The EFCN encourages local governments, water and wastewater systems, and planning groups to take holistic and proactive approach that: looks to asset management, collaboration, and other cost saving measures; integrates long-term drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and green infrastructure planning to create efficiencies and accomplish multiple community priorities; and, leverages economic development opportunities.
Our work with small systems focuses on:
- Promoting efficient ways to achieve regulatory and compliance expectations;
- Using asset management, One Water planning across multiple community utilities or jurisdictions and green infrastructure approaches to reduce costs and leverage multiple community priorities;
- Considering metrics that indicate the affordability of system rates and appropriate customer assistance programs;
- Applying a resilience lens to planning and operations that improves emergency preparedness and disaster recovery;
- Tailoring materials and communications to effectively engage leadership, elected officials, and the public in understanding needs and operation and informing decision making;
- Helping access infrastructure funding programs including state revolving loan funding; and,
- Facilitating peer-to-peer exchange, partnerships, and regional approaches.
Project Leadership:
Jennifer Cotting
Director
Environmental Finance Center University of Maryland
School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
jcotting@umd.edu
(301) 405-5495
Tess Clark
Program Manager
Syracuse Environmental Finance Center
pclark@syr.edu
315-443-1846