A MESSAGE FROM NACWA’s PRESIDENT
When the year began, the Water Resources Utility
of the Future was an amorphous and undefined
concept that many of us felt had significant potential.
During my term, NACWA has worked closely with the
Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Water
Environment Research Foundation (WERF) to add
depth and breadth to this concept.
In late January, the three organizations – guided by a
multi-disciplinary nine-member Steering Committee
and an equally multi-disciplinary 49-member Task
Force – released
The Water Resources Utility of the
Future… A Blueprint for Action
. The
Blueprint
defined
the evolving environmental, economic, and social
roles that clean water utilities are playing in their
communities. It explored how utilities are redefining
themselves as resource recovery agencies – and vital
community enterprises – and identified a range of
barriers and changes needed to move forward, calling
for bold transformational thinking around new ways
of doing business.
Since then, we have embraced this concept through
continuing collaboration – with each organization
focusing on its strengths. This effort requires all
of us to continue seeking opportunities to share
information and ideas, and to further embrace
creative and innovative technologies in order to truly
revolutionize our industry well into the 21st century.
For NACWA’s part – the Association released
The
Water Resources Utility of the Future – A Call for Federal
Action
. This concise and visual publication defined 10
tangible steps to realize a shared vision for the Water
Resources Utility of the Future. The document calls
upon Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and other key federal agencies to take
actions that will put the utility of the future within
reach for us all.
NACWA, however, does not sit still. As reflected
in this
Year-At-A-Glance
, we have pursued a myriad
of legislative, regulatory, and judicial priorities
identified by our members. Building on our ethic of
collaboration, we have worked closely with WEF, the
Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA),
and EPA to convene a series of workshops focused
on meaningful implementation of the Agency’s
Integrated Planning Framework. Our members
have responded positively to these free workshops
– and hundreds of them have attended five regional
workshops over the last 10 months. There are more
regional workshops planned in the coming months –
and the Association is seeing considerable success as
it pursues federal funding for an integrated planning
pilot program.
NACWA also recently released
The Evolving Landscape
for Assessment of Financial Capability - Clean Water Act
Negotiations & the Opportunities of Integrated Planning
.
As its name suggests, this white paper explores
opportunities for more rational financial capability
assessment. As we reflect on all that’s been done,
we must not forget that the Framework itself was
inspired by NACWA’s
Money Matters™
campaign –
and its call for “smarter investment to advance
clean water”.
Most recently, NACWA has led the water sector’s
efforts to protect the tax exempt status of municipal
bonds. An important analysis – funded through
our Targeted Action Fund (TAF) and done in
collaboration with the Association of Metropolitan
Water Agencies (AMWA) – examined the potential
impacts to the water sector from a variety of
recommended changes to municipal bonds made in
the President’s FY 2014 federal budget proposal. This
critical analysis provides the facts needed to advance
a compelling advocacy effort on Capitol Hill, as well
as with the Administration and key stakeholders.
As a team, we have accomplished a great deal during
this past year and as a result, we have much to be
proud of. Together we will continue our efforts to
transform the clean water industry, and we will
ensure the success of NACWA through continued
financial accountability to its members and the
full implementation of the succession planning
framework that was developed for the Executive
Director and key staff.
It has been my privilege and pleasure to have served
as President of this dynamic and ever-changing
organization.
Suzanne E. Goss
NACWA President 2012-2013
Legislative Affairs Specialist
JEA (Electric, Water & Sewer)
Jacksonville, Fla.
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