WateReuse Association Awards Brown And Caldwell Project To Develop State Water Reuse Regulatory Guide

Comprehensive guide to help states seeking to create or revise water reuse regulations

The WateReuse Association, in collaboration with other water industry partners, is funding the State Water Reuse Regulatory Guide, a first-of-its-kind guide for states looking to establish or revise water reuse regulations based on specific reuse types.

Brown and Caldwell, a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm creating and delivering water and environmental solutions throughout North America and the Pacific, was recently selected by WateReuse to lead the project.

The comprehensive guide for water reuse practitioners and regulators in any state aims to address scientific, legal and policy considerations, and provide strategies for building collaboration and trust during the regulatory development process. The guide will also include key decision points and pathways for navigating conversations with regulators.

It is expected to be the first nationwide water reuse guide of its kind, equipping reuse practitioners with information to help develop or update regulations that fit their state’s situation and needs versus providing specific regulatory recommendations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Association (EPA) has developed past guidelines for regulations.

“As our membership expands into states with limited or undefined regulations, we are committed to helping develop clear and effective policies that account for their unique drivers and regulatory landscapes. We are proud to lead this effort to ensure science-based and health-protective rules across the country.”
Bruno Pigott, WateReuse Executive Director

Brown and Caldwell will oversee the WateReuse project in collaboration with Hazen, a firm focused on helping clients meet water quality and water supply goals. Gerringer, who will serve as principal investigator and brings more than 16 years of experience in reuse regulations and technologies, noted that Brown and Caldwell and Hazen will draw upon their long-standing expertise working on all types of water reuse projects across the country and engaging with regulatory agencies to permit reuse programs.

“Water reuse is increasing in importance and viability across the U.S. as traditional water supplies have become scarcer, and as interest grows, more states are grappling with regulations to safely implement different types of water reuse projects while balancing public health, environmental and community needs.”
Dr. Fred Gerringer, P.E., Brown and Caldwell’s new Water Reuse National Practice Leader

WateReuse has partnered with the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF), all of whom are providing financial and technical support for the project. In addition, Brown and Caldwell and Hazen are providing in-kind support for the $196,063 project.

The project is currently underway with a final guide expected to be available through WateReuse in May 2026. In the coming months, the project team will engage industry stakeholders during workshops to gather insights and feedback, as well as interviews and focus groups to validate findings and refine the guide.

About WateReuse Association
The WateReuse Association is the nation’s only trade association solely dedicated to advancing laws, policy, funding and public acceptance of recycled water. WateReuse represents a coalition of utilities that recycle water, businesses that support the development of recycled water projects, and consumers of recycled water. The fundamental principle of water reuse is using the right water for the right purpose, everywhere and all the time. That means aiding and accelerating the natural process of cleaning the water to make it suitable for its intended purpose, from irrigation to industrial uses to drinking. For more information, visit www.watereuse.org.

About Brown and Caldwell
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and nearly 2,400 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, our creative solutions have helped municipalities, private industry, and government agencies successfully overcome their most challenging water and environmental obstacles. As an employee-owned company, Brown and Caldwell is passionate about exceeding our clients’ expectations and making a difference for our employees, our communities, and our environment. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com.