Words On Water #53: Mike Matichich on Making Progress on Affordability

September 17, 2018

Mike Matichich leads the financial services consulting team for Jacobs. In this episode, Mike explains how the increasing attention to affordability of water rates stems from the pinch created by necessary investments in infrastructure and rising costs for households. He says it is more important than ever for utilities to create customer assistance programs and to turn research on affordability into action. Mike also discusses how lessons can be learned at looking at state-by-state variability, approaches in public versus private water systems, and in how places like Australia, Canada, and Europe address affordability issues.

Episode #53
Hosted by Travis Loop

Words On Water #34: Adam Krantz on Advocacy and Policy

May 21, 2018

Adam Krantz is the CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. In this episode, Adam talks about the complementary roles of the various water associations, including NACWA. He also assesses the current political will by elected officials to act on water issues and discusses paying for clean water, advancing smarter regulations, promoting innovation, and modernizing the Clean Water Act.

Episode #34
Hosted by Travis Loop

Words On Water #15: Representative Garret Graves on the Role of Congress in Water Infrastructure

December 18, 2017

Garret Graves is the U.S. Representative from Louisiana’s 6th congressional district and is a member of several key committees that deal with water policy. In this episode, Representative Graves discusses the prospects for an infrastructure package in 2018, formation of the bipartisan Congressional Infrastructure Caucus, need for renewed national investment in water infrastructure, and lessons learned about resilience in southern Louisiana.

Episode #15
Hosted by Travis Loop

Words On Water #13: Mustafa Santiago Ali on Environmental Justice

December 4, 2017

Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice, and Community Revitalization for the Hip Hop Caucus. In this episode, Mustafa discusses the meaning of environmental justice and how it relates to water, the essential role of public engagement in addressing environmental justice problems, the issue of water rates and affordability, and the central role of water in community revitalization.

Episode #13
Hosted by Travis Loop

Words On Water #12: Ken Kopocis on the Past, Present, and Future of Clean Water Act

November 27, 2017

Ken Kopocis spent nearly three decades in Congress in senior staff positions for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, served several years as head of EPA’s Office of Water, and taught water law at American University. In this episode, Ken provides perspective on the 45th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, including the law’s origins, history, strengths and weaknesses, and future.

Episode #12
Hosted by Travis Loop