ARCHIVE SITE - Last updated Jan. 19, 2017. Please visit www.NACWA.org for the latest NACWA information.
ARCHIVE SITE - Last updated Jan. 19, 2017. Please visit www.NACWA.org for the latest NACWA information.
U.S. Conference of Mayors' Water Council Focuses on AffordabilityMayors from several cash-strapped cities expressed deepening concern with the high costs of managing their Clean Water Act compliance at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' (USCM) Water Council meeting in Washington, DC this week. Central to the discussion was the need for performance data, which USCM is aggregating. One of the key data points is that long-term local government debt grew from $886 billion in 2000 to $1.78 trillion in 2012, a 101 percent increase. Over the same period, spending on sewer systems went up 109 percent. At issue is whether such spending increases, that demand more debt servicing, are sustainable. Concern was also expressed that, as the income of many households remains stagnant the increasing cost of sewer and water infrastructure take up larger portions of their budgets. How such data trends play out in cities with a shrinking ratepayer base is also of concern, as was the growing role of subsidy programs. Several mayors discussed their consent decrees and the difficulty inherent in keeping on budget as other unanticipated needs, problems, and new mandates arise. The mayors discussed the critical importance of having reopener language in their decrees to ensure the ability to stay within budget despite changing circumstances – or to take advantage of new technologies. Mayor Yarber of Jackson Mississippi discussed how he declared a state of emergency for his water infrastructure, and noted that infrastructure must be at the top of any Administration's agenda - to much applause. Blending, Integrated Planning Top List of Issues during Meeting with EPAAndrew Sawyers, Director of EPA’s wastewater management office, and key members of his team provided updates on a range of issues during a meeting with NACWA staff Wednesday. The highlights included:
The meeting concluded with a discussion of the Water Resources Utility of the Future and the importance of collaborating as it evolves, not only among the water sector, but also with EPA. Utility of the Future Annual Report Slated for July ReleaseNACWA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and WateReuse are co-funding and collaborating to publish the first Water Resources Utility of the Future (UOTF) Annual Report. The report will highlight UOTF developments in the clean water, finance, technology, engineering, and professional association sectors – as well as within federal, state and local governments. It is slated for release in July at NACWA’s 2015 Utility Leadership Conference. The organizations hope to bring attention to the innovative work happening on multiple frontiers to encourage further efforts to advance the UOTF agenda. NACWA and the collaborating UOTF groups, as well as EPA, are also committed to re-distributing the ground-breaking 2013 report, The Water Resources Utility of the Future: A Blueprint for Action , and related publications from EPA, in advance of the release of the new annual report. This will help ensure that this work is fresh in the minds of public agency leaders — whether with large, medium or small utilities — which will maximize these initiatives and practices being adopted as broadly as possible. This effort is being shepherded along by the leadership of NACWA’s Utility & Resource Management Committee and its Industry of the Future Workgroup. Energy Workshop Examines Barriers to Increased ProductionNACWA and several its Member Agencies participated, this week, in the Energy Positive Water Resource Recovery Workshop hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE), and EPA. The purpose of the Workshop was to identify specific technical and non-technical barriers that hindering the development and deployment of water resources utilities of the future – with a focus on how to create facilities that will produce more energy than they use. Discussions addressed the following topics:
NSF, EPA, and DOE will utilize the discussions at the Workshop to guide research and technology development efforts and strategic planning. NACWA is planning further discussions with EPA and DOE to determine how the Association can best work with these agencies to enable utilities to further develop their energy resources. Enforcement Issues Take Center Stage at Consent Decree WorkshopNearly 100 clean water professionals, on the front lines of wet weather enforcement challenges, gathered in Philadelphia this week for NACWA’s Wet Weather Consent Decree Workshop. The Workshop provided a candid forum to share tips for renegotiating existing decrees or negotiate new decrees to achieve the most cost-effective environmental outcomes. A highlight of this year’s Workshop was the panel of senior EPA officials – including both Headquarters and Regional officials – who shared their perspectives on wet weather enforcement, including insights on how regulators approach wet weather negotiations and what kinds of approaches they find most and least effective. Top municipal clean water experts presented on the latest trends in clean water enforcement; real world case studies; available tools; effective negotiation strategies; and, areas of evolving regulatory flexibility. Presentations from the Workshop are available on NACWA’s website. More detail on the Workshop will be provided in the Summer Legal Update. Any questions can be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (202/833-3692) or to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (202/530-2758). » National Pretreatment and Pollution Prevention Workshop & Training, May 12 – 15
Financing Makes the World Go RoundIt used to be money, but lately it seems that financing is what makes the world go ‘round, or at least the water sector. Wonder what we’ve been up to on financing? Read on to find out more. |
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Winter Conference
Next Generation Compliance …Where Affordability & Innovation Intersect
February 4 – 7, 2017
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
Tampa, FL