Articles by: Contributing Author

Hand holding piece of jigsaw puzzle with word FINANCIAL PLANNING. Selective focus

Why My Capital Planning Role Is So Challenging…

Guest Columns, Public Utility Finance, Water Finance September 16, 2019 at 9:41 am

By Kristy Neckowicz Although roles in planning differ, we’ve seen, time and again, the same handful of challenges related to the effective planning and execution of capital programs. If I walk a mile in a director of engineering’s shoes, here’s how my world would look… IRead More

Aerial view of Destin skyline and beach, Florida in winter.

AMI solution in Florida leads to enhanced meter reading, billing

AMR/AMI, Water Management September 3, 2019 at 9:34 am

By Bobby Barker   Miramar Beach, Florida, is a community located on the Gulf of Mexico known as the Emerald Coast. Situated in the southern part of Walton County and just east of the popular resort city of Destin, Miramar Beach has gorgeous white sand beachesRead More

How the Future of Underground Mapping Can be Found in the Cloud

How the Future of Underground Mapping Can be Found in the Cloud

By Michael A. Twohig In the late 1800s, America experienced a monumental shift as people moved from rural areas into growing industrial and trade centers. Boston was one of those great American cities that experienced the resulting population boom. To respond to the growing demandsRead More

Can Water Utilities Fix Aging Infrastructure Without Destroying Customer Satisfaction?

Can Water Utilities Fix Aging Infrastructure Without Destroying Customer Satisfaction?

Rates & Affordability, Water Management August 26, 2019 at 9:30 am

By Andrew Heath It’s no secret that the United States is facing a water infrastructure crisis of epic proportions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that $473 billion in drinking water infrastructure investment will be needed over the next 20 years as aging pipes andRead More

Letter to the Editor: A Farming Perspective on Agricultural Nutrient Runoff

Letter to the Editor: A Farming Perspective on Agricultural Nutrient Runoff

Guest Columns, Water Management August 26, 2019 at 8:48 am

By Don Wauthier The cover article in Water Finance & Management’s June issue by Michael Curley about agricultural nutrient runoff was a welcome wake up call to the water supply and treatment industry about this important issue. Despite what many think, the farm community is generallyRead More

Small Community Leads Central Florida in Potable Water Reuse

Small Community Leads Central Florida in Potable Water Reuse

Water Management August 26, 2019 at 8:40 am

By Kevin Flis The City of Altamonte Springs, located in Seminole County, Florida, was one of the first in the area to attack its water challenges by investigating drinking water reuse. The municipality implemented a pilot program, funded in large part by a grant providedRead More

Conceptual hand writing showing Budget Planning. Business photo text Financial Plannification Evaluation of earnings and expenses written Notebook Book the jute background Pens next to it.

5 Best Practices for Utility Capital Planning & Execution

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance August 19, 2019 at 9:20 am

By Kristy Neckowicz Optimizing a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) can be a daunting task for any organization given the inherent complexities and many “moving parts” that constitute the plan. When a CIP comprises a hundred or more projects, juggling the budgets, timelines and resources – allRead More

In 2016, DC Water issued a unique $25 million Environmental Impact Bond, the proceeds of which went to green infrastructure projects to reduce the flow of stormwater into the Potomac River.

Environmental Impact Bonds: The Very Welcome New Kid on the Municipal Finance Block

Water Finance August 19, 2019 at 8:41 am

By Michael Curley The public finance industry is not well known for breathtaking innovations nor spontaneous breakthroughs. But in the past three years a truly innovative development has occurred: Environmental Impact Bonds (EIBs). In 2008, the World Bank issued what it called a “green bond.”Read More

Finding the Right Solution: Kentucky Utility Builds Smart System with AMA

Finding the Right Solution: Kentucky Utility Builds Smart System with AMA

AMR/AMI, Water Management August 19, 2019 at 8:30 am

By John Fillinger Located at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, Paducah is a popular river town in western Kentucky. The city was founded in 1927 and is a UNESCO Creative City. Its municipal water utility, Paducah Water, works diligently to serve itsRead More

Justifying SCADA Projects

Justifying SCADA Projects

Technology Perspectives, Water Management August 16, 2019 at 8:18 am

A Balanced Scorecard Approach Incorporating Intangible Benefits Helps Articulate the Benefits of SCADA and Other Automation Projects By Dave Kubel SCADA projects frequently support strategic initiatives not focused on purely economic benefits. However, many utilities often look first to an economic return on investment (ROI) analysisRead More