Equitable Water Infrastructure Toolkit – A Resource for Building Partnerships
By Stacey Isaac Berahzer
Figure 1: Equitable Water Infrastructure Toolkit cover image
Many non-profits and advocacy groups seek ways to support water utilities with their infrastructure and revenue needs, but understanding how to interact with utilities can be daunting. This post highlights a recent “toolkit” that was designed to show these groups how they can participate in the utility decision-making process. It also informs the non-profit sector on how water money flows from the federal government to the local level. The Equitable Infrastructure Toolkit highlights how different types of water projects are prioritized in the public sector.
The River Network released the Equitable Infrastructure Toolkit in June of 2021. The Toolkit is a resource that connects utilities and advocates in working together to foster healthy communities and affordable water. This extensive toolkit is intended to serve as a means to assist community stakeholders, advocates, and leaders in the following:
Identify factors that affect water affordability;
Become familiar with water infrastructure funding and financing mechanisms (e.g., state revolving loan funds, bonds, etc.); and
Understand the role and impact of local, state, and federal entities.
It is comprised of the following 4 chapters:
Utilities,
Infrastructure,
Affordability, and
Decision-Making and Influence.
The Utilities chapter, for instance, provides an overview of how water utilities operate and make decisions. It also addresses how utilities fund their operations and receive financial oversight both at the local and state levels. An explanation of the main components of a water bill is also provided.
The Decision-Making and Influence chapter is designed to assist advocates in identifying ways to take action. It provides access to relevant state- and utility-specific resources, teaching how to connect with community stakeholders and decision-makers, and explaining how and when to communicate with relevant parties to stay involved and help influence decision-making both equitably and sustainably. This chapter is focused on taking action by providing advocates with a practical set of recommendations for learning more about local water infrastructure.
The Decision-Making and Influence chapter also encourages advocates to begin working at the local level by getting involved with their local water utility. The chapter differentiates among beginner, intermediate, and advanced experience levels. So, there is guidance for every skill level of advocate to use this resource in learning more about local utility governance and management, develop a relationship with their water utility, and strategically advocate for local change, individually or with a coalition.
Figure 2: Diagram outlining the ways in which advocates can get involved locally
The Toolkit outlines how to access resources on state- or utility-specific information related to financing opportunities, policy guidelines, and public meeting/comment requirements. The intent is to provide resources for how nonprofits and advocates can work with utilities to get water projects funded. As a resource, the toolkit helps individuals understand how and when to approach utilities about decisions that support affordability outcomes before major funding decisions are made. In addition, the toolkit provides utilities with guidance on how to pursue various funding options for water projects. The goal is to equip readers to work in conjunction with their local utility to influence equitable water infrastructure investment opportunities, practices, and policies, and then, help to address, direct, remedy, and improve outcomes.
Subscribe Here
Sign up with your email address to receive notices of new blog updates. We post about once per month.