CSBG-DCL-2021-24 World Water Week Events FY2021

Publication Date: August 18, 2021
Current as of:

Community Services Block Grant

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: CSBG-DCL-2021-24

DATE: August 18, 2021

TO: CSBG Grantees and Stakeholders

SUBJECT: OCS Events to Commemorate World Water Week, August 23-27, 2021

ATTACHMENT(S)World Water Week Save-the-Date Letter (PDF)


Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to provide the registration links for the Office of Community Services’ (OCS) 2021 World Water Week events. As indicated in the World Water Week Save-the-Date announcement that went out on August 11, 2021, OCS will host Building Resilience Faster: Partnering to Increase Availability, Affordability, and Access to Quality Water and Wastewater Services, a series of events in observance of World Water Week 2021, August 23 - 27, 2021.

Speakers and Presenters

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib will join us on Monday, August 23rd to kickoff World Water Week. Congresswoman Tlaib will be followed by an array of water and wastewater stakeholders and advocates from across the country. We are excited to have a diverse lineup of speakers and moderators that will bring unique perspectives to our conversation on water and wastewater availability, affordability, and access. To learn more about the lineup for each session, visit OCS’ World Water Week web page at LIHWAP World Water Week FY2021.

We encourage you to visit the World Water Week web page (and each session’s specific page) throughout the week for the most up-to-date information on speakers and materials related to each session.

OCS’ World Water Week 2021

We hope you will join OCS for a week of learning focused on water and wastewater needs across America. The events will address economic, racial, and geographic disparities that impact access to water and wastewater resources by low-income individuals and communities. We will discuss efforts on the local, state, and federal level to address these disparities and how, collectively, we can support increasing access to water and wastewater resources for all.

Events and Registration

An overview of each event that OCS will host during World Water Week, including registration links for each event are listed below.

Monday, August 23, 2021, 2:00 — 3:30 PM (ET)

Setting the Stage: A Look at the Water and Wastewater Landscape Across the United States

Water stakeholders and policy experts will provide an overview of water and wastewater needs across the United States, including in tribal and rural communities, and in communities of color. The discussion will also address issues of racial equity and water affordability.

Please register with this link for Monday’s session.

Tuesday August 24, 2021, 2:00 — 3:30 PM (ET)

Leveraging LIHWAP and CSBG Resources Webinar

The Office of Community Services will provide a status update on the new Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and discuss the ways LIHWAP and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) grantees can work together to support vulnerable households.

Low-income individuals and families are eligible to receive a LIHWAP benefit for water bill assistance and the restoration of services. However, LIHWAP funding cannot be used to support other water-related needs that could impact water bills and the restoration of water services, such as running toilets and leaking pipes. This session will highlight opportunities to link LIHWAP efforts to potential household assistance available through CSBG to support household needs not addressed through LIHWAP, including small household plumbing repairs.

Please register with this link for Tuesday’s session.

Wednesday August 25, 2021, 2:00 — 3:30 PM (ET)

Illuminating the Work of the Rural Community Development Program and its Efforts to Address Water and Wastewater Needs in Low-Income, Rural Communities

Join this session to learn more about the Rural Community Development (RCD) program. RCD is the nation’s only federal program—through Regional Training and Technical Assistance grants and Tribal Training and Technical Assistance grants— that builds community capacity to support water and wastewater systems in the nation’s unincorporated areas and lowest-income communities, including tribal and persistent poverty areas. During this session, you will learn how RCD grantees are addressing water needs in rural and tribal communities. You will also learn more about partnerships between RCD and CSBG grantees and how RCD grantees and LIHWAP grantees can work collaboratively to support access to quality water and wastewater services for our nation’s most vulnerable communities.

Please register with this link for Wednesday’s session.

Thursday August 26, 2021, 2:00 — 3:30 PM (ET)

Challenges and Opportunities: A Discussion on Disparities and Possibilities for Improving Access to Quality Wastewater Services

Hear directly from key advocates about the range of wastewater issues related to quality and equity, and their impact on individuals with low income. This session will also highlight opportunities for improving wastewater services and what it will take to help secure quality wastewater infrastructure for disadvantaged U.S. communities. These discussions will be followed by a facilitated Q&A session.

Please register with this link for Thursday’ session.

Friday August 27, 2021, 2:00 — 3:30 PM (ET)

Voices from the Field: A Virtual Roundtable with Water Stakeholders and Advocates

Join OCS as we wrap up the week with a discussion about progress made to date, and important next steps for moving closer to quality water and wastewater access for all.

Please register with this link for Friday’s session.

For more information on World Water Week, including guest presenters and relevant materials, please visit OCS’ World Water page webpage at LIHWAP World Water Week FY2021. We will continue updating this webpage throughout World Water Week, so please visit it frequently to stay up-to-date with all of OCS’ World Water Week events.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS grantees.

/s/
Charisse Johnson

Director, Division of Community Assistance
Office of Community Services