Guest Columns

Senate committee approves water recycling investments

Senate committee approves water recycling investments

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management May 11, 2020 at 10:16 am

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee last week passed legislation that will make significant investments in water recycling programs and resources. The two pieces of legislation — America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 — includeRead More

Water Week hosting live webinars with congressional updates

Water Week hosting live webinars with congressional updates

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management April 22, 2020 at 12:30 pm

The organizers of Water Week 2020 will present complimentary webinar sessions on April 22 and 29 to discuss the water sector’s key issues and talking points, as well tools and tips for engaging with congressional representatives. Live conference events for Water Week 2020, originally scheduled forRead More

Rates and Affordability: A Ratings Agency Perspective

Rates and Affordability: A Ratings Agency Perspective

By Erin Boeke Burke What Does “Affordable” Mean? There are a wide range of opinions on what it means for water and sewer service to be “affordable.” To some, water is a human right, others a property right, and still others a commodity. One thingRead More

Stimulus package excludes financial relief for water sector

Stimulus package excludes financial relief for water sector

Congress released a massive stimulus package last week that was signed by President Donald Trump amid the COVID-19 pandemic that could have serious economic ramifications both in the United States and around the globe. The bill included significant funding for a variety of private industries, butRead More

EPA urges states to support water, wastewater operations amid coronavirus crisis

EPA urges states to support water, wastewater operations amid coronavirus crisis

Washington Report, Water Management March 30, 2020 at 10:09 am

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to governors in all 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C. on Friday, urging them to ensure that drinking water and wastewater employees are considered essential workers by state authorities when enacting restrictions such as shelter inRead More

Deane returns to EPA to head up Clean Water SRF program

Deane returns to EPA to head up Clean Water SRF program

Michael Deane, former associate assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water, announced he has returned to the agency to lead the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, effective March 16. Deane most recently served as the executive director ofRead More

NACWA estimates clean water utilities could face $12.5 billion in losses from COVID-19 impact

NACWA estimates clean water utilities could face $12.5 billion in losses from COVID-19 impact

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management March 23, 2020 at 8:40 am

While Congress debated the specifics of a major stimulus package last week, public clean water utilities continue to provide essential water services to their communities around the country despite the financial uncertainties. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) said in a press release thatRead More

Water associations issue joint statement on COVID-19, denounce bottled water price gouging

Water associations issue joint statement on COVID-19, denounce bottled water price gouging

Washington Report, Water Management March 17, 2020 at 3:17 pm

As the global COVID-19 crisis continues to develop and reports of bottled water shortages make headlines, the National Association of Water Companies, the American Water Works Association and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies issued a joint statement last week on the safety of tapRead More

Lawmakers propose banning delinquent water shutoffs during coronavirus shutdown

Lawmakers propose banning delinquent water shutoffs during coronavirus shutdown

A group of Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives has written to congressional leaders recommending the federal government impose a nationwide moratorium on water service disconnections until the COVID-19 crisis has subsided. The request came in the form of a March 11 letter sent toRead More

EPA: Tap water safe to drink amid coronavirus outbreak

EPA: Tap water safe to drink amid coronavirus outbreak

Washington Report, Water Management March 12, 2020 at 4:40 pm

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Coronavirus guidance for drinking water and wastewater for the public, reiterating that Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap. The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies and based on currentRead More