Cheryl MacKelvie

The Newest Disease Detection Tool for COVID and Beyond Wastewater Based Epidemiology continues to show effectiveness in early detection of disease including the COVID-19 virus in communities. “As vaccination rates increase and we get the variants, it’s still going to be important because clinical testing is decreasing… we really want to make this part of [...]

2021 BRIC and FMA Webinar Series Join the 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Programs’ Webinar Series—running from July 28 through Oct. 13, 2021. The webinar series will bring FEMA subject-matter experts and partners together to provide technical information, best practices, tools and resources regarding these grant programs. There will also be a review of the fiscal year 2021 Notices of Funding Opportunities [...]

CASA’s Annual Conference-Just Days Away CASA’s Annual Conference just around the corner, and we are overjoyed to see you again in-person in San Diego next week as we hear from experts on topics we’re all concerned about, including the current drought, the changing nature of work, gender diversity and pay equity in the workforce, and [...]

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently published a Statewide Survey that delivers nonpartisan, objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. Outlined below are some of the key findings from the current survey: Key findings from the current survey: One [...]

Senate Debates Comprehensive Infrastructure Package; Committee on Appropriations Mark Up Energy-Water FY2022 Spending Bill As of this writing, the Senate is debating its bipartisan infrastructure package, H.R. 3684. This comprehensive package is the Senate’s counterpart to the House’s INVEST Act that was passed earlier this summer. The Senate package provides $55 billion in appropriations to [...]

IRWD’s Purple Pipe Origin Story The Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) recently posted an article about the origin of the purple pipe. In the article they share about the Irvine Ranch Water District engineers who did the work in the 1980s to establish purple as the designated standard for recycled water. “Throughout the nation and [...]

CASA Annual Conference 2021 Join us next week, August 11-13 for CASA’s 2021 Annual Conference at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. Register today and please be sure to follow the safety guidelines, notices and waivers in place. We hope to see you in sunny San Diego!   HHS-Utility Webinar on Low-Income Water Program On August [...]

“Do Not Flush” Wipes Labeling Legislation Introduced in Congress: Please Send Letters of Support Today! We are pleased to report that on July 21, Representatives Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Lisa McClain (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to require comprehensive “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for all non-flushable wipes products sold in the United States.  The Wastewater [...]

Networking at CASA’s Annual Conference CASA’s Annual Conference is almost here, and we can hardly contain our excitement! CASA staff is looking forward to seeing you again in-person in San Diego August 11-13, as we hear from experts on topics we’re all concerned about, including the impending drought, California’s push for electrification, the changing nature [...]

House Passes Comprehensive PFAS Legislation This week, the House of Representatives passed the PFAS Action Act of 2021 (H.R. 2467).  The bill was approved on a bipartisan basis 242-183 with 23 Republicans joining all Democrats to approve the legislation. The next step is for Senate consideration of the measure.  Currently, the Senate has not indicated [...]