On December 15, 2021, Water Finance Exchange (WFX) and RSAH2O hosted, Drinking Water and Wastewater Services for All Texans, a workshop in El Paso bringing together Texas agencies, NGOs, communities, and national organizations. This convening focused on the challenges in funding water infrastructure for smaller and underserved communities in Texas with the objective of identifying pathways toward implementing scalable and sustainable solutions.
Speakers included leaders from Texas agencies, non-profits, and national organizations such as Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Defense Fund, Government Services Group, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), Texas Rural Water Association, Texas Water Trade, EJ Water Cooperative, Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and the Texas Water Foundation (TWF).
WFX Co-Founder Hank Habicht and RSAH2O Principal Carlos Rubinstein provided opening remarks to the workshop, which included keynote addresses from Chairwoman Brooke T. Paup of the TWDB and Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner of the IBWC. Sarah Schlessinger, CEO of the TWF, provided the keynote presentation on the art of institutional partnering.
WFX’s workshop convenings build strong relationships with state agencies, water sector leaders, and communities, as well as establish a pipeline of communities in need. WFX believes the Drinking Water and Wastewater Services for All Texans workshop will continue to catalyze collaboration and action in Texas.
To find out more about learnings and recommendations from the conference, as well as a call to action for a collaborative path forward read our post-meeting report here.