A new report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, AWWA and WEF sets out alternatives to EPA’s current approach for measuring the ability of communities to comply with federal Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act mandates. Calling EPA’s current methods inadequate,Affordability Assessment Tool for Federal Water Mandates urges the agency to consider the impact rising water bills have on potentially vulnerable populations, take into account all income categories and recognize important financial realities facing communities.
The report responds to EPA actions aimed at clarifying its guidelines to determine a community’s financial capability. In June 2012, the agency issued an integrated planning framework to allow municipalities to prioritize spending on the basis of financial affordability as long as the projects improve water quality and meet Clean Water Act obligations. The framework allows municipalities to modify discharge permits, long-term plans for combined sewer overflows and enforcement orders. Among other concerns voiced in the new report, EPA is criticized for excluding drinking water mandates from the integrated planning process.
The assessment tool presented in the report is designed to help communities determine the burden of higher water bills on households at different income levels and with various demographic characteristics.