The old paradigm for most water utilities was that permit compliance was the ceiling of aspirations and the utility sought to stay away from the public, the press and, especially, regulators. However, several water utilities are seeking to change the paradigm for the water sector by seeing mere permit compliance as a given floor and, in addition, by striving to be environmental champions and anchor institutions in their community. The case study of the Camden County (NJ) Municipal Utilities Authority depicts how a clean water utility, operating in one of the most challenged cities in the United States, significantly improved its environmental performance and became an anchor institution in the City, all while reducing real, inflation-adjusted user rates, by 40%. Implementing a triple bottom line (environmental, economic and community benefit) approach to operations is the cornerstone of the Clean Water Utility of the Future initiative.

Environmental stewardship and community service: Essential best practices for the clean water utility of the future

2019 Fall National Meeting

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