Words On Water #184: Jamie Eichenberger on the Need for Water Infrastructure Funding

April 19, 2021

Jamie Eichenberger is the President-Elect of the Water Environment Federation and an Associate Vice President at HDR. In this episode Jamie explains how without significant funding increases for water infrastructure, there will be long-term harm to public health, environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth in communities, as outlined in a WEF position statement. He says the water sector needs increased and more reliable financing of water infrastructure to address such priorities as aging infrastructure and technology innovation to meet changing regulations. Jamie calls on the entire water sector to advocate for funding, particularly through Water Week and WEF’s Water Advocates program.

Episode #184
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Words On Water #122: Steve Dye and Claudio Ternieden with a 2020 Congressional and Regulatory Preview

January 30, 2020

Steve Dye is the Legislative Director and Claudio Ternieden is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Water Environment Federation. In this episode Steve provides a preview of key issues for Congress in 2020 including reauthorization of the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act, legislation addressing PFAS, and grants for SSO and CSO programs. Claudio discusses potential action on regulatory topics including Waters of the United States, affordability, and peak wet weather flow. They encourage attendance at Water Week in D.C. on April 27-28 and participation in the Water Advocates program.

Episode #122
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Words On Water #119: Leslie Schehl and John Phillips on the State of Stormwater

January 21, 2029

Leslie Schehl is a Supervising Engineer at the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati and John Phillips is Director of Integrated Watershed Management at Parametrix, as well as co-chairs of the 2020 National Stormwater Symposium. In this episode Leslie and John explain how climate change is altering rainfall patterns and posing challenges for stormwater management, particularly in the form of urban flooding. They talk about the adoption of digital technology across the sector and the rise of smart sewers. Leslie and John also discuss the ongoing issues of maintenance and funding of stormwater infrastructure.

Episode #119
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Words On Water #117: Emily Feenstra on Stormwater in the Infrastructure Report Card.

December 16, 2019

Emily Feenstra is the Managing Director for Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at the American Society of Civil Engineers. In this episode Emily discusses the decision to add stormwater to ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card, particularly because of data collection by the Water Environment Federation and National Municipal Stormwater Alliance. She talks about the how the report card is produced and used, as well as the recent grades for water infrastructure. Emily also outlines how the report card has impacted public opinion, policy, and funding over the years.

Episode #117
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Words On Water #74: Gary Belan and Janet Clements on Stormwater Currency

January 29, 2019

Gary Belan is the Senior Director of the Clean Water Supply Program at American Rivers and Janet Clements is the Senior Water Resource Economist at Corona Environmental Consulting. In this episode, Gary and Janet discuss Stormwater Currency, a collaboration with the Water Environment Federation to develop private financing options for green infrastructure. They explain how, with support from the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the organizations will work with utilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan to develop a stormwater credit trading program and in Cleveland, Ohio to optimize a green infrastructure grant program. Gary and Janet say the goal is also to enable the strategies to be scaled throughout the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Episode #74
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