Educating the public on the cost of doing business is a major concern for respondents to the 2007 National Stormwater Utility Survey recently released by Overland Park, Kan.-based Black & Veatch. The biennial survey covers planning, operations, administration and financial management issues facing stormwater utilities in the United States and Canada.

User fees and billing, and quality issues are major issues for respondents, along with public education, says Peggy Howe, vice president of Black & Veatch’s water consulting practice. “The survey respondents are quite open about the major challenges they face and the way they are addressing the significant events affecting water utilities across North America,” she says.

The report can be downloaded at www.bv.com/stormwatersurvey, or e-mail stormwater@bv.com to request a printed version.