Join us for this 10-part webinar series focused on the financial, managerial, and technical aspects of green infrastructure. Experienced practitioners, policy and funding experts, as well as academics, will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the implementation of green infrastructure. These informative sessions will be offered quarterly, from 2024 to 2026, with dates still being determined

Series Host: Shannon Pepper, Research Scientist, Southwest Environmental Finance Center

April 18, 2024 | Session 1 | Green Infrastructure 101

Description: Green Infrastructure (GI) is critical to addressing urgent and interrelated water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure challenges. GI has not, however, been widely adapted in U.S. municipalities — particularly in small, rural, and tribal communities — due to political barriers, misconceptions, and lack of knowledge or resources to successfully implement GI. In this introductory webinar, we will kick off our 10-part series with an overview of basic GI concepts, terminology, and funding sources; as well as challenges and opportunities facing communities and practitioners in the field of GI.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a basic understanding of what Green Infrastructure is and what it does for water quality and public health; particularly in rural, small, and tribal communities.
• Understand what the Green Infrastructure Webinar Series can offer: resources, deep dives into topics concerning GI and its implementation, a forum for cross-disciplinary discussion and partnerships.
• Identify some basic challenges and opportunities currently facing practitioners in the implementation of GI.

Guest Speakers: Sarah Hurteau, Principal Ecologist, Integrated Biological Solutions & Co-Founder, Arid LID Coalition; and Amy Bell, PLA, ASLA, Principal Landscape Architect, Groundwork Studio

Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for continuing education credit approval. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Who Should Attend:

We invite rural, small, and tribal wastewater personnel, as well as planners, landscape architects, architects, consultants, engineers, designers, managers and board members, elected officials, policy experts, citizens, and community groups to join us for this series. We hope to build a community of systems, municipalities, and individuals interested in participating in a wide-ranging conversation about green infrastructure.

Partners: 

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The post Webinar | Quarterly Green Infrastructure Webinar Series: Green Infrastructure 101 first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Quarterly Green Infrastructure Webinar Series: Green Infrastructure 101 appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: Running a small system can be challenging. Along with meeting regulatory obligations and satisfying customer expectations, you may have issues with aging infrastructure, lack of personnel, and limited financial resources. Furthermore, small systems often cost more to operate per capita than large systems because of economy of scale. One strategy to address these challenges is to work with other utilities or consider partnership options. In this webinar, we will discuss various regionalization models and approaches to collaboration.

Presenter: Alicea Easthope-Frazer, Project Director, UNC Environmental Finance Center 

Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for continuing education credit approval. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Wastewater System Partnership Models first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Wastewater System Partnership Models appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: Running a small system can be challenging. Along with meeting regulatory obligations and satisfying customer expectations, you may have issues with aging infrastructure, lack of personnel, and limited financial resources. Furthermore, small systems often cost more to operate per capita than large systems because of economy of scale. This can further complicate operations. One strategy to address these challenges is to work with other utilities. In this workshop, we will discuss various approaches to collaboration including:

• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• Helping maintain regulatory compliance
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer
• How to prepare for partnerships with financial benchmarking and asset management

Trainer: Andrew Waters, Project Director, UNC Environmental Finance Center 

Certificate: This training is NOT pre-approved for Continuing Education Credit, but we will provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees. To be eligible for a certificate, you must attend the entire training and register and attend using your real name and unique email address. It is the attendee’s responsibility to self-submit for Continuing Education Credit.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems

Partners:

The post SC Training | The Power of Partnerships for Water and Wastewater Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post SC Training | The Power of Partnerships for Water and Wastewater Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Learning Objectives:

• To evaluate different types of partnerships that may be appropriate for your organization
• Evaluating potential partners’ finances for strengths and weaknesses
• Addressing common organizational and managerial issues in partnerships, such as crafting partnership agreements, communicating with your boards, and more.

Trainer: Andrew Waters, Project Director, UNC Environmental Finance Center 

CEUs: This training has been approved for 2.0 Credit Hours (TCHs) for IL Water and Wastewater Operators by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people, or wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems

Partners:

The post IL Online Training | The Power of Partnerships for Water and Wastewater Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post IL Online Training | The Power of Partnerships for Water and Wastewater Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

If you would like to submit a question ahead of the Q&A, please send an email to efc@sog.unc.edu with the subject line “CA Power of Partnerships question.”

Please Note: The live Q&A will take place on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM Eastern. Register now using the Register For Event button. You must watch the given recorded presentation (Watch Video button) beforehand.

Recorded Session Description: This recorded presentation explores the role of partnerships in addressing TMF and financial management issues for small wastewater systems. The first part of the session is focused on evaluating different types of partnerships and how they can help your system. The second part will focus on the role of financial benchmarking and asset management in preparing for partnerships. The final session will dive into managerial and organizational issues related to partnerships, including crafting partnership agreements, governance structures, and resolving disputes.

You will learn how to:

• Evaluate different types of partnerships that may be appropriate for your organization
• Evaluate potential partner’s finances for strengths and weaknesses
• Address common organizational and managerial issues in partnerships, such as crafting partnership agreements, communicating with your boards, and more

Who Should View and Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people, or wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems

Partners:

The post CA Online Training | Live Q&A for Power of Partnerships first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post CA Online Training | Live Q&A for Power of Partnerships appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

One strategy to address these challenges is to work with other utilities. In this workshop, we will discuss various approaches to collaboration including:

• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer

Trainer: Hayley Hajic, Project Manager, Southwest Environmental Finance Center 

CEUs: This training has been approved for 2 hour(s) of continuing education credit toward ANY WW classification(s) by Tennessee DEC.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of water or wastewater systems
• Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems

Partners: 

The post TN Online Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post TN Online Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: Ever wonder why your NPDES permit looks the way it does?  Or why your facility has a different set of effluent limits than a neighboring facility? This webinar will go into detail about the regulatory requirements and the thought process a regulator will go through to develop an NPDES permit. Topics covered include:

• A Very Brief History of the NPDES Program
• NPDES Permit Applications
• NPDES Permit Limit Development
• NPDES Permit Components
• NPDES Public Involvement

Note:  This webinar will focus on publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), but also provide insights on industrial dischargers. Specifics of stormwater permitting will not be covered.

Presenter: Mike Tate, Professional Engineer, Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center 

Cost: Complimentary.

Please Note: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements. 

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Making the Sausage – How Your NPDES Permit is Developed first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Making the Sausage – How Your NPDES Permit is Developed appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

• Presentation Slides
• Water System Partnerships: State Programs and Policies Supporting Cooperative Approaches for Drinking water Systems (US EPA)
• Crafting Interlocal Water and Wastewater Agreements (EFC at UNC)
• How to Support Water System Partnerships: Water System Partnerships Handbook (US EPA)

Description: Bulk agreements are vital to small wastewater utilities as many small systems either increase revenue by treating wastewater from neighboring systems or decrease responsibility and cost of operating a treatment plant by pumping wastewater to another utility. These partnerships can help a utility be resilient in the face of population change, aging infrastructure issues, and changes in regulations. However, it can be challenging to ensure that these agreements address all the aspects of the partnership, including compliance, treatment, capacity, capital improvements, and non-payment. This webinar will highlight the benefits as well as potential pitfalls for small systems considering creating a bulk agreement.

This webinar will be focused on bulk agreements for wastewater utilities, but many of the principles apply to water utilities as well.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the definition of a bulk agreement and see examples
• Understand the benefits of bulk agreements for wastewater treatment
• Identify how to start the process of creating a bulk agreement
• Learn how to clarify responsibilities effectively regarding compliance, treatment, capital costs, and non-payment

Presenter: Anna Patterson, Project Director, Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina

Cost: Complimentary.

Please Note: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements. 

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Benefits and Pitfalls of Bulk Agreements for Small Wastewater Utilities first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Benefits and Pitfalls of Bulk Agreements for Small Wastewater Utilities appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: Running a small system can be challenging. Along with meeting regulatory obligations and satisfying customer expectations, you may have issues with aging infrastructure, lack of personnel, and limited financial resources. Furthermore, small systems often cost more to operate per capita than large systems because of economy of scale. This can further complicate operations. One strategy to address these challenges is to work with other utilities. In this workshop, we will discuss various approaches to collaboration including:

• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• Helping maintain regulatory compliance
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer

Trainer: Elsemarie Mullins, Project Director, Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina

CEUs: Approved for 6.0 credit hours for both water and wastewater operators.

Partners: 

The post NC Hybrid Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post NC Hybrid Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• Helping maintain regulatory compliance
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer

Trainer: Hope Thomson, Project Director, Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina

CEUs: This training is approved for 5.0 credits for municipal waterworks, small water system, and wastewater operators.

Partners: 

The post WI Online Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post WI Online Training | The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.