University of Wisconsin–Madison
Progressive Local Government
For the 21st Century

ProGov21 Policy Library

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Year
Basic Water Utility Management: A Guide for Local Leaders
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Mayors Innovation Project
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
Part of a mayor’s job is to understand vital operations of a city, including water utilities and infrastructure. This report presents tools to help mayors understand their water systems and utilities better. In particular, it summarizes the elements of a successful water system, including...
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Integrated Water Management
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2016
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Mayors Innovation Project
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement
Cities can create a more resilient water system by transitioning to an integrated water management framework (IWM). By creating an IWM and developing a set of principles and the approaches that recognizes water as a resource, cities can manage all water as an asset, whatever form...
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2018 New York City Local Law Int. 0868-2018 Building Water Management
Type Ordinance
Year 2018
Level City or Town
State(s) New York
Source New York City Council
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Housing, Health
This local law would require building owners to provide tenants with water filtration pitchers that are certified to reduce lead concentrations in water, install water filtration or treatment systems that are certified to reduce lead concentrations, or take a sample annually from...
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Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2013
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Policy Areas Energy, Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources
The Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series provides a comprehensive, straightforward overview of green-house gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies for local governments. Topics include energy efficiency, transportation, community planning and design, solid waste and...
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Paying For Water Systems
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Mayors Innovation Project
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement
Many public water utilities struggle to pay for repairs and upgrades necessary to improve energy efficiency, reduce leaks, and prevent infiltration. This brief outlines existing mechanisms to raise these funds as well as promising new methods for public officials to consider. Some...
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Public Water Energy Efficiency
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2014
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Policy Areas Energy, Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources
There is significant potential for gains in energy efficiency (EE) in the U.S. water sector that, if realized, would support the security of water supply for its various uses at a lower cost over the long run than business as usual. This paper specifically examines the potential benefits...
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2021 New York City Local Law Int. No. 2478 Office of Climate Resiliency
Type Ordinance
Year 2021
Level City or Town
State(s) New York
Source New York City Council
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
This local law would establish an Office of Climate Resiliency, headed by a Director of Climate Resiliency. The Director would be responsible for developing policies and programs relating to climate resiliency measures in the City, educating the public about such climate resiliency...
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Rivers & Roads: Opportunities to Better Integrate Green Infrastructure and Transportation Projects in Atlanta, GA and Toledo, OH
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2015
Level City or Town
State(s) Georgia, Ohio
Source American Rivers
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement
When rainwater hits hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, it runs along the surface till it flows into a storm drain, river, or stream. Known as stormwater runoff, this water picks up pollutants such as heavy metals, brake linings, and deicing salts which contaminate local waters....
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Adaption Toolkit: Sea-level Rise and Coastal Land Use
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2013
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Georgetown Climate Center
Policy Areas Energy, Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources
Climate change is happening. Past greenhouse gas emissions have committed us to decades of rising temperatures and seas. Recent studies, factoring in ice-sheet melt, estimate that we may experience an average of up to 6 feet of sea-level rise across the globe over the next century....
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2018 New York City Local Law Int. 0417-2018 Water Leak Reporting
Type Ordinance
Year 2018
Level City or Town
State(s) New York
Source New York City Council
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
In order to incentivize water leak reporting, this local law grants the Commissioner of Environmental Protection discretionary authority to offer rewards to the public for reporting water leaks in taps or service pipes....
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2019 New York City Local Law Int.1138-2018 Inspecting Water Tanks
Type Ordinance
Year 2019
Level City or Town
State(s) New York
Source New York City Council
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health
This local law requires the department of health and mental hygiene to review documentation of annual inspections of water tanks where harmful bacteria are found. It also requires the department to post the results of the documentation review on its website....
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Water Main Geothermal: Could Existing Water Pipes Replace Dirty Energy Utilities?
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2020
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Housing
Water main geothermal combines the efficiency and technical capability of ground-source geothermal in cold climates with costs competitive to fossil gas furnaces. This report shows that water main geothermal could provide a viable, cost-effective alternative to traditional home heating...
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A Toolkit for Procuring Resilience
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2018
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Re:Focus Partners
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces
Many cities across the United States are home to legacy infrastructure systems. These older water, transportation, and communications systems are not only poorly suited to current needs, but they are also nearing the end of their usable lives after decades of underinvestment and deferred...
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Responding to Water Stagnation in Buildings With Reduced or No Water Use: A Framework for Building Managers
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2020
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Source American Water Works Association
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health
Stagnation within building water systems is the condition in building plumbing when water is not being used and water remains still within the plumbing network. During stagnation, water quality issues may develop. The purpose of this document is to help building managers assess and...
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A Rain Ready Nation: Protecting American Homes and Businesses in a Changing Climate
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2015
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source Center for Neighborhood Technology
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Energy
As ever more destructive storms pummel our towns and cities, we are increasingly confronted by flooded homes and businesses, disruption of municipal services, overflowing streams and rivers, and compromised drinking water. Destructive weather events cost tens of billions of dollars...
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Actionable Solutions for Public Water Systems
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Source Mayors Innovation Project
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health, Finance & Procurement, Data & Technology
Cities face a host of challenges in maintaining their water systems and supplying their communities with clean drinking water, and protecting environmental and human health through effective wastewater and stormwater management. This report is is a comprehensive guide outlining best...
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The City Upstream and Down: How Integrated Water Management Can Help Cities Thrive
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2016
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Source American Rivers
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
Current strategies of managing water are outdated and ineffective at addressing aging water systems and climate change. In response, this report urges cities to adopt integrated water management, an approach to managing water that encourages coordination between all water systems...
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Staying Green: Strategies to Improve Operations and Maintenance of Green Infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2016
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Source American Rivers
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
Polluted stormwater runoff is one of the largest growing sources of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. To mitigate this problem, green infrastructure practices can be used to manage urban runoff by capturing and infiltrating rainwater where it falls. One of the major challenges to the...
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How to Promote Smarter Water Use by Giving Consumers Access to Their Consumption Data
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2015
Level City or Town, National
State(s) All States
Source Center for Data Innovation
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Data & Technology
Most consumers do not know how much water they use on a daily basis or how their water consumption compares to that of others because they receive little information on their utility bills. As a result, consumers receive minimal feedback on how changes in their behaviors, household...
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2020 Middleton Stormwater Runoff Control
Type Ordinance
Year 2020
Level City or Town
State(s) Wisconsin
Source City of Middleton
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
This chapter establishes the minimum requirements for stormwater management in the City of Middleton. In particular, all persons who engage in land development activities shall establish on-site management practices to control the quality and quantity of stormwater discharged from...
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2021 New York City Resolution 1359 Prohibiting Penalties and Interest
Type Ordinance
Year 2021
Level City or Town
State(s) New York
Source New York City Council
Policy Areas Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement
The New York City Water Board is authorized to collect and enforce payment and service charges related to the city’s sewerage and water systems. This resolution calls on the New York City Water Board to not impose penalties or interest on water and sewer bills during the COVID-19...
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Banking on Green: A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2012
Level City or Town
State(s) All States
Source American Rivers
Policy Areas Energy, Finance & Procurement, Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources
Green infrastructure practices provide a variety of benefits across the range of flood magnitudes. Common green infrastructure practices used to target flood management include green roofs, bioretention, water quality swales, and infiltration basins and trenches. While most effective...
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Invest in Water Infrastructure
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2021
Level City or Town, National
State(s) All States
Source National League Of Cities
Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources
Local governments provide over 95% of the total funding for U.S. water infrastructure. To meet the nation’s growing water infrastructure needs, address the impacts of climate change on water quality and availability, and to ensure equity and affordability for low- and fixed-income...
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Setting the Agenda: A Mayor’s Guide to Water Affordability
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2019
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Source Mayors Innovation Project
Policy Areas Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development
It is becoming more difficult for families to access clean and affordable water due to aging water infrastructure systems, climate change, and the rising cost of living. This report outlines best practices and innovative solutions mayors can adopt to ensure that residents have equitable...
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Lead and Its Impact on Learning: What Schools, Parents, & Policymakers Need to Know and Do
Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2016
Level City or Town, State, School District
State(s) Pennsylvania
Source Education Law Center
Policy Areas Education, Children & Families
Lead exposure negatively affects childrens’ learning and behavior, and increases government expenditures related to education, health care, and incarceration. The report makes recommendations geared towards preventing elevated lead levels in growing children and inhibiting the development...
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