Significant COVID-19 Impacts on Some U.S. Small Community Water Systems, Finds New Report
May 13, Oakland, California — The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on some small community water systems in the U.S., finds a new report from the Pacific Institute, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation. Customer Debt and Lost Revenue: The Financial Impacts of COVID-19 on Small Community Water Systems finds that in some cases small community waster system losses led to these systems operating at a deficit, delaying maintenance and capital projects, or increasing rates for customers, with revenue losses of up to 30%. Providing financial assistance at the federal level would boost small community water system resilience, ensuring access to safe, affordable water for the millions of Americans who rely on these systems.
April 2021 Newsletter
The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.
California Water System Assessment Will Inform Upcoming Funding Priorities
April 9, 2021, Sacramento, California — The State Water Resources Control Board announced today the completion of its first-ever comprehensive look at California water systems that are struggling to provide safe drinking water to communities and how to help them. The Pacific Institute contributed to the Gap Analysis and Appendix D. With criteria for the state’s Human Right to Water list recently expanded, the assessment identifies both failing water systems and those at risk of failing, offering the most in depth view of long-term drinking water safety the state has ever had.
President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Proposes Billions of Dollars in Water Investments
April 1, 2021, Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, President Joe Biden introduced The American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion proposed infrastructure investment plan for the United States. The plan, framed as a jobs investment and post-pandemic rebuilding strategy, calls for spending on water, energy, transportation, and communications infrastructure, as well as research and development.
Analysis Examines Gaps in Funding Solutions for Human Right to Water and At-Risk Drinking Water Systems in California
March 30, 2021, Oakland, California — The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) recently released Gap Analysis for Funding Solutions for Human Right to Water and At-Risk Drinking Water Systems. The white paper provides an overview of the methodology for an upcoming study that will analyze the gap between the funding needs and available funding sources for the Human Right to Water in California, as well as at-risk water systems and domestic wells across the state. The Pacific Institute is currently undertaking this analysis.
March 2021 Newsletter
The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.
February 2021 Newsletter
The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.
New Guide on Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solutions for Watersheds
March 4, 2021, Oakland, California — A new guide published by the Pacific Institute and partners provides guidance on how to account for the benefits of nature-based solutions. Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solution for Watersheds: Guide helps readers identify and account for the stacked combined water, carbon, and biodiversity benefits provided by these solutions, as well as additional socio-economic benefits accrued.
How Businesses Can Help Build a Water-Resilient Society that Can Bounce Back from Major Societal Disruptions
February 2, 2021, Oakland, California — Today the Pacific Institute released a brief outlining the role of the business sector in a robust COVID-19 response. Rebuilding and Resilience: Phases 2 and 3 is the second and final installment of the Pacific Institute’s Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Business Framework for Water and COVID-19 series of briefs.
January 2021 Newsletter
The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.