Seeds of Progress

Abstract

Kindergarteners are encouraged to plant seeds in little cups and watch them grow. As they record the changes, they may learn things that are not dissimilar to when organizations pick a strategy, plant a strategic “seed,” and then after some time look at the organizational “plant” that has grown. Such is the case for AWWA's commitment to Total Water Solutions (TWS), which was a seed planted five years ago by the AWWA board in support of its strategy to invest, advance, and expand knowledge resources for drinking water and total water solutions. What is exciting is how this TWS seed is now providing solutions to the entire water sector. While there are many examples I can highlight, I will focus on only three here. Some introductory context may be helpful. When AWWA committed to TWS, it did so with the realization that all waters (i.e., wastewater, stormwater, reuse, and others) eventually become source water for drinking water. Because AWWA cares deeply about protecting and improving source water, it committed to developing solutions-based approaches that would span traditional water sector silos. Also, AWWA knew that, for years, the top two concerns of the water sector have been replacing aging infrastructure and financing it—AWWA wants TWS to help solve these problems as well. My first TWS example is the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). WIFIA is a low-interest-rate loan program administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) that provides financing solutions for all types of water infrastructure projects. AWWA was the original architect of this financing program, which began at USEPA as a pilot program and has since moved out of its pilot stage. Demand for WIFIA loans has surpassed expectations. USEPA has already closed on six of the 12 loans from the first round of offerings and now, with greater funding, is evaluating the second round of applications. In response to applications from 2017 and 2018, USEPA is poised to offer loans totaling $7.4 billion to 51 entities. Over half of the funding targets solutions for wastewater infrastructure, 20% targets drinking water infrastructure, 12% supports water reuse projects, and the remaining funds are spread across stormwater, state revolving fund, and multi-purpose infrastructure projects. Another huge benefit of WIFIA is the savings communities will realize. USEPA estimates that for the first six loans it has made, the communities will save just shy of $700 million by using WIFIA funding. The TWS benefits—for all waters—speak for themselves. The second TWS example is the $4 billion allocation in the Farm Bill, which will help protect drinking source water. To achieve this historic outcome, AWWA undertook a multi-year, coordinated effort that included a close partnership with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), testimony before Congressional committees, and public outreach. The result was legislation that included robust funding over a 10-year period for farming conservation practices that protect drinking water sources and benefits for farmers who employ practices that benefit downstream water. Importantly, the funding allows community water systems to work with state technical committees to identify local priority areas for source water protection. AWWA's partnership with the USDA was key to this extraordinary outcome and is a powerful example of the benefits that can be gained by working collaboratively across historical silos. The TWS benefit of this partnership fits neatly into the framework that all waters—including nonpoint source agricultural water—eventually become source water for drinking water. Finally, I'd like to briefly highlight the Partnership for Clean Water (PCW). The PCW is a wastewater utility optimization and recognition program that began in 2016. The program has 60 utility subscribers that collectively serve more than eight million people. It is modeled after the Partnership for Safe Water, which has successfully helped drinking water utilities optimize performance for more than 20 years. The PCW was developed by wastewater professionals to focus on wastewater treatment plant optimization, with the goal of improving effluent water quality through operations rather than capital investment. It also strives to provide a margin of safety beyond current regulatory requirements—and to achieve this in as energy-efficient a manner as possible. For example, after performing an energy audit, one of the subscribers expects to save over a quarter-million dollars a year in energy costs from just one of its wastewater plants—an 18 mgd facility—and it has several others to which the optimization may be scaled. There are many other examples of how AWWA's TWS seed has grown, and each in its own way demonstrates the importance of taking a risk, having a strategy, envisioning a goal, and working hard to achieve it. TWS may not yet be the equivalent of Jack's fabled bean stalk, but who knows—one day, it just might be.