CUWA COMMITTEES

CUWA’s six committees focus on current priority urban water issues. Each committee is led by a Board member(s) and includes one representative elected by each member agency. The committees are guided by a charter that articulates goals and operations and, based on the priorities of the Board, they develop an annual workplan that describes specific projects for the coming year. The CUWA Executive Director and committee members also participate in a number of external forums related to committee focus areas.

1. The Emerging Issues (EI) Committee tracks new developments in urban water issues and identifies ones for CUWA to address in the near future.

2. The Financial Sustainability (FS) Committee focuses on the fiscal challenges that urban water agencies face, particularly related to impacts of water conservation on public water agencies’ revenue streams.

3. The Public Investment (PI) Committee develops policy principles and guidance to inform any new approaches to public financing of water-related projects. The most recent Public Investment White Paper and Presentation defines key terms, reviews the public goods charge concept and describes a proposed beneficiary pays approach.

4. The Urban Water Resources Planning (UWRP) Committee engages in State water planning efforts to help ensure that the urban perspective is represented, including CUWA’s priorities and concerns. The committee has been summarizing results from member agencies’ Urban Water Management Plans to showcase their collective progress and future trends in urban water.

5. The Water Quality (WQ) Committee’s top priority is currently to help complete the Central Valley Drinking Water Policy (CV-DWP), in conjunction with the Regional Water Quality Control Board and a workgroup representing a range of interests. See their drinking water policy outline and workplan.

The Committee also coordinates Delta source water protection activities and takes action to ensure that CUWA interests are reflected in statewide drinking water regulation and policy.

6. The Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Committee focuses on developing technical and policy information and recommendations to reflect the CUWA Board’s priorities regarding water conservation and water reuse. The Committee reviews and evaluates regulatory, technical, cost/benefit, and policy issues regarding water recycling, water efficiency and conservation. The Committee researches water savings, barriers related to expanding recycled water, and the potential of new technologies and practices.