The Water Finance Conference hosted a successful 2024 event in Buford, Georgia, drawing water finance professionals from across the United States to discuss the latest trends, challenges and best practices in capital planning, customer affordability, consolidation/regionalization, SRFs, federal funding hurdles, and technology and innovation impacting utility finance and management.
The 2024 conference was held Aug. 6-7 at The Water Tower Global Innovation Hub. Since 2015, this annual educational seminar has convened executive-level utility professionals, primarily directors, chief executive officers, chief financial officers and city finance managers. Subject matter is also applicable to consultants, municipal advisors, legal professionals and service providers who have a vested interest in the financing of municipal water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
This year the conference tackled a range of subject matter over two days, featuring expert presentations and panel discussions. On day 1, keynote speaker Judy Adler, director of water resources at the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, gave an overview on funding water infrastructure in Georgia and current water priorities across the state. Other topics included getting affordability conversations started in your community, considerations for utility regionalization or consolidation, and legislative and regulatory issues affecting local utilities. Day 2 featured a discussion with Michael Deane, chief of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund at U.S. EPA and panel discussion on overcoming hurdles to applying for and obtaining federal grants and loans. View the complete 2024 agenda here for reference.
Following Day 1, attendees were treated to a tour of The Water Tower, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit water innovation hub born out of Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources. The $33.7 million campus celebrated its grand opening in April 2022 and has future plans for expansion. The Water Tower aims to serve as a global hub for water utilities, researchers, companies and other water-related organizations to collaboratively solve critical, real-world water and environmental challenges. The campus features multiple laboratories, a field training center and water technology demonstration areas. It is located next to Gwinnett County’s F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, an award-winning advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery facility.
The Water Finance Conference is hosted annually by the journal Water Finance & Management, published by Benjamin Media, in partnership with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
The 2024 conference was presented by Main Event Sponsors NACWA, Stantec & Synario, along with sponsors Sustainability Partners, Kamstrup, SmartCover, Wade Trim, Raftelis, MentorAPM and USG Water Solutions.
The Water Finance Conference will return in 2025. Details will be available soon. Visit waterfinanceconference.com for more.
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