Utilities have recently experienced increased capital, operation, and maintenance costs. The cause in many cases can be attributed to aging infrastructure that was built in the last century. In addition, heightened regulatory requirements associated with the implementation of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act increased the cost of compliance while the upcoming … Read more
Talk about inflation seems to be happening more and more these days as we see news articles reporting anywhere from 2% to 5.4% annualized gains. These headlines, however, don’t tell the whole story as they’re often used as indicators for either the economy as a whole or more consumer focused aspects of the economy. Utility … Read more
Special assessments are a commonly used tool to finance the construction of improvements in parts of the country. The basic idea is that the cost of improvements is assigned to the individual properties that benefit and in relation to how much benefit is received. In other words, when a new water pipeline is installed along … Read more
This article was originally published in the January 2020 edition of The Western Planner. As planners we often talk about creating a “Vision for the Future” for the regions and communities we serve. That vision may include elements of future land use, urban design, growth policies, housing, social justice, economic development, and the list goes … Read more
No water system is perfect. Somewhere between entry to the distribution system and registry at customer meters, water loss will occur. Some of it is essential for standard operation of the system, as in the case of hydrant flushing. Also expected and allowed is water consumed for firefighting purposes and other City functions such as … Read more
Although it’s difficult to see into the future with certainty, planning activities that address near-term needs while keeping an eye on potential long-term needs can lay the groundwork for a well planned capital improvements plan (CIP). When it comes to rate-setting, capital is often the primary driver. As a result, comprehensive capital planning that is updated … Read more