NACWA met with representatives from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) last week to discuss affordability-related issues in the clean water sector, and provide input on a report that NAPA is developing on affordability challenges.  NAPA is a congressionally-chartered non-partisan organization that helps public organizations improve their effectiveness. 

In the Consolidated Appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2016, Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contract with NAPA “to conduct an independent study to create a definition and framework for community affordability.”  The focus of the project will be on updating the 1997 CSO Financial Capability Guidance, integrating both the 2014 Financial Capability Assessment and EPA’s guidance on Integrated Stormwater and Wastewater Planning.  NAPA’s meeting with NACWA is part of the outreach they are doing among key stakeholders to collect information and perspectives which help them complete this report.  The expected release date for this study is early 2018.  The issue of affordability was also a focus of the discussions at NACWA’s Winter Conference.