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Talking H2Onestly
Talking H2Onestly’s mission is to develop content to help MSD and utilities across the United States to solve their water challenges and share their expertise. This podcast will aim to provide all utilities with access to vital information, enabling them to maximize their funding and staffing resources. In addition, these conversations will provide an avenue for rate payers to gain insight into the intricate and complicated issues utilities face in providing critical services to our communities and introduce the audience to a variety of dedicated water professionals.
Talking H2Onestly is produced by Ms. Zonetta English, Strategic Initiatives and Project Delivery Director at MSD and the Chair of the WEF Utility Management Community, with the support of Mr. James A. Parrott, Executive Director and CEO of MSD. “This podcast will provide a variety of perspectives from across America. We hope that this is not only helpful for utility employees, but also helpful for local communities and political stakeholders as well,” explained Mr. Parrott.
Talking H2Onestly
Affordability: Innovative Approaches to Address Affordability Challenges
This episode takes a closer look at one of the major challenges that all water and wastewater utilities are facing right now in the country – affordability. While utilities must continue to focus on how to address aging infrastructure, meet all regulatory requirements, and develop their capabilities to meet future regulatory requirements, utilities also need to balance those important items with how to keep cost to their customers and to their communities affordable.
The podcast examines the context of issues that are driving increased costs in our communities, such as Federal Consent Decrees and new regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. These drivers are really putting the burden on local ratepayers. Mr. Parrott said, “As utilities, we must come up with innovative approaches to address affordability. Whether we're looking at long-term investment strategies, policy changes, customer assistance programs, alternative funding, low interest loans or other programs; we need to understand how we as utilities can help reduce the burden on our local rate payers.” Along with the insights and experience from Louisville MSD, the podcast also includes water industry leaders from WSSC Water (Maryland.), NEORSD (Ohio), and the City of Fort Wayne (Indiana).