action 6.5. led by Reclamation)
Highlighted funding and financing opportunities for state
and local water reuse projects in a webinar hosted by the
federal Water Reuse Interagency Working Group.
(Action 6.1, led by EPA)
Continued to fund water reuse projects through the
Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. (Action 6.2A,
led by EPA)
(?<
More than
.8 billion
has been made available
for federal investments
in reuse infrastructure
since 2020.
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$
Impact Area 3: Advance Scientific and Technological Research
Provided $75 million for the second phase of the National
Alliance for Water Innovation to accelerate desalination
and water reuse technologies. (Action 4.6. led by NAWI
and DOE)
FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING
MICROBIAL TREATMENT TARGETS
FOR WATER REUSE
This 2025 document provides
detailed scientific information
state regulators can use to
develop risk assessments
and set microbial treatment
targets for potable and
non-potable water reuse.
(Action 3.1. led by EPA)
Advanced research on stormwater capture and use by
completing an assessment of urban stormwater runoff
potential in the United States and publishing a report that
provides guidance for quantifying stormwater volumes
and characterizing its benefits. (Action 5.5, led by Pacific
Institute, EPA and WateReuse; Action 5.8, led by Pacific
Institute)
Explored water reuse in the beverage manufacturing
industry by publishing a white paper that identifies
solutions to regulatory, treatment and technology
challenges. (Action 5.7, led by GHD in collaboration with
nine partners)
Analyzed different viruses in a research article to assess their potential as treatment monitoring surrogates in
onsite non-potable water reuse systems. (Action 5.2. led by WRF)
Funded research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to improve understanding of and approaches for managing
AMR risks in water reuse. (Action 7.9. led by EPA)
New action: Research De Facto Water Reuse: Grant Award (Action 7.12, led by EPA)
$225 million
in federal research awards
for water reuse since 2020
EPA (2^
$45.6 million
SBIR, STAR
and National
Priority awards
DOE &
$145.5 million
National Alliance for
Water Innovation
awards for desalination
and reuse
DOD0
$34.3 million
Water Reuse Consortium
and cooperative
agreements
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Impact Area 4: Improved Public Perception
Provided clear and concise information on water reuse
via the CDC's Recycled Water weboaae. ('Action 8.6. led
by CDC and EPA)
Bolstered industrial water recycling through the Global
Industrial Water Reuse Champion Award. ('Action 8.4.
led by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veolia, WateReuse,
UPenn Water Center and IDRA)
Explored water reuse as a solution to water scarcity in
Los Angeles, California, in a new water ethics docuseries.
(Action 7.10, led by USACE and the Water Reuse Consortium)
PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN WATER REUSE
The EPA Environmental Financial Advisory Board's Water Reuse Workgroup completed a congressionally directed studv on
the development of an investment tax credit focused on both onsite reuse and centralized reuse using treated municipal
wastewater. (Action 6.6. led by EFAB)
Impact Area 5: Provided Technical Support and Information
Crafted an action plan that outlines 10 goals to advance
the implementation of onsite water reuse systems.
IAction 3.4. led by NBRC for OM/Sj
Answered common questions about potabie water reuse
and the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)
substances. (Action 3.7. led by EPA and FDA)
Launched a website that promotes proper
management of unused or expired pharmaceuticals
and developed a technology brief on treatment options
for pharmaceuticals and personal care products in
wastewater. (Action 2.9, led by Sanitation Districts of Los
Angeles County; Action 4.9, led by EPA)
New action: Identify Opportunities and Address Barriers
to Nonresidential Onsite Rainwater and Stormwater
Catchment Systems (Action 5.9, led by ARCSA)
New action: Identify In-Field Water Reuse Opportunities
for Water Produced in Colorado During Oil and Gas
Operations (Action 5.10. led by Colorado Produced Water Consortium)
STATE REGULATOR SUMMITS ON WATER REUSE
The annual forum provides a critical opportunity for attendees to
learn about and share state-specific water reuse issues, priorities
and progress. These collaborative summits have garnered
participation from 23 states since 2019. (Action 2.2. led by EPA,
ACWA and ASDWA in collaboration with GWPC, ASTHO, ECOS
and WateReuse)
NEWSFLASH! WATER REUSE CAN
SUPPORT Al AND SUPERCOMPUTING
Water reuse is critical to helping industry leaders like
Amazon. Google and Microsoft keep up with their
data center cooling needs while helping preserve
local water supplies.
ONSITE WATER REUSE CAN
REDUCE FLOOD EVENTS
The revitalized Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn,
New York, has a non-potable reuse system that
collects building wastewater and treats it for toilet
flushing, cooling and irrigation. This system diverts
wastewater that could otherwise contribute to
combined sewer overflow events. Learn more here.
Attendees of the 2024 State Summit on Water Reuse
in Denver, Colorado. Photo courtesy of the EPA.
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RECENTLY COMPLETED WRAP ACTIONS
Completed actions are celebrated for meeting their goals and laying the groundwork for future efforts.
Address Barriers to Water Reuse in Agriculture Through Improved Communication and Partnerships (Action 1.6,
led by USDA, EPA, FDA, University of Arizona and Volcani Institute)
Incorporate Water Quality and Onsite Reuse Research into Codes and Standards for Premise Plumbing (Action
2.18, led by NBRC for Ol/I/S and EPA)
Identify Water Quality Monitoring Practices for Reuse Applications (Action 5.2, led by WRF)
Identify Opportunities to Implement Water Reuse within the Beverage Industry (Action 5.7, led by GHD in
collaboration with nine partners)
Compile and Develop Water Reuse Program Outreach and Communication Materials (Action 8.1. led by
WateReuse)
KEY RESOURCES
WRAP Online Platform with action information: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/wraponline
REUSExplorer tool with summaries of state guidelines and regulations: https://www.epa.gov/reusexplorer
Water Reuse Resource Hub with materials organized by end use: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/water-
reuse-resource-hub-end-use-application
Case studies that demonstrate the benefits of water reuse: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/case-studies-
demonstrate-benefits-water-reuse
Recent and upcoming activities: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/recent-and-upcoming-water-reuse-activities
The growing WRAP collaborative is he/ping to exaann
challenges. Action leaders and partnersfAof
s/nce February2024 are noted in bold italics-
Reclamation I MN DPH I ASTHO I NPS Valley Water I Purdue I WSWC I IDEQ I NADB I DOS I HCPU I ASDWA OSU I Tyson GSA
Village of Pingree Grove Stantec CILA GHD I WTA I ACWA I Denver Water I Groundwork USA I GCE Pacific Institute NWRI
Rice University 2nd Nature NTWC SCCMA HUD EDF I EMWD I Greenbiz Group I El Paso Water WFX SCCWRP RCAC MoH
EFAB I Parker Groundwater NREL GCCI ARCSA Jacobs I MOEI I UNR I The World Bank Conagua Wright Water Engineers
NMSU Veolia I NTC I DOT I Wl DNR AWWA Total Water Committee Fox River WRD Columbia Water Center AWWA CDPHE
SRE I IWA I AHA and ASHE I DOI I RN LADWP ISPE Northwest Biosolids RTOCs USAID CA SWRCB NRWA NACWA USWP
WaterEdge.IL NBRC for OWS WEF Reuse Committee Ml River Basin Focus Group SWAN CASE Team ECOS USDA NMSA
SBIR Programs City of Boise NYC DEP Consor Engineering I Katz and Associates I University of California SWFWMD IU ICC
Commerce LVMWD UPenn Water Center WateReuse I RMS I NSF I RCAP I ORNL I SAWS I FEMA JCI CDC USGBC NSAC
Israel Export Institute City of Columbus PepsiCo, Inc I MWD I IWMI I Wahaso I BIER I WRF I CIFA I Athens-Clark County AMWA
UWFP I UA I Water Innovation Services AVF WW I JFW I FDA I UNC I USC I Cambrian Innovation IIDRA I EPRI
IBWC One Water Econ I LACSD DOE OH EPA I CSO I WEF I CESPM I WaTr I SEPROA I Xylem I NMED I CWPC
Fox Metro WRD I GWPC NGWA I DCPH-A I Volcani I ASHRAE I CWCB I Austin Water Utilities I Yorkville
USACE I WSP Consultants I Mo AG I NDRPICESPTIIAPMO ICDM Smith I MWD of Southern California I PHASC
UIC I ReNUWIt I TTU I DOD I NSU I Embassy of Israel I US Water Alliance I Design Aire I EPA I USGS I LiUNA
NeoTech Aqua I NAWI I NM-PWRC I MoEP I IRWA I Penn State I Trussel Technologies I University of Arizona EPA-820-F-25-001
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