Time commitment is minimal; information obtained is invaluable.

The Wichita State University (WSU) Environmental Finance Center (EFC) is

conducting a series of case studies regarding Household Affordability and Financial Capability in the Water Sector in communities in EPA Region 7. WSU is specifically looking for water and/or water and sewer utilities that serve under 10,000 people that are concerned about or have analyzed affordability for their customers.  

WSU team will help utilities gather data and/or rely on utilities to gather the data needed to calculate affordability metrics, which include but are not limited to socioeconomic factors, water treatment system, income distribution of the community, staff size, etc.  

The Process

• The process begins with a conversation with participating communities. WSU will request some initial information, such as population, average water bill, water distribution process, etc.
  
•  After that, WSU will send a brief narrative along with some metric calculations that the community will need to complete. WSU will send a template with guidelines and instructions.
  
•  WSU will then have a follow-up conversation about the metrics and ask a range of interview questins. 

This project requires little time (approximately five to 10 hours over the course of several weeks).

At the conclusion of this exchange, WSU will write a case study about the community and how it was able to access and calculate the metrics and the thoughts about the process from the person who completed it. WSU will send the community a copy of the in-depth case study about their community level affordability of water/wastewater.

Centers like WSU are completing case studies across the country. These will be compiled into a larger report. If you are interested in participating, please contact Michelle DeHaven at michelle.dehaven@wichita.edu or Nicholas Willis at nicholas.willis@wichita.edu.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in conjunction with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming capital improvement planning workshop. The session provides participants with an understanding of what to include in a Capital Improvement Plan, who should be involved and why it’s important to implement a plan, strategies for replacing existing equipment, infrastructure, and planning to meet existing or new regulatory requirements.  The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

This training would be beneficial for Financial/Accounting Staff, Finance Directors, Utility Directors, City Managers, City Clerks, Board/City Council Members, Customer Service Managers, Operators, Engineering Staff and other utility employees/stakeholders.

*5 CEU hours available for Water Treatment, Distribution, or Wastewater.

For more information, and to register, click here.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in conjunction with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming capital improvement planning workshop. The session provides participants with an understanding of what to include in a Capital Improvement Plan, who should be involved and why it’s important to implement a plan, strategies for replacing existing equipment, infrastructure, and planning to meet existing or new regulatory requirements.  The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

This training would be beneficial for Financial/Accounting Staff, Finance Directors, Utility Directors, City Managers, City Clerks, Board/City Council Members, Customer Service Managers, Operators, Engineering Staff and other utility employees/stakeholders.

*5 CEU hours available for Water Treatment, Distribution, or Wastewater.

For more information, and to register, click here.