The What, the Why and the How for Lead Service Line Inventories
The What, the Why and the How for Lead Service Line Inventories

An inventory to identify the service lines in water systems across the country has a deadline of October 2024, as set by the U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Most water utilities, aside from Transient Non-Community Water Systems, must provide service line inventory information by the October deadline, which will eventually be used in efforts towards a correction to our water infrastructure nationwide: replacing the lead service lines of the past. Water providers now have a directive towards a water-infrastructure future without lead. But, how long has lead been associated with water pipes?

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Stacey Isaac Berahzerlead service line replacement, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, water, Water Compliance, GeorgiaComment
Local Committees/Cohorts: Amplifying Voices for Climate Action
Local Committees/Cohorts: Amplifying Voices for Climate Action

The last few posts showed how a regular homeowner can contribute to energy efficiency and renewable energy at their own home or office. However, another way that “regular” citizens can move the needle forward is by serving with their local government. Meaningful change at the local level is an important way to make an energy impact on your community. Unlike national-level initiatives, these smaller committees can target community specific needs and challenges.  Additionally, change at the local level often occurs more rapidly and can be implemented before more formal legislation is enacted. County/city committees offer such a platform for their residents. Dekalb County in Georgia has some unique opportunities for its residents to get involved right now that are explained below. Hopefully this post from one young woman’s experience on her own town’s energy committee convinces you to get involved at your local government.

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Stacey Isaac Berahzerclimate change, Climate Action, Local Action, Dekalb County, Energy, sustainability, Green New DealComment
Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs in Georgia
Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs in Georgia

For many low-income families, utility bills can be a major financial burden. Many households have to decide whether their income will allow them to run a fan, run the air conditioning unit, or neither on a hot day. There are energy efficiency resources that can help a household, but affordability of utility bills remains a significant concern, especially in the southeastern United States. This post will highlight some of the existing assistance programs to address energy bills.

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerLocal Action, Dekalb County, Energy, sustainability, Green New Deal, Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs, energy utility, bill payment assistance, affordabilityComment
Energy Burden and its Drivers
Energy Burden and its Drivers

The energy burden in the Southeastern US is higher than in most other parts of the country. There are several reasons for this, including the hot climate, and less investment in energy efficiency compared to the rest of the country.  

Energy burden is defined by the U.S. Department of Energy as “the percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs”. Everyone has an energy burden, but the percentage of that burden indicates whether it is low, high, or severe. While there is no universally accepted value or threshold that establishes whether a household faces a high or unaffordable energy burden, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) indicates that energy burdens below 6% are low, above 6% are high, and above 10% are severe. If you’re curious where you may fall, calculating your energy burden is easy.

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Stacey Isaac Berahzerclimate change, Climate Action, Local Action, Dekalb County, Energy, sustainability, Green New DealComment
The End of LIHWAP (Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program)?
The End of LIHWAP (Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program)?

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) emerged as a pivotal but temporary initiative to aid low-income households with their water, wastewater, and stormwater bills. This historic program was the first federal program of its kind to assist with water bills, and was created in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. What would its termination now mean?

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerLIHWAP, HHS, Low-income, water funding, water finance, wastewater, water, water affordabilityComment
Help Save the Planet, and Save Money: Go Trash Free at Lunch
Help Save the Planet, and Save Money: Go Trash Free at Lunch

Single-use items such as plastic water bottles, of which 1.2 million are being used every second, are consistent contributors to pollution and landfills. This statistic was stated in the article “End Plastic Pollution” published by earthday.org. The article also states, “Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year.” While plastic water bottles are necessary in areas that are devoid of safe drinking water sources, reusable water bottles are often the superior water container, not simply for the environment, but also due to their function.

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Alanna KinnebrewComment
What Do the New Health Advisories for PFAS Mean for Water Utilities?
What Do the New Health Advisories for PFAS Mean for Water Utilities?

Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) are a group of “forever” chemicals widely used in manufacturing processes such as textile, fabric, carpet manufacturing, and water and heat-resistant coating. Regulating PFAS has been a priority for the EPA. However, the most recent health advisories for certain PFAS chemicals have stimulated much discussion among water utilities, lawyers, scientists, activist groups, and the public in general. 

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerComment
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner on Water Stewardship for WaterFirst Designation - Part 3: Newton County: “Our System is Complex, but it is Successful"
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner on Water Stewardship for WaterFirst Designation - Part 3: Newton County: “Our System is Complex, but it is Successful"

As the first post in this series describes, WaterFirst is a designation and an achievement of local governments for their excellence in water resources management, recognized by the Georgia Environment Finance Authority (GEFA). Based on the prestige of the designation, and the financial benefits that ensue, this post looks at the reasons behind the successes of some WaterFirst designees, and potential hurdles that may limit broader participation in the program.

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerComment
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner On Water Stewardship For WaterFirst Designation - Part 2: What's In It For the Smaller Partners?
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner On Water Stewardship For WaterFirst Designation - Part 2: What's In It For the Smaller Partners?

This is the second in a series of three posts on Newton County’s joint application to WaterFirst. When the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority applied for WaterFirst designation in 2012, the County was a partner, and so was the county seat of Covington. But there were four other municipalities involved in the joint filling too. This post looks at why the City of Oxford, with a population of only about 2,000, would agree to be involved in this process.

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerComment
Has Your Utility Taken Advantage of the Temporary Funding to Help Low-Income Water Customers?
Has Your Utility Taken Advantage of the Temporary Funding to Help Low-Income Water Customers?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a temporary relief program, was created and funded. This was the first time that an assistance program, specifically for water, had been created. Congress appropriated $1.13 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Georgia received $37,173,132 to launch its LIHWAP program. As of June 30, 2022, 282 water utilities in the state are participating in the program that helps customers with their water bills. Is it too late for your utility to be one of them?

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerLIHWAP, HHS, Low-income, water funding, water finance, wastewater, water, water affordabilityComment
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner on Water Stewardship for WaterFirst Designation: Part 1
How Georgia Water Utilities Can Partner on Water Stewardship for WaterFirst Designation: Part 1

Water utilities play an important role in a community by providing an essential service. For years, many water systems have utilized partnerships by collaborating with other nearby utilities to address challenges or take advantage of opportunities. This series of three posts will highlight how a group of communities in Georgia partnered to receive a joint designation to the prestigious WaterFirst Program.

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Alanna Kinnebrewwaterfirst, gefa, ncwsa, water utility, grantsComment
The Water Sector and its Stake in a Changing Climate
The Water Sector and its Stake in a Changing Climate

While intense rainfall events benefit society by making water available for consumption, they can also put water utilities under stress. Extreme weather events like flash floods and storms can lead to the shutdown of water treatment plants. These extreme weather events may become more frequent under our current climate conditions. Therefore, understanding how these events impact water and its grid is critical. It is equally critical to include the water infrastructure sector in talks about strategies to address the climate impacts. This blog presents how the water sector has had limited participation in recent climate change talks and showcases what some water utilities are doing to address pressing climate challenges.

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Alanna KinnebrewComment
Toho Water Authority – Toho Assistance Program (TAP)
Toho Water Authority – Toho Assistance Program (TAP)

Tohopekaliga Water Authority (Toho) was established in October 2003 by a special act of the Florida legislature, and is the largest provider of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services in Osceola County, Fla. As of 2021, Toho currently serves approximately 111,900 water, 105,600 wastewater, and 20,100 reclaimed water customers in Kissimmee, Poinciana, and unincorporated areas of Osceola County.

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Alanna Kinnebrewcustomer assistance programs, florida, water affordabilityComment
Financing Private Septic System Repair and Replacement
Financing Private Septic System Repair and Replacement

Publicly-owned wastewater systems face large infrastructure expenses, and there are several established sources of financing designed for these types of systems. On the other hand, there have traditionally been very limited funding options designed for a homeowner who is not connected to public wastewater. Thousands of Georgia homeowners fit this scenario, where they have private onsite wastewater systems called septic tanks. In the 15-county Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District alone, it is estimated that there are more than 450,000 of these septic systems. When these systems need repair or replacement the cost can vary widely but is usually in the range of several thousand dollars, and in some instances, costs can get up to $20,000. This post highlights a few financing programs tailored specifically to septic tank repair, click to read more.

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Stacey Isaac BerahzerSeptic tanks, septic funding Comment
The Vulnerable Data in Our Water
The Vulnerable Data in Our Water

According to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, public water systems are in potential danger, not only from infrastructure or financial crises, but from cyberattacks. From “What Will It Take to Defend Public Water from Cyber Attacks?”, out of the 16 sectors the White House classified as essential to the nation’s health, the committee deemed that drinking and wastewater systems might be among the least protected concerning digital security, and the ramifications can be severe. To counteract the threat represented by cyberattacks, the following are some resources that water and wastewater utilities can access.

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Alanna Kinnebrewcyber security Comments
What Might New Water Quality Regulations Mean for Utility Finance?
What Might New Water Quality Regulations Mean for Utility Finance?

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards and regulations for the contaminants in public drinking water. The goal is to keep water safe by developing National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs). NPDWRs are required to be revised at least once every six years based on new knowledge of public health threats. To manage this process, the EPA must publish the Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCLs) once every five years and determine which contaminants may require regulation. The last Final CCL 4 was announced on November 17, 2016, and resulted in Final Regulatory Determinations for CCL 4, published on February 22, 2021. In this document, the EPA states that it is “making final determinations to regulate two contaminants, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in drinking water.” This decision starts the rulemaking process to establish a new NPDWR for these two contaminants to improve public health protection. So, what might these two upcoming rules mean for the finances of your water utility?

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Alanna KinnebrewComment
Lead Service Lines: The Good, the Bad, the Money
Lead Service Lines: The Good, the Bad, the Money

Since the Flint, Michigan water crisis, there has been heightened awareness concerning the dangers of lead and how exposure to this poisonous metal affects the human body. Based on the proposed amendments to the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), there are as many as 9.3 million lead service lines (LSLs) in use across the United States. With water woven into the list of top priorities for the federal government, lead in water has become a main focus in proposed funding packages such as the American Jobs Plan, which proposes allocating $45 billion to fully replacing LSLs across the country.

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Alanna Kinnebrewlead service lines, lead service line replacement, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, American Jobs Plan, water finance, water affordabilityComment
Getting Ready for Temporary Increases in Water Finance in Georgia
Getting Ready for Temporary Increases in Water Finance in Georgia

The last year has brought numerous challenges, many of which have financial impacts. But with some of those challenges come opportunities. The fight to curb the spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of a well-functioning and well-funded water sector. The economic stimulus packages that the pandemic has spawned include opportunities for new careers as the nation’s infrastructure gets an upgrade. In the case of water infrastructure, the upgrade is much needed in many cases. This post outlines some of the new financing options that Georgia local governments can tap into for water projects.

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Stacey Isaac Berahzerwater finance, Funding News, GeorgiaComment