Water Finance

Water utilities are entering a new financial era—one defined by urgency, and regulatory demands that need confident and informed decisions. With the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) mandating full lead service line replacement by 2034, and new enforceable PFAS standards requiring treatment systemsRead More

Affordability. Government Mandates. Climate risk. Aging infrastructure.Water utilities face mounting pressures amid rising costs, new regulations, and aging systems. Chemical, energy, and labor costs have surged, while federal mandates—like PFAS treatment and lead service line replacements—demand fast-tracked, multimillion-dollar investments. The question facing finance leaders isRead More

According to a May report by Bluefield Research, municipal capital expenditure (CAPEX) for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure in the United States is projected to total $515.4 billion (USD) through 2035. The CAPEX for water and wastewater treatment currently sits at about at $57.3 billion annually,Read More

The Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) has been awarded $150,000 from Global Water Challenge (GWC). The funding will expand efforts to build leadership capacity in underserved rural communities by supporting participation in the Water Leadership Institute’s workshops and eliminating financial and logistical barriers thatRead More

In June, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) released its 2025 State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) report, which regularly ranks the top challenges and priorities facing the sector. This year, financing for capital improvements led the way as the top challenge among water sectorRead More

The Southwest Environmental Finance Center, part of the University of New Mexico (UNM) is receiving a $7 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), part of a previously announced round of grant funding in May. The grant will be targeted toward providing smallRead More

For water utilities, wise investments hinge on understanding the full financial picture. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a strategic framework that goes beyond upfront costs, revealing the true value of water system investments over their lifetime, typically 20 years for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).Read More

2025 Event in Scottsdale to Highlight Western U.S. Water Funding Challenges, Differential Rate Structures, Colorado River Cuts, Customer Affordability & Federal Funding The 2025 Water Finance Conference is hosting its eleventh annual event Aug. 5-6 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at SkySong: The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.Read More

Best Practices for Project Funding By Erik Johnson & Brandon Vatter Water and wastewater utilities are tasked with balancing multiple goals and objectives that require significant funding and at times can conflict with each other. Additionally, securing financial support, both at the local and federalRead More

By John Ryan Like it or not, the U.S. federal government is in the middle of a major upheaval. Everything and anything, no matter how well established by time or precedent, can be questioned. It’s unlikely that the policy parameters of federal finance for waterRead More