Water Finance

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

J.D. Power: Customer satisfaction with water utilities sees decline

J.D. Power: Customer satisfaction with water utilities sees decline

Rates & Affordability, Water Management May 4, 2022 at 10:43 am

The six-year streak of improving or flat customer satisfaction with residential water utilities has come to an end. According to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, recently released, the past several years of goodwill earned through investment in water quality, proactiveRead 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

Annual poll reveals voter confidence in water infrastructure diminishing

Annual poll reveals voter confidence in water infrastructure diminishing

Water Finance, Water Management April 27, 2022 at 8:55 am

The Value of Water Campaign released the results of its seventh annual national poll: The Value of Water Index. The poll annually tracks voters’ opinions and concerns around water infrastructure, climate, the environment and other water issues. This year, the poll also asked questions aboutRead More

Fitch Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities

Fitch Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance April 26, 2022 at 8:12 am

A rising interest rate environment could prove a boon for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The WIFIA loan program has been hugely successful for U.S. water utilities but is currently oversubscribed. The size ofRead More

Utilities and Tech: Partnering the Way to Success

Utilities and Tech: Partnering the Way to Success

By Quinn Jackson-Elliott When public water utilities look to upgrade their infrastructure or provide more modern services to customers, there are plenty of technology companies knocking at their door, each offering new ways to shape or revolutionize the water industry. And while there’s a lotRead More

Unprecedented Federal and State Infrastructure Investment Bodes Well for Nation’s Water, Sewer Assets

Unprecedented Federal and State Infrastructure Investment Bodes Well for Nation’s Water, Sewer Assets

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance April 14, 2022 at 2:00 pm

By Wayne Hofmann This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which has generated a legacy of improved water quality in our rivers and lakes and healthier drinking water sources while creating significant fiscal challenges for many communities in removing hazardous materialsRead 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: 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