Cheryl MacKelvie

COVID-19 in the Danish Water Sector While the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting countries around the world in different ways, there are many similarities in how the water and wastewater sectors have approached their core mission of protecting public health and the environment in this time of crisis. As we have seen the wastewater sector respond [...]

On May 14 Governor Newsom released his May Revision of the 2020-21 Budget.  The “May Revise” traditionally is released a month after the income tax deadlines and reflects changes to revenues and any additional adjustments to existing funding based on newly identified needs.  This year, however, the May Revision was a total overhaul of the January budget [...]

Earlier this month, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The purpose of the hearing was to review the Agency's activities during the COVID-19 crisis and provide committee members the opportunity to question the Administrator on issues beyond the crisis. Highlights from the hearing related [...]

Innovative Recycling Plan Wins Award The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) has won an Engineering News-Record award for a recycled water project in partnership with Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LASCD). “MWD piloting a bold new initiative to produce an additional regional water source through its Regional Recycled Water Program, which aims to take [...]

Orange County Sanitation District Engages in Wastewater Based Epidemiology The wastewater sector is emerging as a valuable resource to cost-effectively monitor the COVID-19 pandemic through Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE). Influent monitoring for viruses is not a new concept. This approach been used for many years to monitor for other viruses of concern such as Polio [...]

Updates to CASA COVID-19 Webpage As new information is released and obtained, CASA continues to update our COVID-19 webpage. Some recent additions include: COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director CSDA COVID “Take Action” page  FEMA, USEPA, WARN & AWWA to Provide Cloth Face Masks to CA Water & Wastewater Utilities CASA Advocates for Local Government Support [...]

Phase IV Relief Package House Democrats have introduced the phase IV relief package, entitled the HEROES Act, that delivers a total of $3 trillion dollars in economic assistance to address both the continuing public health crisis and the economic shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The package expands on the provisions and policies of the [...]

State Water Board Adopts New Regulations for Environmental Labs On May 5, the State Water Board adopted a package of regulations governing California labs that represent a significant shift in California’s policy for this program. The previous regulations were adopted in the 1990s and allowed environmental labs to acquire accreditation either from the State or from The [...]

Member Dues Changes The CASA Board recently approved changes to the CASA Member Dues tiers and amounts, subject to approval by the membership at CASA’s Annual Business Meeting in August. With this change, a number of member agencies (particularly smaller agencies) will see a significant decrease in dues, while some of the larger agencies will [...]