Workshop Descriptions Copyediting

National League of Cities

• The National League of Cities (NLC) is a national organization in the U.S. open to all elected officials in cities and towns across the country.

• The NLC holds a summit twice a year with various workshops. Each workshop is communicated with a write-up that explains it and inspires summit attendees to attend.

• Below are 2 versions of a write-up for one of the workshops — the original version given to me and my edited version below.

Addressing Equity and Affordability in Water

In many communities, the need for water infrastructure capital investments has created affordability challenges for low- and fixed-income populations who spend a disproportionate percentage of their income on water bills. These same communities, along with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) neighborhoods, often experience poor drinking water quality and are most at risk from climate change impacts, such as flooding. Since the coronavirus pandemic, cities and water utilities are facing financial challenges exacerbated by chronic, long-term and insufficient investment in our nation's water infrastructure. Moratoriums on shutoffs, while necessary and important, and increased hardship on residents and businesses, have reduced revenues for cities and water utilities - impacting the ability to provide service and make capital improvements. This session will highlight communities and water utilities that are addressing equity and affordability in their workforce development and resilience planning. Hear from local leaders on how they are providing customer assistance programs, reducing the impacts of fines and fees on residents, engaging the community, and rethinking affordability. Attendees will take away ideas on how to promote equity and affordability within their own communities and water systems.

Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Drop to Drink: Equity and Affordability in Water

Many communities are struggling to provide good quality drinking water. Cities and water utilities face financial challenges due to long-term insufficient investment in their water infrastructure. 

Affordability challenges exist for low- and fixed-income populations who spend a disproportionate percentage of their income on water bills. The increased financial hardships on residents and businesses due to the pandemic has only served to exacerbate the issue. Neighborhoods of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) have been most affected.

Hear from local leaders about how they’re addressing water inequity.

They’re providing assistance programs and reducing fines and fees. They’re also rethinking affordability on a broader scale and engaging the community to find solutions. These leaders will also discuss workforce development and resilience planning.

Key Takeaway

Get ideas about how to promote water equity and affordability in your own community.