How Asset Management Programs Benefit Utilities

Asset Management Program

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

$1.1 Billion Available for DWSRF Loans

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has more than $1.1 billion available to the 50 States and Puerto Rico in 2018 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans, plus $23 million for Tribal water systems, and $28 million for the District of Columbia and territorial water systems. The U.S. Congress appropriates funding for the DWSRF … Read more

WIFIA Legislation Would Provide Low-Cost Loans for Water Infrastructure Projects

U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation in late January to reauthorize the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The bill would help stimulate investment in water infrastructure, such as flood control, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment by supplementing Federal funding with long-term, low-cost loans and loan guarantees. Similar legislation has … Read more

Economic Conditions Favorable for Replacing Underground Infrastructure

It appears 2017 will be a good year to construct or replace underground infrastructure.  Thanks to relatively favorable interest rates, infrastructure projects are more affordable right now.  “The interest rates in Federal and State funding programs such as the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF/CWSRF) and USDA Rural Development funding are at … Read more

WIFIA Funding Eligibility

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently announced it is accepting letters of interest (LOI) for credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The WIFIA program will provide long-term, low-cost credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees to creditworthy water projects. … Read more

Non-Revenue Water: Considerations and 2016 Benchmarking Data

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