Funding to Improve Drinking Water Available to Small & Disadvantaged Communities

There is $87 million in grant funding to assist with improving drinking water. States, Tribes, and territories are eligible to receive funding from new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water grant programs established by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN). Under the USEPA’s new Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities grant program, … Read more

LCCMR Funding Proposals Due April 15

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has issued its 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) for funding from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for projects that will provide multiple ecological and other public benefits. The RFP includes a category for projects under $200,000, especially from local units of government and non- profits, … Read more

USEPA FY 2020 Budget Announced

The proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provides $6.1 billion to support the mission of protecting human health and the environment. The budget proposal maintains USEPA’s focus on its core mission – providing Americans with clean air, land and water, and ensuring chemical safety. In addition, the proposed budget … Read more

2018 Rate Survey – Fixed Charges: What’s the Right Amount?

Affordability and revenue stability are two of the topics that often weigh heavily on the minds of utility managers and policy makers.  As two equally important issues, it can be challenging to meet both due to potentially opposing objectives.  The most straight-forward path to achieving a high level of revenue stability is to rely heavily … Read more

USDA Accepts Grant Applications for Communities of 10,000 or Less

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has $392 million available to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states. The USDA is supporting investments in 120 infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program, which can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal … Read more

2018 AE2S Annual Rate Survey Results: Inclining Block Rates in Water Conservation Pricing

Thank you to all of the water systems and utilities that participated in the 2018 Annual Utility Rate Survey! The responses are being compiled, and the complimentary booklets will be delivered later this summer.  In the meantime, here is a summary of the 2018 responses related to inclining block rates in water conservation pricing.  Future … Read more