Water Finance

Pandemic & The Future: From Darkness to the Light in the Water Sector

Pandemic & The Future: From Darkness to the Light in the Water Sector

By George S. Hawkins & Andy Kricun Throughout history, great challenges often reveal the best in human spirit and ingenuity. At Moonshot Missions, we believe the impact of the coronavirus pandemic upon on the water industry will be matched by the indomitable spirit and creativity ofRead More

Poll: 84 percent of Americans want investment in water

Poll: 84 percent of Americans want investment in water

Public Utility Finance, Water Finance April 28, 2020 at 10:30 am

A new poll by the Value of Water Campaign released today shows that 84 percent of American voters want state and federal leaders to invest in water infrastructure. The near-unanimous support amid the COVID-19 pandemic reveals that voters value water and want elected officials toRead More

Reversing the Decline of Utilities: A P4 Alternative

Reversing the Decline of Utilities: A P4 Alternative

By Robert Sheets Water and wastewater utilities are more often than not self-supporting revenue enterprises (and sometimes revenue generators) for communities. However, even with the best of intentions, good utilities can go bad. In general, the smaller the utility, the greater the struggle, though thereRead More

NAWC releases 2020 Safety Benchmarking Report

NAWC releases 2020 Safety Benchmarking Report

Private Financing / P3s, Water Management April 27, 2020 at 8:51 am

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) released its annual Safety Benchmarking Report earlier in April. During a time of unprecedented concern for the health and safety of working in areas that are critical to the ongoing response to COVID-19, the benchmark study demonstrates theRead 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

American Water makes donations in response to COVID-19

American Water makes donations in response to COVID-19

Water Finance April 16, 2020 at 10:54 am

American Water recently announced a contribution of $500,000 to the American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF) to support coronavirus relief efforts. AWCF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by American Water, will disburse the funds directly to several critical COVID-19 specific initiatives, including the American Water Employee CrisisRead More

Analysis: Drinking water revenue decline could mean $32.7 billion in losses

Analysis: Drinking water revenue decline could mean $32.7 billion in losses

Water industry associations last week offered a stark analysis of the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic on U.S. water utilities. According to an analysis prepared by Raftelis for the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), revenue shortfalls atRead 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

The Impact of COVID-19: Digital Solutions to Mitigate Infrastructure Costs & Public Health Risks

The Impact of COVID-19: Digital Solutions to Mitigate Infrastructure Costs & Public Health Risks

By Greg Baird Overnight, our worldview on public health has changed. The global threat of COVID-19 has forced all of us – as individuals, as families, as communities and as water operators – to re-evaluate our priorities. Water and wastewater facilities are re-examining emergency plans,Read More

WATCH: WF&M contributor Greg Baird chats with editor Andrew Farr about COVID-19

WATCH: WF&M contributor Greg Baird chats with editor Andrew Farr about COVID-19

Greg Baird is president of the Water Finance Research Foundation and a frequent contributor to WF&M. As a management consultant, he specializes in long-term utility planning, water infrastructure asset management and capital funding strategies for municipal utilities in the United States. He has served as aRead More