On May 26th, AMWA provided comments to EPA in response to proposed revisions on the Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance.
The guidance informs how EPA and states evaluate a community’s ability to finance improvements to collection systems, pump stations, and treatment facilities, particularly when establishing compliance schedules after a municipality addresses a violation to the CWA. More information, including links to the current FCA guidance, fact sheets, and requests for public comment, is available online.
In the comments, AMWA reiterated the interconnectedness of drinking water and wastewater affordability and encouraged EPA to continue prioritizing drinking water in future revisions. AMWA also expressed support for incorporating cost-of-living data into the metrics used to determine community level financial capability.
EPA will use public input to determine whether updates to the guidance are necessary, and will post another request for public comment once more specific revisions are published.