PRISTINE Water Initiative

The story is all too familiar. Many rural water and wastewater systems across Washington are long overdue for major repairs or facility upgrades/replacements. Towns cannot afford to improve these systems without major grant awards and/or low-interest loan assistance, with many communities unable to commit to repaying long-term loans even at discounted rates. With the uncertainty of federal grant availability under the current federal administration and the state’s current budget deficit, new solutions must be found. The resulting damage to the environment, threat of complete system failure and danger to public health require out-of-the-box thinking to solve these problems. It will also require private and philanthropic investment alongside government funding.

The PRISTINE Water Initiative brings together private and philanthropic organizations (banks, CDFIs, credit unions, foundations, and private investment firms) to learn how other communities across the country have successfully funded rural water systems and other public infrastructure projects with private investment vehicles. The group will determine which vehicles work best in Washington state and how these organizations can form partnerships to make these investments a reality.