In recent years, there has been a trend in declining residential water use. Much has been studied and written about the trend in reference to the effect across the country. Closer to home, a review of historic utility rate survey data verifies the presence of a similar reduced residential water use trend in our region. … Read more
I recently ran across an article from a 1948 AWWA Journal where it was noted that significant future rate increases will be imperative unless utility managers abandon the practice of implementing rate increases only as a last resort and begin to implement rate increases adequate to address rising operational costs and capital requirements. It appears … Read more
Congressional legislation that would establish a $9 billion annual federal trust fund for investments in clean water infrastructure is drawing a lot of attention from water officials in cities across the country. The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act would primarily support the Clean Water / Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund programs, which provide low-cost … Read more
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has released two publications that are designed to help water utilities with financial management and rate-setting. “Financial Management for Water Utilities: Principles of Finance, Accounting, and Management Controls” and the sixth edition of “Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges (M1)” are now available. “Financial Management for Water Utilities” … Read more