September 2025, Volume 20, Issue 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Communications Sponsors

President's Corner

Don’t Just Jump, Jump In! 
As we approach our 20th Annual Regional Stormwater Conference in Hilton Head, SC and celebrate SESWA’s 20th Anniversary, we will reflect on our many accomplishments. SESWA has achieved significant milestones, but it is important to remember that our Association is not a standalone organization; SESWA’s foundation and core, its members. The successes we celebrate are the result of individuals who have dedicated their time, effort, insights, and expertise to benefit the entire SESWA community.

How can you contribute? It begins with submitting abstracts for presentations. No topic is too small or too localized to be valuable to someone else in the SESWA region. Additionally, you can join a committee. This is where ideas come to life. Our committees collaborate to brainstorm and to share insights and experiences, ensuring that SESWA’s services remain relevant and impactful. You can also volunteer for a Service Project at each of our two in-person events.

Another opportunity is to run for a seat on the Board of Directors. SESWA’s Board of Directors includes two local government representatives from each state and four from the private sector. The two-year terms alternate, meaning there is a seat available every year. Serving on the Board allows you to have a voice in decisions regarding services, initiatives, and the future direction of the organization. While the online nomination process has closed, you can still be nominated from the floor at the Thursday Annual Membership meeting during the Annual Conference. 

My own journey began as a presenter at a Spring Seminar. I was nervous, but once I finished and realized I could answer questions from the audience, I was hooked. I have participated in meetings for all the committees and witnessed our members passionately advocate for stormwater issues and share their knowledge with the entire Association. I joined the Board and served nearly two terms before being appointed to the Executive Committee and advancing further. My experience with SESWA has been rewarding and a highlight of my career. Yours can be too!

When you invest your time in SESWA, you unlock all the benefits of membership.

John Butler
SESWA President
Gwinnett County, GA

Back to the top

SESWA’s 20th Annual Conference - Celebrate 20 Years of Impact!

This year’s SESWA Annual Regional Stormwater Conference isn’t just a gathering — it’s a celebration of 20 years of progress, innovation, and leadership in stormwater management across the Southeast! We’re kicking things off with a rewarding, hands-on service project where attendees will bag recycled oyster shells to support shoreline protection and reef restoration around Hilton Head Island. This is followed by a powerful Pre-Conference Workshop on Innovative Stormwater and Asset Management featuring real-world tools, AI applications, and planning frameworks from across the region. Thursday begins with a special Anniversary Opening Session, scholarship awards, and regional leadership reflections — then flows into two days packed with expert-led sessions on everything from flood control, harnessing AI technologies, drones, and policy responses to landmark court decisions. The Conference is sold out, but you can still join the wait list and be part of this milestone moment.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, and attendees. Your dedication, expertise, and support make this event, and the progress of SESWA, possible. Here’s to another 20 years of collaboration and success!

Back to the top

Help Lead the Future of Stormwater Management with SESWA

Are you ready to help shape the future of stormwater management in the Southeast? The Southeast Stormwater Association is seeking passionate, forward-thinking leaders to serve on the 2025–2026 Board of Directors. Board service offers a unique opportunity to influence key decisions, support innovative solutions, and guide SESWA’s mission to improve water quality across the region. 

Online nominations have closed, but it’s not too late to get involved, nominations will be accepted from the floor during the Annual Membership Meeting, taking place Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 4:50 to 5:30 p.m. ET. The meeting is held in conjunction with the SESWA Annual Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Only SESWA members are eligible to vote or serve on the Board, but all conference attendees are welcome to attend. Whether you're interested in running, supporting a colleague, or learning more about SESWA’s leadership, your participation is encouraged.

To view current nominations, visit the SESWA Board Elections page. For full election details, refer to the Elections Memo sent to members earlier this month. This October, take the next step in your professional journey—join SESWA’s leadership and help advance the stormwater profession across the Southeast.

Back to the top

Be Part of Something Great - Join a 2025-26 SESWA Committee! 

Looking to get more involved in SESWA and connect with fellow stormwater professionals across the Southeast? Now’s your chance! SESWA members are invited to serve on one of the Association’s four programmatic committees: Communications, Conference & Education, Membership, or Stormwater Policy. Committee service is a great way to contribute your ideas, expand your network, and help shape the programs and priorities that move our profession forward. Whether you're returning to a committee or signing up for the first time, appointments are not automatic—all interested members must submit a Committee Request Form to be considered. Appointments will be made by the incoming President in early November, so don’t miss your chance to get involved. Sign up today and make your voice heard in the future of SESWA!

Back to the top

2025 SESWA Stormwater Utility Report Now Available

SESWA's 2025 Stormwater Utility Report was published in April 2025, and a complimentary copy of the Report was provided to current SESWA member contacts as well as non-members who participated in the Survey. The Report provides easy access to questions concerning stormwater utility rates, structure, billing methods, and many other related practices throughout the Southeast. SESWA members can access the digital report at no cost via the Report link above. Non-members can purchase digital access to the Report for $50 by completing an order form. SESWA would like to thank our generous Stormwater Utility Report sponsors – Ardurra, Bolton & Menk, CDM Smith, Geosyntec Consultants, McAdams, and Rymar Waterworks.

Back to the top

New EPA WOTUS “Rumored” for Fall 2025
Kevin Coyne, SESWA

This summer, EPA staff noted that providing a new updated WOTUS rule was a priority for the end of 2025, and conversations in D.C. are starting to say this may become a reality. It has been acknowledged that EPA sent an updated WOTUS rule for review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the end of July. Review by OMB has historically been the last step before any rule goes back out for final notice. Most assume the new WOTUS rule will reduce the coverage of wetlands, including wetlands not connected to navigable waters or wetlands that are rarely wet during a year. A key focus most practitioners are hoping for is flexibility with program implementation, something that SESWA commented on when EPA asked for public input. SESWA will continue to follow and watch for the new WOTUS rule, along with any potential legal challenges that could arise.

Back to the top

Federal Push to Update NEPA Permitting
Kevin Coyne, SESWA

The new federal administration has made it no secret that a top priority is deregulation and changes to federal governance procedures to speed up and reform permitting methods. Two members of the House of Representatives, Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced a new bill in July 2025 called the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The SPEED Act has two components, one to speed up the NEPA permitting process, and one to revise legal and judicial actions related to NEPA regulations. The permitting reforms address the oversight and exemptions that agencies can establish when reviewing a NEPA-related permit, and in many ways, they lower the threshold and level of review compared to current practices. This decreased review has many environmental groups concerned over a lack of oversight and input on specific permits, and when a step is not taken, an opportunity to provide review and comments is lost. While this is concerning to one side, many from the industry side are supporting the reform, stating that the current system is burdensome and overly time-consuming. The idea of permitting reform is not a brand-new concept, this has been a consideration for previous administrations, so the move to reform is not a surprise. The level of reform, and ultimately if a change can take place, would be more impactful. The other component of the SPEED Act is reform to the legal and judicial review procedures and looks to lessen the ability for challenges to permit actions and decreases the time one has to submit a challenge. SESWA will monitor the progress and any related efforts to reform federal permitting and regulatory actions.

Back to the top

Microbial Source Tracking (MST) - A Tool for IDDE Compliance
Andrea Moreno, Town of Bluffton, SC

The Town of Bluffton and the University of South Carolina Beaufort's Microbial Source Tracking (MST) Laboratory have developed new ways to track fecal contamination in the May River Watershed. Their goal is to identify sources of bacteria and take action to reduce contamination. The MST Program tests for fecal markers from humans, dogs, birds, deer, and horses, with special attention to human markers due to public health risks. 

MST sampling takes place as part of the Town’s MS4 quarterly sampling, helping staff find and address sources of fecal waste within Bluffton. Targeted MST sampling is also performed to identify sources of downstream contamination. 

When human waste is detected, the Town notifies regional partners and stakeholders. In sewered areas, staff request inspections from Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority for possible failures or leaks. In septic areas, staff inspect for failing systems and provide residents with information on septic maintenance. 

When dog waste is detected, staff investigate and provide pet waste bags and educational materials to residents. Education also happens via social media and through a developing Pet Waste Station Program. 

Staff are developing educational materials about horse waste and its impact on water quality for distribution to relevant homeowners' associations. 

For more information about the Town of Bluffton's Water Quality Sampling Programs, please visit The May River.

Back to the top

NACWA Corner

EPA Defends PFAS “Hazardous Substance” Designations While Calling for Congressional Action on Passive Receiver Liability

In a significant development for the water sector, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will defend in court its designation of two well-known PFAS chemicals—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—as “hazardous substances” under the federal Superfund law (CERCLA). The announcement, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, signals the Agency’s intent to preserve this Biden-era rule.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin underscored the Agency’s continued support for a “polluter pays” approach, making clear that liability should fall on manufacturers and major contributors to PFAS contamination—not on local governments, water utilities, landfills, farms, airports, and other “passive receivers” that merely manage PFAS in their waste or water streams. Importantly, for the first time, EPA explicitly acknowledged that while it can act under current authority, Congress will need to provide new statutory language to fully and permanently shield passive receivers from liability.

The announcement comes after months of internal debate at EPA and pressure from municipalities, Congress, and NACWA’s Water Coalition Against PFAS, which has long advocated for liability protections. NACWA and its partners have argued in court filings and congressional testimony that communities should not bear the costs of remediating PFAS pollution they did not create. EPA’s position now aligns with this coalition’s call for congressional action.

For stormwater utilities, the stakes are particularly high. Because stormwater systems are not designed to remove PFAS, they can act as unintentional conduits, carrying the chemicals from runoff into receiving waters. Without clear liability protection, stormwater utilities risk being drawn into costly cleanup actions despite having no role in producing or using PFAS. EPA’s recognition of this issue—and call for congressional action—is therefore a critical step toward safeguarding these utilities from unfair financial and legal exposure.

Reactions remain mixed. Supporters, including many in Congress, view the move as a long-overdue step to hold polluters accountable and ensure local governments are not left behind. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WVa), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, reaffirmed her support for a polluter-pays model while calling for a bipartisan legislative fix to protect passive receivers. Environmental groups such as Earthjustice praised the defense of the rule but argued statutory changes are unnecessary, pointing to existing EPA guidance that already limits enforcement against passive receivers.

The legal battle will continue in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals after a months-long pause. Meanwhile, EPA’s defense of the rule and its call for congressional action mark an important turning point in the national debate over PFAS liability, with high stakes for stormwater utilities, wastewater systems, and municipalities across the country.

Please contact Matthew McKenna, NACWA’s Director of Government Affairs, with questions.

Don't see news from your state?

Please contact us with your news or share your comments on our newsletter by emailing us at [email protected].