In an economy awash in capital, why does water want for investment? Cryptocurrencies turn code into gold, but water is the ultimate liquid asset. America’s water and sewer utilities need trillions of dollars of
Sustainable solutions for Jackson, Mississippi not a sustainable solution National attention is back on drinking water utilities, and once again for all the wrong reasons. As readers of this blog surely know by now,
How much consolidation is enough? June 2026 Update: For more recent, more detailed, more rigorous analysis of scale and water system performance, see "Right-sized: How Much Consolidation is Enough?" in Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next
How to stop taxing water It’s hard to know exactly how much money Americans are paying in taxes at the tap, but it’s a lot. Last time I described the variety of ways that
Collecting tax revenue through water bills hurts affordability & turns utilities into coercive agents of government Can you find the tax? They may not realize it, but tens of millions of Americans pay taxes
What happens when governments ask the public to report water waste? Ever feel like you're being watched? Rainfall has been low, the mountain snowpack is thin, and Californians are bracing for another year of
Inefficient, inequitable, and maddeningly slow, America’s fragmented administrative institutions are saving the Republic before our eyes. American elections are run by a jumble of local, state, and federal agencies. That’s a feature, not a
No, EPA did not propose affordability guidelines for municipal utilities Late last week the EPA published in the Federal Register some proposed new guidelines for evaluating sewer utilities’ financial strength. In press releases and
Organization of U.S. drinking water utilities in a few simple figures Here are some graphs that convey a few key things about the organization of drinking water utilities in the United States.* Sources: Energy
During a public health crisis, getting the research right is paramount It started with a tweet. beware the confundus charm (Image: Julio Oliviera) A new peer-reviewed Utilities Policy article on water utility ownership, low-income
for a federal low-income water bill assistance program All watery eyes are fixed on Washington The ink is barely dry on the $2 trillion coronavirus response law, but there are rumblings that a another
A five-point proposal to transform the U.S. water sector As daunting as the challenges in the U.S. water sector are, solutions are possible and within our grasp. Thanks to legions of smart, creative scientists
Water Sector Reform #4: Human Capital People + Pipes With a major federal investment in water infrastructure possibly on the horizon, the United States has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage that money into a
A decoupling drama plays out in San Jose Do you know the way? The San Jose Water Company recently proposed a significant rate increase, and its customer are understandably unhappy. Their discontent is an
Former Mayor Lester Taylor, talking about East Orange's reinvestment in its water system The Garden State has quietly enacted a law that could transform water infrastructure in America. Signed during Governor Christie’s waning days
During California’s recent drought, the utilities that own their supply sources conserved more than the those that purchase water from wholesale suppliers -Warning: this post contains hardcore wonkery- A while ago I blogged about my
Bad water boys, whatchya gonna do when they come for you? Many California communities restricted outdoor irrigation during the recent drought. Did enforcement matter? Faced with water scarcity, communities sometimes restrict residential outdoor water use,
A California Surprise, Part 2 More drought porn (this is used to be Folsom Lake) How private implementation separates public policies from their political costs. Warning: this post contains hardcore wonkery. In 2015 the
hyperopia (hīˌpə-rōˈpē-ə). n. A condition in which visual images come to a focus behind the retina of the eye and vision is better for distant than for near objects Last week I had the pleasure of
What California’s SB-623 reveals about water affordability and the politics of public finance Who shall pay? is the perennially vexing refrain for would-be providers of public goods. Everyone likes nice things; no one likes
The City of Jacksonville, FL is contemplating sale of JEA, its municipal electric, water, and sewer utility. For years Jacksonville has toyed with the idea of selling JEA to a private investor, but the possibility
