SACRAMENTO, CA – As California confronts rising infrastructure demands and the pressing need for equitable water access, the California Water Association (CWA) has released a comprehensive White Paper on Water Affordability. This pivotal publication outlines foundational challenges and introduces a strategic Water Affordability Framework aimed at helping the state’s water utilities navigate the dual priorities of essential infrastructure investment and customer affordability.
To catalyze action around the white paper’s findings, CWA will host its Spring Policy Symposium, “The Price of a Drop,” this Thursday, May 22, in Sacramento. The high-impact event will bring together utilities, regulators, policymakers, and sector leaders for an in-depth discussion on water affordability and the complex interplay of rising costs, regulatory pressures, and the need to ensure accessible service for all—particularly low-income and historically underserved communities.
Event Highlights Include:
As outlined in the white paper, ensuring access to safe, clean water for all communities requires a careful balance between investing in critical infrastructure and advancing affordability programs. Aging pipelines, outdated treatment facilities, and deferred maintenance disproportionately affect disadvantaged and rural areas. The symposium will highlight how CWA’s member utilities are addressing this challenge head-on—committing up to $5 billion over the next five years for infrastructure upgrades, while simultaneously developing and expanding affordability initiatives to minimize rate impacts and ensure no community is left behind.
“Safe, clean, and affordable water is a basic right—and a challenge we must address with urgency and innovation,” said Jennifer Capitolo, Executive Director of the California Water Association. “The investments we make today in water infrastructure must be matched by our commitment to affordability. Our new framework provides a path forward for utilities and decision-makers alike.”
CWA’s white paper also emphasizes the role of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California State Legislature, and the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in establishing policy and regulatory frameworks that promote both economic equity and sustainable system funding. Through targeted reform, customer assistance initiatives, and operational efficiency improvements, the path to water affordability is clear and actionable.
About the California Water Association:
The California Water Association (CWA) represents 84 regulated water utilities serving over 6 million Californians. CWA is committed to advocating for safe, reliable, and affordable water service, and collaborates with stakeholders statewide to build sustainable solutions for water infrastructure and access.
