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Current Blog Posts
Paying for Unused Capacity: Interlocal Agreements using Capacity Allocations
Constructing, maintaining, and upgrading water infrastructure entails large costs for local governments that can end up impacting budgets for years. The long lifespan of these projects often require development to be based on needs projected…
Three Strategies for Water Utilities with Aging Infrastructure
Last month, as part of our Smart Management for Small Water Systems project, I traveled with Glenn Barnes, Senior Project Director at the Environmental Finance Center at UNC Chapel Hill, to visit a small water system…
4 Keys to Creating a Useful Utility Rate Sheet
A customer calls and wants to know the water and sewer rates in his town. What do you say? Do you direct him to your website? Tell him to swing by town hall or your…
Are Key Financial Indicators a Crystal Ball? Three Lessons from Detroit
After years in a continuous loop of population decline and higher taxes on a decreasing tax base, the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history was filed by the City of Detroit in July 2013. After…
The Blue Economy: Linking Water to Economic Revitalization
Over the last several decades, the economy of North Carolina has undergone major transitions. Once home to thriving tobacco, furniture, and textile industries, we’re seeing more and more emphasis on high tech solutions to modern…
Managing Water Impacts of NC Food Processing
by Harmony Bouley In the wake of the declining textile, tobacco, and furniture industries, North Carolina’s agricultural sector has remained robust. North Carolina’s agricultural sector, which has production levels that have historically ranked among the…
Why (and How) one North Carolina School is Going Solar
As a society, we expect a lot from our schools. In addition to teaching basic skills, we hope our educational institutions will prepare students to be 21st century leaders. Part of preparing future leaders includes…
Key Financial Indicators for Water Systems: Revenue Stability
“Are our water utility’s rates right?” This is an often difficult question that arises at our workshops and webinars for small water systems, through our direct technical assistance, and which many of our readers may be interested…