Dec. 2024 Raleigh Water Employee Newsletter

A Roadmap to Water Affordability: Lessons from Louisville and Raleigh

Contributed by: Raftelis (Joe Crea and Melissa Levin)

Ensuring access to affordable water and wastewater services is a critical challenge for many municipalities. Louisville Water and the Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (Louisville MSD) in Kentucky and Raleigh Water in North Carolina, have taken significant steps to address this issue. Raftelis collaborated with Louisville Water, Louisville MSD, and Raleigh Water to evaluate the affordability of their services and Develop a roadmap for promoting service affordability through policies, strategies, and customer assistance programs. The studies examined household income levels and customer bill patterns, the effectiveness of existing customer assistance programs, and objectives that each utility prioritized relative to customer afford ability. The projects included interviews with key stakeholders for each organization, including executive leadership, billing and customer service staff, and community partners. The information gathered from these discussions was instrumental in developing action items that form the basis of the affordability frameworks. The affordability frameworks present strategies and tactics based on their priority to each organization, the time required to examine and implement them, and the level of impact they may have on the community. Lead and Copper Rule Revision Project: What ’ s It Mean for You and Our Customers? We care about the health and safety of our community Raleigh Water is making sure our water supply is safe by following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ’ s (EPA) updated rules about lead and copper in drinking water. Customers of Raleigh Water can be confident that their tap water meets strict EPA standards, which now include new rules to lower lead and copper levels in public water systems. It is also important to note that Raleigh Water does not have any lead service lines. To find out more about the EPA ’ s Lead & Copper Rule Revision and what Raleigh Water is doing to protect you and our customers, visit raleighnc.gov and search ‘ lead ’ . You can also check out our annual Water Quality Reports to see how we test the water to keep it safe for everyone. City of Raleigh Environmental Awards Program: Raleigh Water is There for It! Raleigh Water has become part of the city ’ s environmental awards program in an exciting new way. The ‘ Project Share Champion for Sustainability and Water Equity ’ award honors people, groups, schools, or organizations that have made important contributions to the Raleigh Water Project Share program. This award recognizes those who are dedicated to environmental sustainability and improving the community's well - being. It particularly highlights efforts to raise aware ness and fund projects that support the program. This is a great opportunity to acknowledge those who have significantly impacted the Project Share program. For more information about how to apply for or nominate someone for the award, visit raleighnc.gov and search for ‘ Environmental Awards Program. ’ To read more, click HERE. Contributed by: Jake Barnhart

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