Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • October 2017 | Page 5

and aging infrastructure. During the Forum’s 2018 Legislative Panel, Senator Rob Bradley (R-Orange Park) and Representative Matt Caldwell (R-Lehigh Acres) gave an overview of what they see as the top issues coming up this session as it relates to water and natural resources. The budget outlook is not as positive as it was pre- Hurricane Irma and the surplus that was projected could be dedicated to hurricane needs, specifically transportation infrastructure. Yet there will continue to be water -related needs, especially for aging infrastructure. The panelists suggested thinking creatively and collaboratively, looking to the water management districts, Department of Transportation, and Department of Environmental Protection for solutions. that he did not believe that infrastructure projects would be off the table as it relates to Amendment One dollars. Reuse is another issue that has been discussed legislatively for a couple of years now. SB 536 created a task force to come up with ways to beneficially use reclaimed water, including both indirect and direct potable reuse. Both panelists agreed that reuse will continue to be discussed, but look to a couple of years out for resolution and they hope for a larger role/robust leadership from the water management districts. RUM 2017 Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran recently created the Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness. Representative Caldwell stated that this committee, among other tasks, would look at flooding issues and how to mitigate impacts and smart, effective conservation spending. Senator Bradley said that the philosophical discussion to build the state budget should be based on the needs of the constituents they represent. He also said A National Perspective on Water Reuse Policy James Eklund with Squire Patton Boggs is an expert on water policy, project finance, data and management related to Colorado and Intermountain infrastructure. He is the former director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and continues to serve as Colorado’s principal representative on the Colorado River. 80% of the reuse nationwide is in these three states. The first round of funding from a federal level through the Department of the Interior has gone out and while Florida was not included in that first round, Mr. Eklund believed that additional funding will be provided and Florida should be on the lookout and engaged. The “bad” includes reuse techniques. These are not being advanced fast enough. A regulatory framework should be in place along with incentives. One example given was to incentivize homebuilders to put in gray water lines at the time of building. The federal budget has a 33% recommended cut to reuse funding which is problematic. Messaging in this area needs to change. The “ugly” is the uncertainty related to interstate water issues and climate change, both of which will continue to be debated. • • • Mr. Eklund provided the forum attendees with the “good, bad, and ugly” as it relates to reuse policy nationwide, interstate water issues, and where Florida stands from a national perspective. From the “good” perspective, Florida, along with California and Texas are positioned to be innovators in the area of water reuse as OCTOBER 2017 • DITCHMEN 5