Atlanta Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan
The City of Atlanta's Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan promotes and supports the implementation of green infrastructure throughout the City by all City departments, partners and the private sector. Atlanta describes green infrastructure as a cost-effective way for the City to address localized flooding and water quality concerns from stormwater runoff, while improving the resiliency of watersheds and natural resources in the face of rapid growth and climate change. These types of infrastructure investments also provide significant environmental,
economic and community benefits to City of Atlanta residents. This action plan also supports the Mayor’s goal of becoming a top tier sustainable city.
Click the link below to download a copy of Atlanta's Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan.
Tucson Rate Impacts of Increased Water Efficiency
Tucson Examines the Rate Impacts of Increased Water Efficiency and Finds Customer Savings
Authors: Candice Rupprecht, Mary M. Allen, and Peter Mayer
Publication: AWWA Journal, Feature Article
Date: January 3, 2020
"To answer one of the most vexing customer questions in the water industry—Why do you ask me to conserve and then raise my rates?—utilities have recently begun conducting avoided-cost analyses. ... An avoided-cost analysis considers current and historic population and per capita demand as well as a utility’s current budget, disaggregating them into variable and fixed system costs, and foregone infrastructure and supply acquisition projects." This AWWA Journal feature article details Tucson Water's avoided cost analysis finding that the utility's three decades of water conservation saved the community $416 million in avoided system costs.
Click the link below to access the article.
Water Use Efficiency Data Study
West Basin Municipal Water District Water Use Efficiency Data Study Fiscal Year 2018-2019
West Basin worked with EKI Environment & Water, Inc. to develop this Water Use Efficiency Data Study to provide a plan that articulates guiding principles and strategies for West Basin’s WUE programs and services and facilitate innovation and adaptability given California’s rapidly changing water resources landscape. Through this effort, a series of fifteen recommendations for West Basin’s overall WUE program were developed covering topics such as communication and outreach, customer agency planning and regulatory compliance support, residential WUE programs, and commercial, industrial, and institutional WUE programs.
Click the link below to read the full report.
Step for Establishing a Local Stormwater Program
Steps for Considering and Implementing a Local Stormwater Program
In March 2019, New Jersey enacted legislation authorizing municipalities, counties, and municipal or county wastewater utilities and utility authorities to establish a stormwater utility on a voluntary basis. This New Jersey Future Fact Sheet sets out the key steps for localities considering establishing a stormwater utility.
Click below to download the fact sheet.
Regional Stormwater Management
Regional Stormwater Management: Flood Control at Lower Cost
This New Jersey Future Policy Recommendation report makes the case for taking a regional approach for stormwater management. New Jersey Future finds: "Coordinating efforts across a region can be more effective at solving watershed problems than a fragmented approach where the methods used by one town may conflict with those used in another."
Click the link below to download the report.
Stormwater Utilities: Overview of Fee Structure & Incentives
Stormwater Utilities: Overview of Fee Structure & Incentive Programs
On March 18, 2019, New Jersey became the 41st state to enact legislation, the Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act, authorizing the creation of stormwater utilities by municipalities, counties, municipal or county sewerage or utilities authorities, or through shared services agreements involving two or more municipalities, the latter of which may or may not include the surrounding county. This report from New Jersey Future outlines how stormwater utilities can structure their fees and establish incentive programs for their ratepayers.
Click the link below to download the report.
Stormwater Utility Case Study
Stormwater Utility Case Study: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
In 2014, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, adopted an ordinance creating a stormwater utility to keep its separated storm sewers in a state of good repair, address flooding issues, and avoid stiff fine for non-compliance of its CSO permit. This case study by New Jersey Future provides an overview of how the stormwater utility and the fee imposed to fund it were developed and adopted.
Click the link below to download a copy of the case study.
Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for NJ
Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for New Jersey
This report from the Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task Force lays out 19 interdependent actions which, as a package, the Task Force expects can virtually eliminate lead in water within 10 years. One key recommended action is the replacement of lead service lines under privately owned property, a localized infrastructure issue. The report recognizes that drinking water utilities are on the front lines and need funding solutions and other tools from state government; many of the recommended actions address this reality.
Click below to download a copy of the report.
Moving Toward a Multi-Benefit Approach for Water Management
Authored by: Pacific Institute and Professor Bob Wilkinson of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Our partners at the Pacific Institute and collaborator Professor Bob Wilkinson are developing a framework for incorporating multiple benefits of water projects into decision-making. The draft multi-benefit framework, released in April 2019, outlines a process for engaging with stakeholders to systematically evaluate and incorporate the broad benefits and trade-offs of water management options into decision-making. It is now being applied through test cases to help expand the usefulness and reach of the framework.
To access the Phase 1 report click the link below.
Overview of Clean Water State Revolving Fund Eligibilities
Overview of Clean Water State Revolving Fund Eligibilities
This 2016 EPA report details the wide variety of water quality protection efforts the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program can fund, including water conservation and efficiency and distributed green infrastructure. Click below to download the report and learn more.
