by Shannon Pepper | Sep 30, 2022 | General Management & Finance, Infrastructure Renewal/ Replacement, Managerial & Financial Leadership
Many rural communities across the country have long faced demographic challenges as the changing economy has continued to push residents towards jobs in urban and suburban centers. The remote work revolution and the reconsideration of living in rural areas ushered in...
by Shannon Pepper | Sep 29, 2022 | Conservation, Wastewater
Wastewater reuse, or reclamation, is the process of adequately treating wastewater – whether from a toilet, laundry machine, or a sink – to be reused for a specific purpose. For many people, the thought of reusing wastewater might sound unappealing, but the benefits...
by Shannon Pepper | Sep 28, 2022 | Communications and Outreach, Green Infrastructure, Source Water Protection, Stormwater
When I meet with any community to discuss water quality issues, especially a group that is reluctant to implement stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), the first question I always ask is, “Do you know where your drinking water comes from?” It never ceases to...
by Shannon Pepper | Sep 2, 2022 | Affordability, Fiscal Planning & Rate Setting, Rates, Wastewater
Setting the rates for wastewater services is an exercise that should be done when the annual budget is prepared. The rates need to generate sufficient revenue to cover operation and maintenance (O&M), repair and replacement (R&R), principal and...
by Shannon Pepper | Sep 2, 2022 | Rates, Water Justice
Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) are often offered as a solution to providing water to low-income customers as well as meeting the revenue requirement of a utility. With the need to invest in aging infrastructure and the increasing costs of those investments, many...
