On the limits of means-tested assistance programs for water & sewer Red Sox legend Ted Williams was the last player to bat over .400... in 1941 **Warning: sports metaphor ahead** Like hitting a baseball,
When utility regulation fails, democracy fails when utilities fail, democracy fails The utility failures in the Lone Star State last week cascaded into a disaster when extreme weather hit an isolated electrical grid.* But
Managing the $638 million low-income water & sewer assistance in the federal COVID relief package Now what? As frequent readers of this page likely know, the COVID relief bill that Congress passed in December
Confluence. [kän-flü-ən(t)s]. n. A coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point. Water is a big deal in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania is a swing state. Am I being too subtle? More evidence that,
Why water should be the Biden Administration’s top environmental priority Manny's electoral map The Biden administration’s environmental policy priorities are likely to be quite different from the Trump administration’s, and the impending change at
About that water affordability study in The Guardian... Water is a ZILLION PERCENT unaffordable! Also, aliens. The Guardian recently published a big story on water utility affordability in the United States. The headline was shocking:
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
Sovereignty isn’t what’s on paper, it’s what flows through taps and rivers Environmental sovereignty (Photo: nativenewsonline.net) America is slowly awakening to the dire state of tribal water and sewer systems. Access to drinking water
The congressional COVID cavalry isn’t coming to save the water sector "Nobody got nothing to say about a 40-degree day." The ink was barely dry on a $2 trillion coronavirus response law when Congress
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
How the federal government might end shutoffs & keep water flowing during the COVID-19 crisis Can’t do this if your water has been shut off. The COVID-19 crisis has escalated America’s water and sewer
Lessons from California water conservation, 2019 Reservoirs aren't supposed to look like this. Tough water times may be back in California. After the Golden State suffered through a historically severe drought from 2012-2017, pleasantly
Playing to win not to lose in water utility management Nature's Prevent Defense Warning: strained sports metaphor coming. It’s late January, and the National Football League season soon reaches its climax with the Super
U.S. water utilities are shifting costs to low-volume customers—good for revenue stability, but bad for affordability The squeeze bunt puts more pressure on the hitter than any other play in baseball. Utility financial managers
An update on what low-income U.S. households must pay for essential service It's hard to come up with amusing images for this topic About a year ago I also published the results of a
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 #5: Environmental Justice Photo: EJCW.org 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 structural transformation
Important developments in California for utility affordability You probably need all three California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is working on establishing methods to measure affordability for utility service. The CPUC governs ratemaking for the
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
Water Sector Reform #3: Smart Systems Sewer inspectors: Old School & New School With a major federal investment in water infrastructure possibly on the horizon, the United States has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage
Water Sector Reform #2: Regulatory Transparency & Fairness Bringing together the best of both states With a major federal investment in water infrastructure possibly on the horizon, the United States has a once-in-a-generation opportunity
Better Together Water Sector Reform #1: Consolidation 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 reforms to transform
What the Cuyahoga River Fire says about the past and maybe the future Fifty years ago this week the Cuyahoga River caught fire in downtown Cleveland. Observers of U.S. water policy and environmentalism
A Kansas water utility gets affordability measurement right And lo, there arose from the Kansas City suburbs a mighty measurement Recently we’ve seen progress in affordability measurement, as more water utilities are using better
A trillion-dollar federal infrastructure package and a chance to reform the water sector This post is not about theoretical physics - Warning: mixed metaphors ahead - Observers of America’s water, sewer, and stormwater systems
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
Not actually the author. The image is doctored, too. A California surprise: update California has been enjoying a great deal of rain and snow over the past several months—a pleasant rebound in precipitation
Black, White, and Hispanic Americans experience water utility service differently What discontents lurk behind those enigmatic eyes? Over the past couple of years there’s been a growing recognition that drinking water policy is an
Devils (and angels) in the details, Part 5 an ironically regressive luxury tax In early January the California Water Board (SWRCB) published its long-anticipated draft proposal for a statewide low-income water bill assistance program. I’ve
Devils (and angels) in the details, Part 4 Nobody wants to talk about this part In early January the California Water Board published its long-anticipated draft proposal for a statewide low-income water bill assistance program.
Devils (and angels) in the details, Part 3 In early January the California Water Board released its draft proposal for a statewide low-income water bill assistance program. My last couple posts summarized the proposal
Devils (and angels) in the details, Part 2 It's always about the money. In early January the California Water Board released its draft proposal for a statewide low-income water bill assistance program. My last
Devils (and angels) in the details, Part 1 Governor Newsom (nice haircut in the black jacket, back to the camera) dragged his cabinet down the Central Valley to hear what folks had to say
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
