Workshop | The Power of Partnerships for Water and Wastewater Systems

* This is a hybrid event. Attendees can attend either in person at the address above or virtually via Zoom.

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 

Additionally, we will discuss how to prepare for partnerships with financial benchmarking and asset management.

* This training has been approved for 6 CEUs for water or wastewater operators.

Presenters:

Andrew Waters, Ph.D., Project Director, Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina

Schedule:

9:30: 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

• • Presentation from North Carolina Department of Water Infrastructure

4:15: Wrap-up, Questions and Discussion

4:30: Adjourn

* Please note: Meals will not be provided for this training. Please plan to travel nearby for lunch or feel free to bring your own lunch and enjoy one of the courtyards at the UNC School of Government.

To register, click here.