Ensuring Access to Clean, Affordable Water

Access to safe and affordable drinking and waste water is a human right, and city leaders must regard it as a priority.

Yet cities and utilities are increasingly faced with a major financial dilemma: increase rates and price out ratepayers, or keep rates the same at the expense of aging infrastructure. At the fulcrum of this choice sits those most vulnerable: low-to-moderate income households, disproportionately made up of women and/or people of color.

In partnership with The Water Center at Penn, we are dedicated to helping mayors, utility leaders, and city staff create affordable, efficient, resilient, and equitable water systems.

Boy drinking from kitchen tap

Community of Practice

The Water Affordability Community of Practice spotlights best practices on challenges and solutions related to water affordability. In 2023 we hosted four informal sessions that provided ample time for questions and discussion among peers. The audience for this event were exclusively local utility and city leaders that are striving to provide access to safe and affordable drinking and waste water.  Join our mailing list further below to stay tuned for future opportunities!

View past Water Wednesday resources:

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San Antonio’s Uplift Customer Assistance Program: Lessons in Public Engagement

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT

LIHWAP in Reading, PA: Making the Case for a Sustained Federal Assistance Program

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT

Re-thinking Water Affordability: Alternative Pricing Models

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT

Getting Assistance to Those in Need

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CST

 

Water Affordability Academy

The Water Affordability Academy connects utility leaders with some of the country’s most respected utility innovators to help them identify, assess, and establish a path forward on affordability in their community. The virtual Academy also provided ongoing support after the event to utilities in implementing their affordability plans.

Fall 2021

Fall 2020

Spring 2021

News & Updates

Technical Assistance for Members

Member cities can request up to three short policy memos per year on the topics that you need the most help with. Additional, in-depth technical assistance may be available depending on grant availability. Learn more.

In Partnership with

The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania

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