Preparing for CSO Related Affordability Programs: A Case Study for Omaha

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) programs invariably are capital-intensive. The costs of these programs are mostly borne by local users or tax payers. The general trend is that user charges are the predominant source of financing for these projects. In a number of instances where these projects, or similar projects, have been implemented, user charges have increased significantly. Such cost increases present formidable obstacles to utility managers and community leaders since some of their users may experience financial hardships to pay higher wastewater bills. The City of Omaha has recognized that the financial impacts will be significant on its users in the future. It started to analyze the projected costs on its users starting in 2004. The City is now in the process of developing information on the identification of groups of customers most likely to experience affordability problems.