When you think of “water cops,” images of the Coast Guard or State Highway Patrol Water Division may come to mind.  In many communities facing drought conditions, an investigator prowling through neighborhoods making note of water restriction violations may come to mind.  In Colorado, there is a much different image that likely comes to mind.  In Montezuma County, Dave Huhn is the Water Cop, well-versed with the nuances of water law.  After consecutive summers of hot and dry weather, farmers are “desperate for water, and more willing to steal it or go to battle over it,” and Huhn is a […]

In recent weeks, millions of children across the United States have returned to school.  Yet, many of them are faced with the challenge of having safe water to drink while at school.  The U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a recent report, found that “that fewer than half of the nation’s schools tested for lead in 2016 – and among these schools, about 37 percent identified elevated levels of lead.”[1]  The frightening reality is that “there is no federal requirement for schools to test their water supply.”[2] In addition to antiquated equipment, drinking water in schools is more likely to have to […]

Across the country municipalities are dealing with aging and ineffective infrastructure and the solution often entails financial implications to the public.  An example of a city dealing with this issue is Pittsburg.  The Steel City has been hit, again, with a rate increase.  In January of this year, the Pittsburg Water and Sewer Authority imposed a sizeable increase on its residents of 28 percent, and at the end of August raised the rates, again, an additional 16.7 percent.[1]  A typical consumer who uses 3,000 gallons a month could see their monthly bill go from $63.62 to $74.23.[2] Although this increase […]

The residents of St. Petersburg, Florida will see an increase in the water, wastewater, reclaimed water, storm water and sanitation utility rates.  At a public hearing on August 23, 2018, the St. Petersburg City Council voted to implement the rate increase that will go into effect on October 1, 2018.   In 2017, St. Petersburg saw an increase in reclaimed water fees of 25 percent. This latest rate increase “is needed to make more than $120 million in capital improvement projects and repairs to the city’s water and sewer systems.”[1] Additionally, on April 1, 2019 the city of St. Petersburg will […]

The rate hike publicized by Baltimore County last week is the first of five yearly rate increases that will increase the average bill by about 40%. Existing water and sewer rates have been increased by 13.9% in an executive order signed on July 1, but also established a timetable rate increases through June of 2023. [1] These increases were put in place to help maintain and replace aging infrastructure throughout the city, construct a new filtration plant at Fullerton, and upgrade current treatment plants. Water rates are set to increase 10% while sewer will see an increase of 3% every year […]