The water sector is grappling with staff shortages and clogged supply chains triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) of its utility and service provider members. Forty percent of the 416 utilities thatRead More

Anyone attending WEFTEC in October will be required to show proof of vaccination or provide the results of a negative COVID-19 test from within 48 hours of the time of arrival at registration. The new requirements are in addition to the City of Chicago’s currentRead More

Despite increased delinquencies and some bad debts, U.S. water utilities have fared better than originally expected a year after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Fitch Ratings’ inaugural peer review of the sector. In fact, most water utilities saw improved revenue growth year-over-yearRead More

The U.S. Treasury has released initial guidance for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF). The CSLFRF is the $350 billion pot of funding provided in the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act signed into law in March that includes water and sewer infrastructure as an eligible use. TheseRead More

President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, legislation to deliver additional COVID-19 relief that contains $500 million in assistance for low-income clean water customers and support for critical water and sewer investments. This water assistance funding comes in addition toRead More

By Dan Pinney There’s an elephant in the room, one that staff probably feels the urge to bring up in every planning meeting: how can water utilities plan for the future when the present is also uncertain? It’s clear that COVID-19 will have a long-termRead More

By Ann Bui, Mike Orth & Bruce Allender The U.S. water industry has worked hard in recent years to remind people that potable water is not free. Procuring, treating, and distributing water is costly, and utilities need to cover their costs to make sure customers have safe drinkingRead More

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) today kicked off a new joint campaign that the two organizations are calling: Affordable Water, Resilient Communities. Local utilities and their customers face financial challenges after years of increasing local costs andRead More

A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 economic stimulus plan outlined by President Joe Biden proposes billions of dollars to help low-income families pay water and other utility bills while also offering additional funds to supplement the budgets of state and local governments. Called the American Rescue Plan, the President-elect’s proposal includesRead More

The Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) released a December 14 memo encouraging water and wastewater utilities to contact their state and local public health agencies about prioritization of their staff for COVID-19 vaccinations. The WSCC is is a policy, strategy and coordination mechanism for the U.S. Water andRead More