The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has introduced an initiative called Vision for Our Water Future, aimed at increasing the priority of water policy for California’s next governor, legislative leaders, and state officials.
ACWA said the initiative provides a framework to improve the reliability and resilience of the state’s water system for economic, community, and environmental needs. The organization noted that the effort is supported by its member agencies across California.
Chelsea Haines, who works on state regulatory and legislative issues affecting water agencies, said the proposal reflects input from water suppliers and includes actions to address ongoing challenges. She pointed to the role of water in housing, the economy, public health, and community resilience, and called for state leadership to advance the proposals.
According to ACWA, California’s water system faces pressure from drought, floods, wildfires, aging infrastructure, and changing demands. The organization also stated that local agencies continue to invest in improvements, with ratepayers covering most system costs while managing rising expenses.
The initiative focuses on increasing attention to water policy, maintaining affordability, expanding infrastructure investment, and updating management and permitting processes. ACWA said these efforts are intended to improve water storage and delivery and strengthen coordination among different levels of government.
Ernie Avila, who represents the organization’s member agencies and helps guide its policy direction, said the initiative brings together stakeholders from multiple sectors and is intended to support economic activity, housing, and long-term planning, to work with state officials to implement the framework.
