Funding Resources

  1. WWEMA Window: Valuing Water 12/21/2023

    Given the importance and impact of water and water treatment, as an industry, why do we have to go hat-in-hand every year looking for sustainable funding for our municipal water systems? I contend that the water industry has a branding and messaging issue.

  2. Water Infrastructure Upgrades And Expansion Projects Will Likely Reach Historic Numbers In 2024 12/20/2023
    In 2024, there will likely be more water projects throughout the country than history has ever recorded. That's a very good thing because water security is critical for the nation's stability.
  3. Progressive Design-Build: A Tool For Our Times 11/3/2023

    Rising costs, disrupted supply chains, and a constricted labor market will pose challenges to the many construction projects now coming to market. Using a progressive design-build approach, owners can mitigate costs and minimize risks by reducing upfront cost and time investment, while fostering innovation.

  4. The Frame Game: The Science Of Talking About Water Rate Increases 11/3/2023
    What is the benefit of a water rate increase? Providing the right answer could determine the public's willingness to pay more.
  5. New Funding For Water And Wastewater Projects In Less Populated Parts Of The U.S. 10/19/2023
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an $800 million allotment for rural infrastructure projects. Although the funding may seem insignificant, it will greatly increase the number of new projects launched in 2024. It is also important to note that the federal funding, in almost every case, will be supplemented by other state or local revenue...so the projects will not necessarily be small.
  6. (Un)Taxing The Tap: How To Stop Taxing Water 10/13/2023
    Taxes on water and sanitation are terribly regressive, as these are services that everyone must have and, unlike most other kinds of taxes, they tend to collect similar revenue from rich and poor households. Water taxes also turn utilities from providers of public service into coercive agents of government. What can and should we do differently? Here are some policy principles to eliminate taxes on these essential services.
  7. Federal Funding Program Now Available To Support Water Projects 9/20/2023

    The Department of the Interior will oversee a recently announced federal funding program named the WaterSMART program. It is designed to provide funding for projects that fortify the Western region of the U.S. against drought and climate-related water scarcity.

  8. WIFIA For Stormwater Programs — Saving Money While Executing A Backlog Of Capital Projects 8/31/2023

    What if there were a federal program that could save you as much as $100 million over the life of the loan? And what if this program could allow utilities to invest in their backlog of capital projects and programs, while deferring repayment at a low interest rate for five years?

  9. TAP Dance: Lessons From 6 Years Of Income-Based Water Assistance In Philadelphia 8/10/2023

    Six years ago, to great fanfare, Philadelphia Water launched a new approach to bill assistance for low-income water and sewer customers: the Tiered Assistance Program (TAP). Casually dubbed "income-based rates," TAP held out the promise of achieving true "affordability" by whatever standard policymakers set. Philadelphia TAP has garnered widespread media attention and has received tacit endorsements from some academic researchers and institutions. With more than five full years in the rear-view mirror, it's time to ask: how well has Philadelphia TAP worked?

  10. Water Infrastructure Projects Face Almost No Funding Shortages Anywhere In The U.S. 7/20/2023
    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated the largest amount of funding ever to be invested in the country's water resources. More than $50 billion was earmarked to specifically improve the country's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. In addition to that funding, almost every state has also increased its funding commitments to improving water infrastructure. Water projects of all types are currently on the drawing boards or in the planning stages throughout the U.S. A few examples of what can be expected are described here.