Utility managers and decision makers know that saving for the future is important. The question is not whether to do it, but to what level. What is the magic number? In the absence of a crystal ball, we are left to estimate future capital investment needs based on a series of assumptions. This becomes a … Read more
Shifting climate patterns and periods of drought and excessive precipitation appear to becoming increasingly extreme, posing continual challenges such as physical setbacks in the agricultural industry and social challenges associated with extreme weather conditions. In the water industry, we find ourselves simultaneously working toward solutions to conditions of both too little water and too much … Read more
According to the results of the 2019 AE2S Utility Rate Survey, it is most common for systems to utilize a combination of fixed and variable charges in its utility rate structures – particularly for drinking water rates. Just 1.1% of municipal survey respondents of all sizes are using a fixed charge (with no volumetric charge) … Read more
In October, President Donald Trump signed the Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act into law. The new law promises to add flexibility to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs to help finance projects that reduce lead in drinking water. The Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act allows transfers from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to … Read more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced $300 million in available funding for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This program encourages partnerships to address natural resource concerns related to agriculture at scale. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, at least 10% of NRCS conservation spending will go … Read more
AE2S Nexus has published the 2019 version of its annual Utility Rate Survey, and the booklets are being distributed to all participants. We would like to thank the 326 participants this year. AE2S Nexus received responses from 132 systems serving populations 5,000 and greater, 151 systems serving populations less than 5,000, and 43 regional rural … Read more