Construction Cost Trends

As utilities begin annual review and/or engage in ongoing refinement of their Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), it is helpful to understand how capital costs have fluctuated to get a sense of how they may change in the future. For this purpose, references such as the construction cost index (CCI) compiled by various national and regional … Read more

Reminder to Keep Your Facility’s Risk Management Plan Current

Every five years, facilities such as water and wastewater treatment plants, propane storage facilities, chemical distributors, and others are required to maintain and follow a Risk Management Program documented in a Risk Management Plan (RMP).  The rule applies to facilities that store specific amounts of the chemicals listed in Title 40 of the Code of … Read more

President Signs $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill that Includes WIFIA

The U.S. House and Senate approved spending legislation for the 2015 fiscal year that includes the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) pilot program, and President Barack Obama signed the omnibus appropriations package into law in mid-December. The spending bill will fund the federal government for the remainder of FY15. While the WIFIA portion … Read more