Guest Columns

Media Interview - journalists with microphones interviewing formal dressed politician or businessman.

Communicating Ahead of Chaos: PFAS ≠ Lead

Commentary, Water Management December 12, 2024 at 7:05 am

By Mike McGill Back in 2017, I was in the middle of the GenX crisis that occurred in Cape Fear region of North Carolina. The discovery of it and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) generated scandalous headlines – “Toxin Taints Drinking Water” – and fearRead More

Examining City and County of San Francisco v. EPA

Examining City and County of San Francisco v. EPA

Legal Corner, Water Management December 9, 2024 at 11:31 am

…& Legal Impacts on Clean Water Act Enforcement A recent Clean Water Act (CWA) case, City and County of San Francisco v. EPA, has the potential to impact policy around CWA enforcement and could be significant for water quality regulation across the United States. ToRead More

Congress reaches agreement on 2024 Water Resources Development Act

Congress reaches agreement on 2024 Water Resources Development Act

Washington Report, Water Finance December 9, 2024 at 11:12 am

Last week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) reached a final agreement on the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). The Water Resources Development Act is biennial legislation that authorizes theRead More

EPA Headquarters building at the Federal Triangle in Washington, DC.

‘Systemic flaws’: EPA Inspector General raises concerns over distribution of BIL money

Washington Report, Water Finance November 25, 2024 at 7:15 am

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General in October issued a report identifying nearly $1 billion in questioned costs and funds that it suggested could be put to better use in the agency’s distribution of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for lead service line replacement.  DueRead More

EPA announces $3.6 billion in funding under BIL

EPA announces $3.6 billion in funding under BIL

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management November 4, 2024 at 6:05 am

On Oct. 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier in October, EPA said the $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025Read More

The Memphis system is getting a much-needed overhaul now, but the asset-management tool developed for SARP10 provides an overview of segment-specific information that will enable city staff to prioritize rehabilitation needs long after the program ends. Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch.

Commentary: Pipes Over PFAS 

By Kathryn Sorensen & Dr. Janet Anderson The Safe Drinking Water Act turns 50 this year and it’s important to recognize that it is one of the most remarkable and successful pieces of legislation this country has ever known. The provision of clean tap waterRead More

Associations file opening brief in PFAS case

Associations file opening brief in PFAS case

Legal Corner, Water Finance, Water Management October 21, 2024 at 5:05 am

On Oct. 7, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) filed the organizations’ opening brief with the United States Court of Appeals in the case of AWWA vs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), related to EPA’s final drinking water regulationRead More

NACWA urges presidential candidates to prioritize water infrastructure

NACWA urges presidential candidates to prioritize water infrastructure

Washington Report September 18, 2024 at 10:05 am

As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) said it is urging both candidates to prioritize critical clean water infrastructure issues. The organization said in a statement that it has submitted letters to both Vice President Kamala Harris andRead More

EPA announces $7.5 billion in loans available

EPA announces $7.5 billion in loans available

Public Utility Finance, Washington Report, Water Finance September 16, 2024 at 8:37 am

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in early September announced the availability of $7.5 billion of Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding. This is the eighth round of funding available, and it includes $6.5 billion available through WIFIA and $1 billion available throughRead More

Before she became lead program manager, Brenda Culler helped develop Cleveland Water’s Childcare Lead Service Line Replacement Program, a pilot that successfully removed all known LSLs at state-licensed childcare facilities throughout Cleveland Water’s service area in 10 months.

EPA awards grants for lead pipe replacement in schools, childcare facilities

In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $26 million in funding to help protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. EPA said the grant funding will be used by 55 states and territories and the District of ColumbiaRead More