Water Finance

Rosemary Menard, Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz, California, is the 2022 Water Finance & Management Award Winner As we know, utility work is multifaceted. Just as every water utility needs a dedicated team of operators, lab technicians and field crews, it alsoRead More

Some water utilities had as many as 40,000 unpaid accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic The US Water Alliance has released a new report on the practice and effect of water shutoffs due to nonpayment. The report, titled The Path to Universally Affordable Water Access: GuidingRead More

By Dennis Pidherny & Audra Dickinson U.S. water utilities fared remarkably well during the coronavirus pandemic and appear to be withstanding the effects of inflation on operations and capital spending thus far. This is not to say the sector hasn’t struggled. Operating costs are upRead More

By Seth Mansergh & Nancy Mortvedt Manufacturers of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) have been attempting to reduce their liability from the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their products for many years. The health effects from PFAS exposure are getting a lotRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month announced the selection of 29 Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) that will help communities across the country access federal funding for infrastructure and greenhouse gas reduction projects that improve public health and environmental protection. The EFCs will deliver targeted technicalRead More

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) filed comments this month in response to EPA’s proposed rule to designate Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and expressed serious concerns. NACWA saysRead More

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has adopted rules prohibiting non-municipal public water and sewer utilities from disconnecting customers during extreme cold weather emergencies. The new rules mean those utilities cannot disconnect service or issue late fees for nonpayment of bills due during suchRead More

Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced projects that have been selected to receive over $30 million in grant funding under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, willRead More

The ratings of U.S. public finance issuers affected by Hurricane Ian will largely remain stable, although the credit quality of some issuers with lesser resources and financial flexibility could weaken, says Fitch Ratings. While the full extent of property damage in Florida, Georgia and theRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $315 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Metro Water Services in Nashville, Tennessee. With EPA’s WIFIA loan, Metro Water Services will modernize its infrastructure to provide safe, reliable drinking water to its growingRead More