Articles by: Contributing Author

By Josh Ellis & Dan Cooper Even before COVID-19 hit our country, water affordability has been a growing concern. From 2010 to 2019, the price of water service increased by 57 percent in 30 major U.S. cities. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have their water shutoff everyRead More

By Bently Green, Robert Knecht & Scott Morgan Memphis is a city of highs and lows, like the sharps and flats in the blues for which the southern U.S. city is famous. Lows like the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and highs like introducing Elvis Presley,Read More

By Doug Hatler The first three industrial revolutions transformed our modern society with mechanization, mass production and digital technology. The world around us fundamentally changed. The fourth industrial revolution is now upon us. Industry 4.0, as it is called, will transform modern society and economiesRead More

By Shannon C. Markham “These are truly unprecedented times.” If you have not heard this phrase 100 times in the last few months then you must have recently awoken from a lengthy slumber. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been widespread and thorough, affecting countlessRead More

By Jim Baehr Water utilities were already facing a long list of challenges before COVID-19. Add to the list employee health protection, shutoff moratoriums, intensified affordability issues, unstable cash flow, the inability to foresee the “new normal” and matters become more complicated. It’s probable theRead More

By Mike Keegan After withstanding numerous preemptive judicial challenges, the Trump administration’s version of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) went into effect on June 22. The Trump rule circumscribed the federal regulatory power over U.S. waters compared to the 2015 Obama administration’s ruleRead More

With three years of solid results, WIFIA looks poised for long-term success. But the program could also be a very effective part of the federal response to COVID-19. By John Ryan The U.S. EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Loan Program (WIFIA) was enactedRead More

By JP Joly With the multitude of challenges the world has faced in 2020, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, many water utilities are rethinking their approach to rate reviews and long-term financial planning. As both residential and CII customers lookRead More

By Joey Mitchell The business case for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is compelling, as it provides accurate billing data, consistent and faster billing resolution, and operational efficiency through the elimination of manual operations. Access to more data lets utilities make informed decisions to streamline operations, boostRead More

By Thomas Butler For a water utility of any size to function properly, effective meter reading is a vital aspect of day-to-day operations. Meter reading supports both ends of the transaction, ensuring that water is being properly delivered, accounted and billed each month. With metersRead More