Water bonds

Gov. Gavin Newsom's focus on voluntary water conservation has not brought much in the way of water conservation — consumption grew 19% year-over-year.

The Sites Reservoir received two doses of good news on its financing last week — a federal loan and an increased allocation from a 2014 statewide bond.

The legislation would allow tax-exempt financing for the replacement of privately owned lead service lines.

After a signature drive failed to put a water funding measure on the statewide ballot, a state Assembly member is trying to get his fellow lawmakers to do so.

“To date, there haven’t been any rating actions taken as a result of the drought,” said Fitch's Audra Dickinson. “But it could pressure issuers acutely."

Supporters of a ballot measure for projects to increase California’s water supply put out a call for donations to help get the measure on the 2022 ballot.

The new water resources act comes as the Army Corps of Engineers' civil works program is set to see the largest influx of funding in its history.

A $10.85 million private placement of special assessment revenue bonds for the Ojus Sanitary Sewer Special Benefit Area will foster economic development.

In California, some cities are contemplating desalination and other ways of increasing water supply as the the state prepares for a third year of drought.

The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank will offer $128 million of state revolving fund revenue bonds, and RIHousing will sell $172 million of homeownership opportunity bonds.

To ensure continued economic growth, the state has seen a need to diversify into alternative water sources to meet projected needs as well as respond to drought and protect the environment.

The city council is considering the city's budget, which gave preliminary approval to a roughly $5.2 billion spending plan that allocates $156 million for violence prevention programs. Council members expect to vote on the budget Thursday.

The five-year Highway Trust Fund reauthorization still requires action by the House Ways and Means Committee to approve revenue measures for financing the bill.

The bulk of $743 billion in improvements needed to alleviate climate risk and aging infrastructure would be borne by the utilities, a rating agency says.

Arizona and neighboring states are preparing for the first mandatory cuts in water from the Colorado River after 20 years of drought.

Passage of the bill Thursday authorizes programs to receive funding, though money would still need to be appropriated through an appropriations process or a comprehensive infrastructure bill.

Joliet will finance new infrastructure with a mix of revenue borrowing and state and federal loans in an agreement that will bring Chicago $30 million annually.

A new policy framework supports “enhanced bond financing incentives that can be used to improve water quality and reduce other environmental stressors.”

For taking proactive measures to update city infrastructure during the height of pandemic, Tampa, Florida's $362.8 million water and wastewater systems revenue and refunding revenue bond transaction earned The Bond Buyer's Deal of the Year for the Southeast Region.

The reoccuring Water Resources Development Act is expected to pass the Senate this month.