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. The Water Finance Conference is a two-day educational seminar for executive-level utility professionals with a program that covers a range of topics in water utility financial management.
The conference features presentations and panel discussions from water finance experts on local issues such as rate setting and customer affordability, implementing federal funding (SRFs, WIFIA, etc.) and navigating regulatory mandates. This year, the conference is, in part, featuring a “Financing Water in the West” theme and will include talks on financing drought contingency planning, financial implications of Colorado River cutbacks, water conservation grants, water reuse and asset management. The agenda is vetted by a Program Committee of industry experts.
On Aug. 5, the opening keynote will be presented by Joseph Olsen, General Manager of the Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District (Tucson), who will speak to attendees about the criticality of revenue stability and how to achieve it.
Paul Brierley, Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture will also be on hand to deliver a keynote on Aug. 5, and will offer attendees a perspective on AgWater and its impact on water resources in the West.
Following Brierley’s talk, attendees will have a chance to hear from Chelsea McGuire, Director of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA). McGuire will give an overview on Arizona’s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund, water conservation grant funds and other WIFA initiatives.
On Aug. 6, the focus will shift to tackling internal utility challenges, overcoming federal funding hurdles, and modern funding and asset management strategies.
Of note, Aug. 6 will feature a talk from Nicolette Bateson, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) in Michigan. Bateson will discuss best practices for dealing with increasing utility costs, creating positive vendor relations and more.
Bateson played a significant role in transforming the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department’s operations by way of a 40-year lease signed by GLWA for control over the DWSD’s treatment plants, major transmission mains, sewage interceptors and related facilities, which serves 40 percent of Michigan’s population. Bateson helped navigate the refinancing of $1.6 billion in bonds, saving the organization more than $250 million.
Also on Aug. 6, Wayne Hofmann, client funding director at Wade Trim, will offer an in-depth overview on federal water infrastructure funding sources, an update on SRF funding, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law appropriations and potential EPA budget cuts.
Lunch is included for attendees both days of the conference and a networking reception will be held on the evening of Aug. 5 following the first day. Opportunities to earn CEUs will be available.
To view the complete 2025 agenda, to register and for more information, visit waterfinanceconference.com.
The highly popular Water Finance Conference was established in 2015 and provides an exclusive forum for candid discussion around financing in the municipal water/wastewater utility sector. The event is hosted annually by the journal Water Finance & Management, published by Benjamin Media, Inc., in collaboration with founding sponsor the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and other sponsors and supporters.
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