Mayors Roundtable 2014

Perhaps the biggest story surrounding water systems in the United States is the current drought situation in California which has made national headlines throughout the year. At the time of this issue’s publication, the Los Angeles Times reported that the agricultural industry is facing $1 billion in lost revenue while the state could wind up paying an additional $500 million for groundwater pumping. Among the many questions the situation poses, one is, “How do city leaders cope with these challenges?”

Of course, the California drought is just one aspect of the many challenges utilities face every day. Aging infrastructure, for instance, feels like a never ending battle for many cities. Despite these challenges, there are still positive developments emerging in areas such as asset management and new technology. At the top of the decision-making pyramid are the elected officials tasked with making strategic choices regarding infrastructure policy. To examine some of the different ways cities are managing their water and wastewater infrastructure systems, we sat down with a group of mayors from across the country for our annual Water Finance & Management roundtable conversation.