Affordability and Assistance Programs and the CWA Financial Capability Assessment Guidance

In this continuation of a webinar series on the NRDC/NCLC Water Affordability Advocacy Toolkit, attendees will learn about a range of advocacy strategies pursued by water affordability champions in Pennsylvania and California, including legislation, litigation, and collaboration. This includes a specific focus on solutions highlighted in the Toolkit’s module on Affordability and Assistance Programs, such as income-based rates, debt relief, and crisis assistance. Presenters will offer practical advice applicable in both rural and urban communities and highlight differences in approach between public and private water providers. Additionally, attendees will learn about how EPA’s new Clean Water Act (CWA) “Financial Capability Assessment Guidance” can help drive local progress on affordability. River Network will also provide a brief overview of helpful tools, including the Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual and the Building Blocks of Trust Report to support advocates in achieving clean, safe and affordable water outcomes.

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Marx, Executive Director, PA Utility Law Project
• Robert Ballenger, Director – Energy Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
• Kyle Jones, Policy & Legal Director, Community Water Center
• Larry Levine, Director, Urban Water Infrastructure & Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
• April Ingle, Advocacy Director, River Network
• Colleen Walters, Delaware River Basin Manager, River Network
• Olivia Wein, Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center (moderator)

Register: https://rivernetwork-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcemorzwiGNe5DsMnpuXgbdiy6Fp7u_EX