Water Finance

NACWA: Now Is the Time to Advance Clean Water Infrastructure

NACWA: Now Is the Time to Advance Clean Water Infrastructure

By Jason Isakovic Public clean water sewer and stormwater services are an aspect of everyday life that often goes unnoticed by the hundreds of millions of Americans that depend on them. These essential services provide communities throughout the country, both small and large, the ability toRead More

EPA’s new round of WIFIA loans totals $6 billion

EPA’s new round of WIFIA loans totals $6 billion

In March, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the availability of funding to provide an estimated $6 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans in 2019. “Through WIFIA, we are addressing several of President Trump’s top priorities simultaneously: modernizingRead More

National Water Policy Fly-In sets attendance record as Water Week 2019 anchor event

National Water Policy Fly-In sets attendance record as Water Week 2019 anchor event

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management April 12, 2019 at 2:10 pm

The 2019 National Water Policy Fly-In set a record for attendance and participation in April as more than 320 participants traveled to Washington, D.C. to conduct hundreds of face-to-face meetings with lawmakers and staffers in Congressional offices. The National Water Policy Fly-In was held April 3-4 atRead More

Cash Reserves Pt. 2: Capital Reserves, Debt Service & Rate Stabilization Reserves

Cash Reserves Pt. 2: Capital Reserves, Debt Service & Rate Stabilization Reserves

By Andy McCartney Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a two-part series on cash reserves for water utilities. As mentioned in the first article on operating reserves, cash reserves are required to meet the operational, maintenance and capital needs of the utility whileRead More

Is Open Procurement Really About Procurement?

Is Open Procurement Really About Procurement?

Water Finance, Water Management April 1, 2019 at 9:48 am

At a time when the focus should be on innovation and best value, the argument rages on over materials and price. These arguments are evidence that the role of procurement in the municipal water sector is misunderstood, undervalued or worse, both. By Jim Baehr AtRead More

When to P3: New report examines use of public-private partnership model in water

When to P3: New report examines use of public-private partnership model in water

Private Financing / P3s, Water Finance March 25, 2019 at 8:47 am

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has collaborated on a new report with Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC that examines the relevance and potential of the public-private partnership (P3) project delivery model in the water sector. The report, “To P3 or not to P3,” presents results andRead More

A Closer Look at  Environmental Impact Bonds

A Closer Look at Environmental Impact Bonds

Water Finance, Water Management March 25, 2019 at 8:09 am

How Are They Affecting Green Infrastructure? Across the nation, countless cities with antiquated sewer and stormwater systems are under orders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce stormwater runoff to decrease the amount of pollution entering local waterways. When Washington, D.C., faced thisRead More

GASB 34 Reporting of the Value of Buried Infrastructure

GASB 34 Reporting of the Value of Buried Infrastructure

Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Assess and Monetize the Condition of Water Mains By Doug Hatler & Greg Baird Asset Management practices combined with the latest condition assessment tools using artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, to assess the condition of buried water mainsRead More

White House FY20 budget proposes cuts for EPA, Army Corps

White House FY20 budget proposes cuts for EPA, Army Corps

Financial Report, Washington Report, Water Finance March 18, 2019 at 6:00 am

Funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would be cut by nearly a third next year under an FY20 budget proposal released by the Trump administration last week. The spending cuts, which would reduce EPA appropriations from their FY19 level of just over $8.8 billion to $6.1Read More

Big win for drinking water resilience in budget request

Big win for drinking water resilience in budget request

Water Finance March 17, 2019 at 11:39 am

The Trump administration’s FY20 budget request would provide first-ever appropriations for a number of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs that Congress authorized last year through America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA). Altogether, the request would seek a total of $92.8 million to fund new AWIA initiatives. AmongRead More