2016 Strategic Directions: U.S. Water Report

Aging water infrastructure, inadequate capital and the public’s perception of the cost of water for delivery, collection and treatment are creating a crisis for many providers across the United States, according to Black & Veatch’s 2016 Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report. - See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Black-Veatch-Aging-Water-Systems-Value-Perceptions-Strain-Industry#sthash.CReGfGhv.dpuf

Content from this campaign

Responsible Production & Consumption

Water Utilities Are Lagging Other Utilities in the Smart Cities Effort
Across the U.S., smart city programs are moving beyond press releases, pilot programs and demonstrations. Municipalities are collaborating with industry and utilities to create roadmaps defining their approach to regional integrated smart infrastructure. Water utilities, however, are lagging in the planning process, and risk losing their seat at the table with electric and gas utility peer companies as the smart city programs advance.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Headline Cases Bring Opportunities to Partner with Customers for Safer Water Systems
High-profile events impacting water supply and distribution networks in the U.S. have dramatically raised the awareness of operational challenges. At the same time, these events demonstrate an opportunity to change decades-long funding trends that have left many water systems struggling to adequately finance upgrades and repairs.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Water and Wastewater Industry Can Address Funding Challenges through Public-Private Partnerships
As water and wastewater utilities are challenged to minimize rate increases while balancing limited budgets – complicated by deferred maintenance, chronic underinvestment, competing projects and compliance mandates – one solution to consider is the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Resilience Planning Will Help Increase Awareness for Properly Valuing Water
For years, those working in the water industry have realized a truth that is now reaching a broader audience – water is woefully underpriced.

There is a renewed focus on the price of water infrastructure, prompted in part, by declining consumption, according to Ann Bui, Managing Director for water services in Black & Veatch’s management consulting business. As efficient water appliances have become more prevalent, consumption per capita has decreased. Conservation efforts in areas where water scarcity is a major concern have further pushed the decline.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Water Utilities Show High Aspirations Toward Reducing Energy or Achieving Energy Neutrality
Water and wastewater utilities in the U.S. have high aspirations for energy reduction goals, or even moving toward energy neutral operations, but barriers are plentiful. Fortunately, approaches are being developed that can help system operators make significant progress in overcoming these obstacles.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Communicating With the Customer
Across much of the 2016 Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report, a common trend is that high-profile events impacting water supply and distribution networks have dramatically raised awareness of operational challenges but also demonstrate an opportunity to change decades-long funding trends.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Public-Private Partnerships: Teaming Up to Find Solutions for Aging Infrastructure Challenges
As utilities are challenged to minimize rate increases while balancing limited budgets with competing projects, chronic underinvestment, deferred maintenance and compliance mandates, one solution to consider is the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Black & Veatch

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