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.
Register Today: Water Wednesday June 26th
REGISTER TODAY: June 26th • Water Affordability Amid PFAS Regulations
Join us for a presentation and discussion about strategies to restructure water rates to compliment or in advance of your work to comply with the new regulations, including a demonstration of the Business Case for Affordability tool from NRDC.
Speakers will include:
- Larry Levine • Natural Resources Defense Council
- Tony Searls • Greater Cincinnati Water Works
- Howard Neukrug • The Water Center at Penn
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:
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
San Antonio’s Uplift Customer Assistance Program: Lessons in Public Engagement
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT
-
- Presentation Recording
- Greg Wukasch, External Affairs Manager ∙ San Antonio Water System
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Customer Assistance Implementation Strategy (referenced in presentation)
LIHWAP in Reading, PA: Making the Case for a Sustained Federal Assistance Program
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT
-
- Presentation Recording
- Bill Murray, Executive Director ∙ Reading Area Water Authority
- Eric Rothstein ∙ Principal ∙ Galardi Rothstein Group
Re-thinking Water Affordability: Alternative Pricing Models
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CT
-
- Tony Searls, Commercial Services Superintendent ∙ Greater Cincinnati Water Works
- Ben Stewart, Managing Consultant, Water ∙ Stantec
Getting Assistance to Those in Need
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 ∙ 12 – 1pm CST
-
- Presentation Recording
- Jacqueline Muhammad, Senior Manager, Government & Customer Relations ∙ Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cleveland Ohio
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
Making the Case for a Sustained Federal Assistance Program: LIHWAP in Reading, PA
On March 29, the Mayors Innovation Project hosted a discussion about the critical need for sustained federal funding for water assistance programs, specifically the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), including a spotlight on LIHWAP successes in Reading, PA.
April 18, 2023
San Antonio’s Uplift Customer Assistance Program: Lessons in Public Engagement
Even utilities with robust customer assistance programs struggle with one main problem: how do they ensure those who need the help are signing up? This challenge spurred Greg Wukash and the SAWS team to create the Uplift Customer Assistance Program, designed to embrace a “neighbor-centric” approach by offering a more holistic method of assistance.
March 22, 2023
Water Wednesdays: Water Affordability Community of Practice Series
In partnership with the Water Center at Penn, WaterNow Alliance, and US Water Alliance, our Water Affordability Community of Practice (CoP) spotlights best practices on challenges and solutions related to water affordability, providing ample time for …
January 26, 2023
Event: Water Affordability Community of Practice featuring Deirdre Finn
In partnership with the Water Center at Penn, our Water Affordability Community of Practice (COP) spotlights best practices on challenges and solutions related to water affordability, providing ample time for questions and informal discussion among …
August 30, 2022- More Water posts
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.
