APWA on Federal Funding & 2021 Initiatives | WWD Weekly Digest

Jan. 25, 2021
The inauguration of President Joe Biden has now been conducted and that means a change in leadership for the federal government. This change is expected to influence the public works sector in several ways, notably as it relates to funding, legislation and regulation.

The inauguration of President Joe Biden has now been conducted and that means a change in leadership for the federal government. This change is expected to influence the public works sector in several ways, notably as it relates to funding, legislation and regulation.

Mary Joyce Ivers, American Public Works Association president, and Scott Grayson, APWA CEO, discuss the myriad ways utilities will be impacted by a change in administration. Ivers specifically notes how funding dollars between public works verticals compete with each other and how APWA is cognizant of addressing that with federal resources. Grayson stresses the difficulties and challenges utilities are having in hiring qualified workers to complete their projects. He also highlights the many initiatives that APWA has on its plate for 2021 and how utilities professionals can get involved with those efforts.

  • Intro: (0:00)
  • Critical federal considerations for utilities in 2021: (0:43)
  • Creating partnerships with federal agencies for funding resources: (2:13)
  • Addressing workforce challenges due to retirements: (3:02)
  • Difficulties on the ground finding qualified workers: (4:48)
  • The impact of a new presidential administration: (5:42)
  • Water affordability, water access and water equity: (9:18)
  • PFAS and the Lead & Copper Rule Revision: (9:53)
  • Balancing the competing demands for resources: (11:15)
  • Ensuring water operators are prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines: (12:10)
  • FAST Act and competing priorities for APWA initiatives: (13:15)
  • The U.S.’s fractured approach to infrastructure: (14:06)
  • The importance of asset management and predictive maintenance: (15:49)
  • Getting Congress involved in supporting infrastructure funding: (18:01)
  • Ventura Water Pure project as a model for coordinating funding resources: (21:10)
  • Outro: (24:12)

Additional Resources

  • Watch our last video with APWA: https://www.wwdmag.com/videos/american-public-works-association-overcomes-covid-19-adversity
  • Follow APWA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/apwatweets
  • Visit the APWA website: www.apwa.org
  • Watch last week’s video: https://www.wwdmag.com/videos/regulations-legislation-national-water-policy-wwd-weekly-digest

Sign up for More Water & Wastes Digest Content

Connect with WWD on Social Media

Sponsored Recommendations

Blower Package Integration

March 20, 2024
See how an integrated blower package can save you time, money, and energy, in a wastewater treatment system. With package integration, you have a completely integrated blower ...

Strut Comparison Chart

March 12, 2024
Conduit support systems are an integral part of construction infrastructure. Compare steel, aluminum and fiberglass strut support systems.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.