Southern Water Utility Roundtable: Shared Challenges, Innovative Solutions

Southern Water Utility Roundtable: Shared Challenges, Innovative Solutions

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Attendee Check-in

8:45 a.m.
Welcome, Introduction, Overview of the Roundtable

9:00 a.m.
PFAS Challenges in the South
An interactive discussion on the current and evolving state of PFAS management and remediation issues in the South, focusing in on key regulatory, legal, financial, and utility management challenges that southern.

10:45 a.m.
State Regulation of Water Utility Operations
Many state legislatures are seeking to micro-manage utility operations and compliance with unintended consequences and complications for managers. How utilities interact with state and local legislative bodies, as well as regulators, to mitigate the negative impact of these interventions will be the subject of this panel.

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
Financing Water Infrastructure and Operations in the South
An interactive discussion on current financing tools that southern water utilities are using to meet the increasing demands for utility infrastructure replacement, growth, and system operations, including capital planning and the decision points utility leaders are using in choosing which financing options to employ. Discussion will include the use of WIFIA loans, SRFs funding, and municipal and private financing tools.

2:00 p.m.
Enforcement & Compliance Challenges Facing Southern Water Utilities
A moderated update on key enforcement & compliance activities and trends that water utilities in the South are seeing and how they are proactively addressing them and avoiding their pitfalls. Challenges to be discuss include both current federal and state regulations connected to such issues as PFAS, toxins, and lead service line replacement.

3:15 p.m.
Preparing For – And Recovering From – Disasters
An interactive discussion on the various challenges southern states are facing with current (and ongoing) disaster recovery activities, how the recovery efforts are being funded, challenges presented by changing FEMA funding guidelines and resources, and key management, legal, and financial decision-making/planning water utilities and the sector are undertaking to proactively prepare for any future events. Discussion will also include insurance, liability and related risk exposure issues, communicating with public and local officials on recovery/preparedness, and the impact of recovery on utility asset management planning.

4:45 p.m.
Wrap Up

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Networking Reception