Guest Columns

PFAS in the Crosshairs

PFAS in the Crosshairs

Washington Report, Water Management May 22, 2023 at 6:30 am

Examining EPA’s Proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water In the world of water utility finance, it’s widely known that ratepayers like residents and businesses represent the primary source of revenue for local water and sewer systems. Therefore, when regulatory mandates comeRead More

EPA issues order to Baltimore for SDWA compliance

EPA issues order to Baltimore for SDWA compliance

Public Utility Finance, Washington Report May 18, 2023 at 9:00 am

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a unilateral administrative order (UAO) to the City of Baltimore to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) safeguards designed to protect public health from “illnesses linked to Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other bacteria from animal waste whichRead More

BABA at the Bar

BABA at the Bar

Washington Report, Water Finance May 15, 2023 at 9:09 am

By Wayne Hofmann An engineer, a contractor and a utility owner walked into a bar. They had just finished a long day reviewing plans at the construction site, and they were all feeling a little drained. They ordered their drinks and saddled up to theRead More

Fitch Ratings: EPA’s cyber rules will add financial burden for utilities

Fitch Ratings: EPA’s cyber rules will add financial burden for utilities

According to a release from credit rating firm Fitch Ratings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) requirement that all public water systems incorporate cyber risk and resiliency in their periodic reviews will add an increased regulatory and financial burden that could be even greater forRead More

EPA proposes to establish first-time CWA protections for more than 250 tribes

EPA proposes to establish first-time CWA protections for more than 250 tribes

Washington Report, Water Management May 9, 2023 at 11:10 am

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced proposed federal baseline water quality standards for waterbodies on Indian reservations that do not have Clean Water Act standards, ensuring protections for over half a million people living on Indian reservations as well as critical aquatic ecosystems.Read More

Associations endorse bill to hold PFAS polluters liable for cleanup

Associations endorse bill to hold PFAS polluters liable for cleanup

Legal Corner, Water Finance May 8, 2023 at 8:32 am

Five water sector associations representing drinking and clean water utility systems submitted a letter to Congress last week in support of the “Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act.” The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate and aims to hold polluters accountable for Per-and PolyfluoroalkylRead More

EPA to invest $41 million in wastewater technical assistance

EPA to invest $41 million in wastewater technical assistance

Financial Report, Water Management May 1, 2023 at 9:49 am

In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $41 million in new technical assistance funding under America’s Water Infrastructure Act to help communities address urgent wastewater challenges. The new funding, awarded to nine technical assistance providers across the country, will primarily help rural, small,Read More

New Hampshire rebuffs 3M’s attempt to move PFAS case to federal court

New Hampshire rebuffs 3M’s attempt to move PFAS case to federal court

Legal Corner May 1, 2023 at 9:13 am

Recently, the State of New Hampshire, represented by Attorney General John Formella and a legal team led by Ken Sansone of SL Environmental Law Group, defeated an effort to move its case against 3M Company, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, and The Chemours CompanyRead More

National Water Policy Fly-In to headline Water Week 2023

National Water Policy Fly-In to headline Water Week 2023

Next week, water sector leaders will gather in the nation’s capital for Water Week, an annual week of in-person meetings, events and Capitol Hill visits with lawmakers to discuss the most critical issues facing water. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the WaterRead More

Biden administration announces billions in DWSRF funds for states, tribes, territories

Biden administration announces billions in DWSRF funds for states, tribes, territories

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management April 17, 2023 at 8:00 am

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced more than $6.5 billion for states, tribes and territories for essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades across the nation through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).   Through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is increasingRead More