September 2017 Vol. 72 No. 9
Newsline
Stanford Researchers Create ‘Living Map’ Of Innovative Water Financing
A team of Stanford researchers has created the “Living Map” to showcase successful, innovative water financing projects across the country. Presented as case studies, the examples cover a wide variety of mechanisms and are designed to be implemented at various scales.
“We need a new playbook that embraces a holistic view of our water system, and offers new ideas and solutions for our aging infrastructure,” said Newsha Ajami, director of urban water policy at Stanford’s Water in the West program and leader of the map project. “Integrating distributed water projects, such as green infrastructure, wastewater recycling and storm- and graywater reuse, into our current infrastructure network can enhance the flexibility and reliability of our water systems.”
It also gives inspiration to the expensive and limited funding at all levels — federal, state, local and private –for these critical projects.
“The fact that it’s hard to access funding for distributed and unconventional water projects is not an excuse not to act,” said Ajami. “The Living Map gives a visual understanding of what is happening throughout the country and how grants, rebates, fees and other innovative governance structures are used to fund alternative water projects. It supports the view that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.”
True to its name, Living Map will be updated as more case studies come to light. Stakeholders, researchers and decision-makers working on inventive water financing are encouraged to contact Ajami about adding projects to the map, at (650) 724-8162 or newsha@stanford.edu.
Comments