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Environmental Finance Center Network

EFCN

The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) is a university-based organization originally created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EFCN works with states, tribes, local governments, and the private sector to promote sustainable environmental solutions through innovative training and assistance focused on actionable results.

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September 28 · 21 min
Growing a Career in Wastewater
Hosts: Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, & Dr. Jason Barrett, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (MWRRI) Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services Following their discussion on workforce challenges and opportunities, hosts Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, and Dr. Jason Barrett continue the conversation with wastewater veteran David Karr by exploring the personal side of career development in the industry. David shares practical advice for those entering the profession and offers insights on building a meaningful and successful career in wastewater. Additional Resources: EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today?Wastewater Workforce Forecasting EFCN Podcast | Preparing WaterUtilities For An Aging Workforce EFCN | Future Water Leaders Program EFCN Podcast | Wastewater WorkforceWisdom
September 25 · 21 min
Wastewater Workforce Wisdom
Hosts: Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, & Dr. JasonBarrett of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (MWRRI) Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services In "Wastewater Workforce Wisdom," hosts AnthonyCraven, Eric Williams, and Dr. Jason Barrett welcome wastewater veteran David Karr for a conversation about the people behind the profession. From recruiting and retaining operators to developing future leaders, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone committed to strengthening the wastewater workforce. Additional Resources: EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today? Wastewater Workforce Forecasting EFCN Podcast | Preparing Water Utilities For An Aging Workforce EFCN | Future Water Leaders Program
September 24 · 22 min
Preparing Water Utilities For An Aging Workforce
Hosts: Anthony Craven & Eric Williams, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services Water utilities nation wide are facing a critical workforce challenge as experienced operators, managers, and technicians approach retirement. In this episode of the Environmental Finance Center Network Podcast, Anthony Craven and Eric Williams of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute are joined by David Carr of Mitchell Technical Services to discuss how utilities can prepare for an aging workforce. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience in the public utility sector, including service as Public Works Director for the City of Batesville, Mississippi, Carr shares practical insights on succession planning, workforce development, knowledge transfer, and building a strong pipeline of future utility professionals. Timestamps: · Introductions: 00:40 · Introduction of the “Aging Workforce” Problem: 03:00 · How Significant Is The Workforce Issue for Water Utilities & What Are The Trends? 3:45 · Do You See More People Coming Into The Sector From The Public or Private Side? 5:15 · How Much of an Issue is an Aging Workforce Nationally? 8:00 · What Risks and Challenges Does This Problem Pose? 10:00 · Sharing Water Operator Knowledge with the Next Generation: 11:50 · Barriers to Attracting and Retaining Talent: 13:55 · How to Combat Negative Connotations Around Water and Wastewater Operator Jobs: 17:15 · What Should Utilities Do to Prepare for the Next Generation of the Workforce? 20:00 · Final Takeaways: 21:10 Additional Resources: · EFCN Blog | Building the Future of Small Water Systems: Workforce Challenges, Potential, and Opportunities · EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today? Wastewater Workforce Forecasting · EFCN Webinar | Tips for Retaining a Happy, Healthy Water Workforce
September 22 · 25 min
PFAS Series, Part 4: Navigating PFAS Drinking Water Standards and Regulatory Changes
PFAS drinking water regulations present significant planning, financial, and operational considerations for local governments and water utilities. As requirements and timelines continue to develop, communities must understand not only what compliance may involve, but also what funding,policy, and treatment considerations should inform their preparations. In this podcast, GFOA is joined by Charlotte Mitchell Duyshart, Associate Legislative Director with the National Association of Counties, and Steve Via, Director of Federal Relations with the American Water Works Association. The discussion examines the current status of PFAS drinkingwater regulations, key deadlines, the implementation process for utilities and local governments, and regulatory developments that communities should continue monitoring. The conversation also addresses the congressional and federal outlook for PFAS-related legislation, EPA reauthorization efforts, State Revolving Funds, federal water infrastructure programs, and advocacy surrounding potential changes to compliance requirements and timelines. In addition, the guests discuss considerations for managing risk, evaluating treatment options, balancing costs with long-term operational impacts, and prioritizing practical next steps. This Podcast offers valuable insights for local government officials, utility leaders, and finance professionals seeking to better understand the changing PFAS regulatory environment and prepare their communities for future compliance and infrastructure needs. Timestamps: · Intro: 00:00 · PFAS Regulations as they stand today: 03:00 · Implementation Process for Utilities: 06:30 · What else should systems be looking out for the next year?: 09:00 · Federal Funding Options for Water Infrastructure and PFAS: 11:54 · Current Outlook on PFAS Regulations: 14:00 · How do reauthorization efforts factor into broader PFAS regulations?: 17:00 · Any updates on funding program status?: 17:55 · Updates to Compliance Timelines: 19:20 · What should municipalities watch for?: 20:40 · One action utilities should take today toprepare for PFAS Regulations: 22:20 · Outro: 24:25 Resources Mentioned During the Episode: · National Association of Counties | 2026 Policy Brief: Increase funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs · American Water Works Association | PFAS Developments · National Association of Counties | PFAS Passive Receiver Protections for Counties Listen to the PFAS Series Here: · EFCN Podcast | PFAS Series Additional Resources: · EPA | Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) · EPA | Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) · EPA | Water Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) · EFCN Animation | The PFAS Problem · EFCN Blog | PFAS Monitoring: What Small Systems Need to Know⁠ · EFCN Blog | A Guide for Water Operators Preparing for PFAs Sampling and Regulations⁠
September 15 · 36 min
Clean Water SRF Series: Septic System Success in Northwest Arkansas
Hosts: Eva Schwendimann & Shā Lager, Water Utility Trainer and Support Specialists, Southwest Environmental Finance Center Guest: Morgan Keeling, Associate Director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership Episode Description: In recognition of EPA’s SepticSmart Week, we give you the first Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) podcast of a multi-episode series highlighting how innovative funding can help communities address failing septic systems and protect local water quality. We had the opportunity to speak with Morgan Keeling, the Associate Director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) in Northwest Arkansas. She spoke specifically about a wonderful program that she formerly managed, but still oversees at the IRWP, called the Septic Tank Remediation Program (STRP), where CWSRF funds are used through a combination of zero-interest loans and non-repayable grant funds to repair or replace residential failing septic systems. Morgan shares with us how the STRP was designed, lessons learned in the process, and community impact. The STRP starts in residents of Northwest Arkansas’ backyards, but the benefits of this program resonate throughout the Illinois River Watershed. Timestamps: Illinois River Watershed Partnership and Septic Tank Remediation Program Intro: 01:34 Mission of CWSRF Podcast Series: 06:00 Why the STRP is a priority for the community and watershed: 08:19 Obstacles in application or construction processes of the CWSRF: 15:09 Timeline from application to project completion: 22:39 Ways compliance has improved under the STRP: 25:19 Unexpected positive outcomes from the project: 26:17 Major takeaways from STRP to consider in other projects: 29:07 Learn More About EPA’s SepticSmart Program Here: EPA 2026 SepticSmart Week EPA’s SepticSmart Program Additional Resources: EFCN Animation | Septic Tanks: DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES EFCN Blog | Public Problem, Private Property: How Outreach and Incentives Drive Smarter Septic System Management
August 28 · 23 min
Aging Equipment: Repair, Upgrade, or Replace?
Does your wastewater or water system have aging equipment? Looking for a way to continue operating safely and prepare for the future? Nick Willis with Wichita State University EFC, invites us to consider a few things as we evaluate the criticality, the risk, and probability of failure when it comes to systems with older equipment! Additional Resources: EFCN Blog Series | Turning Data into Action Part 1: Beyond the inventory – What Asset Management Planning Really Means EFCN Blog Series | Turning Data into Action Part 2: Start Small – Building an Asset Management Plan that Works for You EFCN Blog Series | Turning Data into Action Part 3: Turning Sense into Dollars – Using Asset Management for Financial Decisions
August 25 · 14 min
Wastewater Funding: Fact or Fiction?
Think you know how wastewater funding works? You might be surprised. In this episode, we’re playing Fact or Fiction and taking a closer look at some of the assumptions that can make funding seem more complicated than it is. From how the Clean Water State Revolving Fund actually works to what happens when a community has a project but isn’t sure where to turn... We’re separating some common misconceptions from what systems really need to know. Additional Resources: EFCN Funding Tables EFCN Animation | SRF Funding Process: How To Get Funding For Your Utility EFCN Blog | Funding Pipeline: How to Apply for Infrastructure Funding ⁠EFCN Blog | What Funding Is Available for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects?
August 18 · 27 min
PFAS Series, Part 3: PFAS Treatment Technologies
This episode focuses on the technologies used to treat PFAS. Dr. Li discusses the science behind granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration, comparing their performance, operational requirements, and cost considerations. The conversation also explores PFAS disposal after treatment, emerging remediation approaches, and key factors small water systems should consider when planning for PFAS treatment. Listen to Parts 1 and 2 of the PFAS Podcast Series Here: PFAS Series, Part 1 PFAS Series, Part 2 Additional Resources: EFCN Blog | PFAS Monitoring: What Small Systems Need to Know EFCN Blog | A Guide for Water Operators Preparing for PFAs Sampling and Regulations EFCN Animation | The PFAS Problem
August 14 · 22 min
Wastewater Treatment Plant Types 101
In this episode, join Dawn, AJ, and Mike of the Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SW EFC) to discuss the main types of wastewater treatment plants including their benefits, downsides, and best use cases for each plant type. The three main types of WWTPs discussed are: Lagoons - Facultative Lagoons - Aerated Lagoons - Anaerobic Lagoons - Polishing Ponds - Evaporative Lagoons Fixed-Film Plants - Trickling Filters - Rotating Biological Contactors (RBCs) Suspended Growth Plants - Activated Sludge At the heart of each of these plant types is the kind of biological treatment used. Whether you are totally new to wastewater treatment or a seasoned operator or plant manager considering upgrades to your plant given evolving regulations and discharge permit requirements this episode is for you! Additional Resources: EFCN Podcast | Small Wastewater Systems: How Lagoons Treat Wastewater EFCN Blog | Seasonal Challenges, Smart Solutions: Summer Operation of Wastewater Lagoons
August 11 · 20 min
Think Outside the Tank: How to reach out to your community
We know you are passionate about water, but is there something else you love to do? If so, how can you tap into that to reach your community? Meet Marissa! She invites us to think "outside the tank" and make connections with everyone! Additional Information: Oscoda Citizens For Clean Water | Pirates and Mermaids Festival EFCN Blog | Understanding Public Notice Requirements and Communicating Water Issues to Your Community EFCN Blog | Building Community Support for Wastewater Projects
August 7 · 16 min
How the EPA Creates Wastewater Regulations and What Small Communities Can Do
Small systems do not need to be caught off guard when it comes to new regulations! Listen in on this conversation where the whole process is explained and what small systems can do to stay in the knowAdditional Information: EPA | National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) EFCN Blog | Big Picture: EPA Regulations and NPDES Permits
August 4 · 17 min
Design Strategies for Green Schoolyards
Learn about the myriad considerations for green schoolyard design from a landscape architect's perspective. Adam De Foor-White, PLA, ASLA shares his insights and experience for those who may be considering a green schoolyard for their school. This podcast is a companion to our three-part webinar series Green Schoolyards as a Stormwater and Community Resilience Strategy, which covers funding strategies and considerations for green schoolyards. Watch the Environmental Finance Center Network’s, “Green Schoolyards as a Stormwater and Community Resilience Strategy,” webinar series moderated by Greenprint Partners here: Part 1: Green Schoolyards as Stormwater & Community Resilience Strategy Part 2: Lessons from Milwaukee Part 3: Lessons from Chicagoland
July 31 · 25 min
Cleaning Our Waterways: Green Infrastructure Solutions for 6PPDQ
Every time it rains, water washing off roads and highways carries pollutants into nearby streams, rivers, and estuaries. One of the most concerning pollutants is 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), a chemical byproduct of a common tire rubber additive that is among the most toxic substances known to aquatic life. This podcast introduces 6PPDQ to planners and technical staff who may be encountering it for the first time and shows what communities can do about it. Speakers from Washington State DOT, Herrera Inc, and Stewardship Partners will share lessons learned from using green stormwater infrastructure as a solution and discuss how municipalities, transportation agencies, and nonprofits can work together to deploy solutions, engage their communities, and access funding. Speakers: Tony Bush, Stormwater Branch Manager, Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Dylan Ahearn, Principal Scientist, Herrera Inc Soumi Gaddameedi, Grants & Development Manager, Stewardship Partners Katie Harris, Greenprint Partners (moderator) Additional Resources: EFCN Webinar | Cleaning Our Waterways: Green Infrastructure Solutions for 6PPDQ EFCN Blog | When It Rains, It Runs Off: What Every Community Should Know About 6PPDQ WSDOT | Stormwater Retrofit Prioritization Web Map Stewardship Partners | Adopt A Downspout
July 28 · 19 min
Smoke Testing 101: It’s  Not a Pipe Dream!
In this episode, Eva Schwendimann from the SW EFC discusses the basics of sewer smoke testing in sanitary sewer systems with Mike Rivera. Mike is a Water and Wastewater Utility Specialist at the SW EFC and has a background of working with Water and Wastewater in New Mexico systems for over 20 years. This episode walks listeners through why and how a smoke test is conducted, the equipment needed, best case weather conditions for testing, and how to collect and manage data from a smoke test. Episode Chapters: Podcast Intro - 0:00:00 Mike’s experience with smoke testing - 0:01:22 Summary of smoke test procedure - 0:04:25 What can a smoke test detect? - 0:05:02 What is Infiltration and Inflow? - 0:05:22 Equipment needed - 0:08:32 Step by step procedure - 0:09:38 How effective is smoke testing?- 0:12:18 Best weather conditions - 0:13:14 How to collect and manage data - 0:14:08 Podcast Outro - 0:18:57 Links to additional resources: NPDES: Stormwater Best Management Practice, Preventing Stormwater Contamination from Sanitary Sewage Sewer Smoke Testing | Fulcrum EFCN Blog | The Impacts of Changing Precipitation Patterns on Wastewater and Stormwater Systems
July 21 · 19 min
Cybersecurity: How to Start
Learn why cybersecurity matters for every water and wastewater utility and how leaders can take simple, proactive steps to safeguard their operations and the communities they serve. Additional Resources: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) EFCN | Request Assistance with Cybersecurity or Request a Cybersecurity Training
July 14 · 48 min
Preparing a Small Utility for Capital Improvements
In this episode James Markham from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center interviews Angelina Grey, Associate Planner at the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments in New Mexico about guidance for small utilities that are looking for help with capital improvement planning, with a focus on what needs to be done to get ready for the process. Getting your regulatory and financial house in order are the biggest items to complete when doing capital improvement planning.
July 7 · 24 min
Clean Water Act: Costs, Compliance, and Long-Term Benefits
More than 50 years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, what can we learn from its impact on small communities? In this episode, Dr. Rhiannon Jerch discusses how the Clean Water Act shaped municipal finances, improved water quality, and influenced long-term community growth. We explore how small municipalities financed major wastewater infrastructure investments, the role of user fees and federal funding, and what these findings can teach today's communities as they plan for future water infrastructure challenges.
June 30 · 39 min
Backflow Prevention and Beyond: Lessons from Mount Vernon’s Cross-Connection Control Program
Cross-connection and backflow risks may not always be obvious, but they can pose serious threats to drinking water systems and public health when left unaddressed. In this episode, Alice Kilkelly from the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center speaks with Elizabeth Belezaire, Water Quality Analyst at the Board of Water Supply for the City of Mount Vernon, New York, about the city’s efforts to strengthen its cross-connection control program. Over the past year, Mount Vernon has worked to move beyond paper-based systems, build a more complete inventory of backflow prevention devices, and improve communication with businesses and residents about their role in protecting water quality. The conversation offers practical insights for utilities and communities looking to start or strengthen their own cross-connection control efforts. Learn more about Mount Vernon’s Cross Connection Control Program today by visiting: https://www.mountvernonny.gov/2055/Cross-Connection-Control-and-Backflow-Pr
June 23 · 20 min
Navigating Federal Funding for Small Water Systems
Small water systems face many of the same regulatory requirements and financing complexities as larger utilities, but with fewer staff and resources to manage them. In this episode, we examine how finance professionals can effectively navigate the landscape of federal funding opportunities available to small water systems.Joined by finance expert Kevin Wachtel, Senior Manager at GFOA, the discussion addresses key funding sources including federal grants and loan programs as well as critical considerations for evaluating and selecting among financing instruments. Additionally, the conversation explains the importance of financial readiness, long-term capital planning, and the strategic role of debt financing in supporting essential infrastructure investments. This Podcast offers valuable insights for finance leaders seeking to strengthen their utility's financial position and ensure the sustainability of vital water infrastructure. Additional Resources: 10 Steps to Developing Utility Rates
June 9 · 30 min
PFAS Series, Part 2: Understanding PFAS Risks and Regulations
PFAS are increasingly being detected in drinking water systems across the country. In this episode, Dr. Li explains what PFAS are, how they enter our water supplies, current regulations, risks to communities and private well owners as well as actionable measures individuals can implement within their households to mitigate the presence of these pollutants.

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