ACWA Priorities Connect with Water Stewardship and Affordability

  • by Ernie Avila
  • Jul 19, 2024
  • Voices on Water

ACWA member agencies are stewards of the communities they serve.  In this capacity, they are responsible for the reliability of their communities’ water supplies, the infrastructure required for their delivery on a 24/7/365 basis, the protection of its water quality from the headwaters to the tap, and for cost-effective delivery of these services, particularly to those with fixed incomes or limited means.  ACWA must continue to engage and advocate effectively for our members’ interests, especially as new state and federal standards, combined with aging infrastructure and inflationary issues, drive up the cost of service to our ACWA member agency communities.

As laboratory technology advances, enabling the detection of contaminants at ever more minute levels, regulations in turn demand more of water agencies in testing and treating water. As vital to the protection of public health as the standard-setting process is, it often results in significantly increased costs to water agencies to design, build, operate and maintain treatment technologies to keep pace with new regulations. That in turn can drive increases in water rates, which works against our goal of keeping water affordable.

Keeping our water in compliance with drinking water standards is paramount to protecting public health. However, there is a balance that can be achieved. When developing new water quality standards, the law requires regulators to consider economic and technical feasibility. Regulators need to consider that treatment costs will ultimately affect customer water affordability. That is why ACWA strongly supports both scientific decisions that are based on sound, peer-reviewed science and standard-setting that is based on rigorous analyses, including cost analyses as part of economic feasibility determinations. Additionally, public processes that allow for meaningful input into these actions are critical. 

A well-designed low-income rate assistance (LIRA) program could help low-income households with water affordability, but the details matter. The program needs to be reasonable and efficient. SB 1255 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles) was initially a study bill, but it was amended on June 3 in the Assembly to propose a LIRA program that would be funded with voluntary contributions. ACWA members have strong concerns that the bill, as currently drafted, would not work. For example, if customers did not see a notice and affirmatively opt out, they would be charged a “voluntary” contribution. ACWA is suggesting an “opt-in” approach, along with other amendments, and the work on this bill continues. 

In the bigger picture, public water agencies are managing aging infrastructure that requires significant investments in the near term to ensure safe and reliable water service in the future. A long-term approach on water affordability will require continued advocacy by ACWA regarding standard-setting, water infrastructure and low-income rate assistance. 

As water leaders, managers and stewards, ours is a job that never gets easier. But we always discover innovative strategies that produce solutions. I am confident that will prove the case with addressing water affordability and reliability.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Recycled Water Budget Comment Letter

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom, The Honorable Mike McGuire, The Honorable Robert Rivas, The Honorable Scott Wiener, The Honorable Jesse […]

Priority Issues Bulletin

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Comment Letter: Bioenergy Feed-in Tariff Program

To: The Honorable Alice Reynolds, President, The Honorable John Reynolds, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission Subject: Need to Extend the Bioenergy Feed-In […]

Dam Safety and Resilience Program – 2024/25 Budget Funds

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom and Policy Chairs and Budget Subcommittee Chairs Subject: Dam Safety and Resilience Program – Updated 2024/25 […]

Wildfires and Water: The Role of California Public Water Agencies Factsheet

California faces catastrophic climate-driven wildfires, exacerbated by periods of heavy rainfall followed by periods of extreme drought, decades of fire […]

Comment Letter: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates

To: Mr. Erik Ekdahl, Deputy Director, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates Letter: […]

Comment Letter: Proposed Public Health Goal for NDMA

To: Ms. Hermelinda Jimenez, PHG Program, Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency […]

Support for the Fix Our Forests Act

To: The Honorable Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, and The Honorable Scott Peters, Congressman Subject: Support for the […]

ACWA Scholarship Toolkit for 2025-’26

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Coalition Letter: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates

To: Mr. Erik Ekdahl, Deputy Director, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates Letter: […]

ACWA 2024 Fall Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2024 Fall Conference & Expo held December 3-5 in Palm Desert are available below. Please note that […]

Comment Letter to Select Committee on Permitting Reform (Climate Projects)

To: Assemblymember Buffy Wicks Subject: Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform – Climate Project Permitting Recommendations Letter: The undersigned organizations […]

Outreach Handbook

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2024 Fall Conference Attorney Programs

Presentations from the Attorney Programs held during ACWA’s 2024 Fall Conference & Expo December 3-5 in Palm Desert are available […]

ACWA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan

The ACWA Board of Directors approved a new five-year strategic plan in September 2024. The new plan will afford the […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
February 14, 2025 ACWA News Available

Read the February 14 edition of ACWA News for informative articles about the association and water industry. Articles include: ACWA Launches […]

Khalifa to Lead ACWA as Interim Executive Director

The ACWA Board of Directors has named Marwan Khalifa as Interim Executive Director of the association, effective Feb. 24, overseeing […]

CVWD Assists Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association in Emergency Water Quality Sampling

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – On February 6, 2025, the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) assisted the Rubio Cañon Land & Water […]

West Valley Water District Awarded $250,000 Cybersecurity Grant

RIALTO — West Valley Water District (WVWD) is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant through the […]

ACWA Board Names Giammona Acting Executive Director

The ACWA Board of Directors has named long-time staff member Tiffany Giammona as Acting Executive Director, following the resignation of […]

District Refinancing Saves Customers Over $2.3M

This week, Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) refinanced its 2015 Bond debt generating $2,372,421 savings for its customers. With a […]

El Toro Water District Appoints Wyatt McClean to the Board of Directors

The El Toro Water District (ETWD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Wyatt McClean to the Board of Directors. […]

Utica Names Caroline Schirato as Board Chair, Sets Priorities for 2025

ANGELS CAMP — At its January Board meeting, the Utica Water and Power Authority (Utica) Board of Directors elected Caroline […]

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Create Atmospheric River Forecasting Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) on Feb. 4 announced bipartisan legislation that aims to […]

Zone 7 Highlights Resilience and Innovation in FY 2023-2024 Annual Report

LIVERMORE  – Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7) published its online Annual Report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, sharing an […]

February 2025 Priority Issues Update Now Available

The February 2025 Priority Issues Update is now available online to members. The update is a summary of the latest […]

ACWD to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Increase in Water Related Rates

The Alameda County Water District Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 13 at 6 p.m., […]

Mesa Water District Board Elects Marice H. Depasquale as Board President

COSTA MESA — Mesa Water District (Mesa Water®) is pleased to announce that the Mesa Water Board of Directors (Board) officially […]

WVWD Enhances Communication with Leak and Payment Notifications

WALNUT – Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) continues to enhance customer communication through automated text message alerts for water leaks […]

ACWA Responds to Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order on Flood Control, Groundwater Recharge

SACRAMENTO — The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) issued the following statement from ACWA President Cathy Green regarding Executive […]