Water Utility Financial Readiness Certificate
Apply Now
Water Utility Financial Readiness Certificate
AWWA Water Utility Financial Sustainability Readiness Certificate
The AWWA Financial Sustainability Readiness Certificate program is being developed to encourage all water utilities to achieve financial sustainability by implementing best financial practices that lead to the betterment of the communities they serve.
This certificate program recognizes a utility which has submitted a complete, clear, high-quality and supported application with financial planning documents. The program is not an evaluation or opinion on the modes and methods of such plans nor is it a certification of a utility’s financial health.
Go To Application
Why Utilities should Apply to be Certified
AWWA’s annual State of the Water Industry Reports show that a water utility’s ability to cover cost of service has not improved significantly over the years. Financial sustainability has remained in top ten of challenges for utilities since being included in the survey in 2024, and is number four in the 2026 report.
The top five challenges in the 2026 State of the Water Industry Report were:
- Infrastructure renewal and replacement
- Financing for capital improvements
- Long-term drinking water supply availability
- Financial sustainability
- Public understanding of the value of water
This certification is a way for a utility to acknowledge their commitment to achieving financial sustainability to the larger water community and their rate-payers.
Certification Criteria
AWWA’s Sustainability Readiness Certificate will score responses to the certificate criteria based on completeness and quality of information provided. Applicants will not be scored based on the specific modes or methods used, but whether there are plans and procedures that align with the financial readiness criteria.
Completeness of Information
Reviewers will determine if the applicant provided sufficient information to answer the relevant questions identified in the criteria.
Quality of Information
Reviewers will score the applicant’s submitted materials to evaluate their ability to address financial information in a clear, concise, and audience-appropriate manner.
Advertisement
Find additional material from AWWA to help your utility excel.
Improve Operations Through Self-Assessment and Benchmarking
Rural and small systems face significant challenges related to infrastructure, water supply availability, workforce, and financial issues, to name a few. Fortunately, effective resources are within easy reach for utilities to get help with evaluating and improving system operations and management.
Read More
Hitting the Mark With Benchmarking: Measuring Utility Performance in Lee Country, Florida
Benchmarking can help water and wastewater utilities identify improvement areas to tackle challenges such as aging infrastructure, resource constraints, and climate change.
Read More
M1 Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges
As issues associated with water rates and charges continues to evolve, so must the utilities approach to selecting and communicating their rates, charges, and pricing policies.
Read More
Frameworks for Assessing and Optimizing Utility Operations
Utilities can use AWWA’s Utility Benchmarking Survey to advance management expertise to improve efficiency, quality, and effectiveness by addressing gaps, setting priorities, and making changes.
Read More
M5 Water Utility Management
M5 Water Utility Management is designed for both new and experienced managers who are looking to better understand all aspects of public utility management.
Read More
Benchmarking Case Studies: Journeys Into Continuous Improvement
Let’s look at the experiences of three utilities and how each used AWWA’s Utility Benchmarking Survey data to initiate operational performance improvement.
Read More
Utility Management for Water and Wastewater Operators
An introduction to water utility management principles and practices for new managers, as well as anyone who wishes to move into utility management.
Read More
Myths Dispelled: Why Your Utility Should Participate in AWWA’s Utility Benchmarking Survey
Water and wastewater utilities can use benchmarking to pinpoint areas for improvement, establish priorities, and implement necessary changes.
Read More
Align Asset Management and Finance to Improve Decision-Making
Utility financial decision-makers must understand how infrastructure asset management practices and principles support their financial strategies and drastically improve capital investment decision-making.
Read More
Use Benchmarking to Help Manage Your Utility’s Performance
Benchmarking offers key tools and industry-developed processes for water utility management success. AWWA’s Utility Benchmarking Program is a remarkable tool for improving efficiency, quality, and effectiveness.
Read More
Advertisement
