South Carolina Training: The Power of Partnerships for Wastewater Systems

Location: Northeast Campus Auditorium, Midlands Technical College, 151 Powell Road, Columbia, SC 29203

Date: Thursday, July 20 2023 – 9 a.m. – 4:30 PM (EST)

Register Here

Description:

Running a small system can be challenging. Along with meeting regulatory obligations and satisfying customer expectations, you may have issues with aging infrastructure, lack of personnel, and limited financial resources. Furthermore, small systems often cost more to operate per capita than large systems because of economy of scale. This can further complicate operations. One strategy to address these challenges is to work with other utilities. In this workshop, we will discuss various approaches to collaboration including:

• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• Helping maintain regulatory compliance
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer

Presenter: Andrew Waters, Environmental Finance Center at UNC

Agenda:

9:00     Introductions

• Partnership basics
• Options and examples
• Elements of a successful partnership

10:45   Break

11:00   What to include in a successful interlocal agreement

• Case study of collaboration

12:00   Lunch on your own

1:00     Small group discussion about partnerships: sharing barriers and opportunities

2:00     Break

2:15     How to prepare for partnerships

• Financial benchmarking
• Asset Management

3:15     Funding options for partnerships

4:15     Wrap-up, Questions and Discussion

4:30     Adjourn