Is an Integrated Planning Approach Right for Your Agency?

Understanding Integrated Planning to Prioritize Needs and Achieve Regulatory Compliance

Municipal utilities today face an evolving regulatory landscape that demands solutions for past, present and future challenges. From implementing previous wet weather agreements and upcoming nutrient reduction goals to addressing emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), utilities are challenged to meet overlapping obligations: aging infrastructure, public health protection, flood control and climate resilience. These challenges call for an integrated approach to capital planning and investment. 

What is Integrated Planning?

Codified within the 2019 Federal Clean Water Act amendments, integrated planning offers a structured process to prioritize and schedule wastewater and stormwater needs in a way that is affordable, aligned with community priorities and compliant with regulatory obligations. With this approach, municipalities can create a long-term investment plan that leverages new technologies and best practices to meet regulatory requirements and deliver environmental improvements over time.

Rather than tackling infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrades in isolation, integrated planning takes a holistic view combining needs from wastewater, drinking water, stormwater, solid waste, power and other utilities into one plan. The result? Smarter decisions that save money, improve public health and environmental outcomes, and meet community expectations.

Questions to Get the Process Started

Flexibility & Prioritization

• Do current planning efforts allow flexibility to address Clean Water Act or other regulatory obligations?
• Do I have a clear picture of my projected Clean Water Act or other regulatory requirements?
• Can I balance costs and benefits by combining utility plans — drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and even power — into one holistic strategy?

Capital Improvement Prioritization

• Am I investing heavily in wet-weather solutions while other investments could deliver greater water quality benefits?
• Are there alternative solutions that achieve multiple environmental and community benefits?

Water Quality

• Do regulatory-driven investments focus on regional priorities while local needs remain unmet?
• Are stormwater and wastewater programs addressing similar water quality issues without coordination?
• Have I considered the impact of current and future PFAS regulations across my utility?

Regulatory Compliance

• Does my existing consent decree align with current or upcoming competing priorities?
• Will compliance with a new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit require a significant investment?
• Does a new MS4 permit introduce unforeseen obligations?

Community Outreach

• How can I build community support for much-needed revenue increases?
• Are community priorities reflected in scheduled regulatory obligations?
• Does the community understand the value of the service provided in addressing wastewater and stormwater needs?

Financial Affordability

• Do I face current or future affordability challenges, especially for low-income customers?
• Do I understand potential rate impacts from current and future regulatory drivers and other competing demands, such as aging infrastructure?
• Could integrated planning deliver the cost savings I need?