Guest Columns

House panel advances water resources package

House panel advances water resources package

Public Utility Finance, Washington Report May 27, 2022 at 7:32 am

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in May approved its version of biennial water resources legislation to authorize a series of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects. Like a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) measure advanced earlier this month by a Senate committee, the HouseRead More

EPA announces additional $1.9 billion for SRF funds

EPA announces additional $1.9 billion for SRF funds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $1.9 billion in grant funding to the State Revolving Funds (SRF) to accelerate progress on water infrastructure projects. Combined with historic investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding will help states, Tribes, and territories upgrade waterRead More

Senate panel advances WRDA bill

Senate panel advances WRDA bill

Public Utility Finance, Washington Report May 13, 2022 at 8:00 am

Recently, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously advanced the latest iteration of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), biennial legislation that authorizes flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to the Association of Metropolitan Water AgenciesRead More

Water sector: EPA’s proposed Financial Capability Guidance “falls well short” on affordability, environmental justice

Water sector: EPA’s proposed Financial Capability Guidance “falls well short” on affordability, environmental justice

In April, associations representing the U.S. water utility sector submitted comments to EPA in response to its draft of the proposed Financial Capability Assessment Guidance, in which several groups said the agency’s proposal “falls well short” of meeting the purpose of the revision of theRead More

Realistically Planning to Spend Federal Infrastructure Money

Realistically Planning to Spend Federal Infrastructure Money

Financial Report, Guest Columns April 18, 2022 at 8:00 am

By Joe Crea The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or Infrastructure Bill) promises to inject $1.5 trillion across the country to “rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access toRead More

California school district files lawsuit over contaminated drinking water

California school district files lawsuit over contaminated drinking water

Legal Corner April 14, 2022 at 2:30 pm

SL Environmental Law Group recently announced that its client, Ballico-Cressey School District in Ballico, California, has filed a lawsuit against Dow Chemical and Shell Oil, sellers of pesticides that contained the chemical 1,2,3 trichloropropane, known as “TCP.” The lawsuit claims that these products have contaminatedRead More

FY23 budget proposal would expand drinking  water funds, affordability assistance

FY23 budget proposal would expand drinking water funds, affordability assistance

The FY23 budget request released by the White House would boost EPA spending to $11.9 billion in 2023, (an increase from $9.56 billion in FY22), while providing full funding for a new drinking water system resilience program long championed by the drinking water sector and the AssociationRead More

NACWA applauds Senate bill on labeling of non-flushable products

NACWA applauds Senate bill on labeling of non-flushable products

Washington Report, Water Management March 31, 2022 at 9:36 am

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has expressed its support for the introduction of the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and will set important federalRead More

NACWA: Clean Water SRF fund allotment formula under review

NACWA: Clean Water SRF fund allotment formula under review

Last week, members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony from public clean water utility members of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) during the committee’s hearing, “Oversight of the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Formula.” The hearing focusedRead More

Legal Corner: A Guide to Valuing Water Rights in Colorado

Legal Corner: A Guide to Valuing Water Rights in Colorado

Guest Columns, Legal Corner February 18, 2022 at 10:15 am

By Susan M. Ryan With population growth, increased environmental concerns, and a greater demand for water for residential, commercial and industrial projects, understanding water rights ownership and regulation is important for anyone evaluating water rights. While water laws vary from state to state, it isRead More