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Urban Water Institute, Inc.

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Urban Water Institute, Inc.

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UWI is a nonprofit public organization whose goal is to inform and educate the water resource industry of policies that affect consumers and the economy.

The Urban Water Institute, Inc. is a nonprofit public organization whose goal is to inform and educate the water resource industry of policies that affect consumers and the general economy. Founded in California in 1993 and incorporated as a 501.3.c organization, the Institute seeks to inform public agencies and private firms of issues pertaining to water economics and management.

10/29/2026

🚨 Good news, there’s still time to register!

Registration for UWI’s upcoming workshop, 'Where’s the Money: Covering Rising Costs — What Are the Legal Options?', has been extended through Friday, November 6.

Join us for a practical discussion on the legal tools and funding strategies water utilities can explore beyond traditional rate increases, with perspectives from experienced attorneys, finance experts, and water agency leaders.

📅 Friday, November 13, 2026
🕘 9:00am – 2:00pm
📍 Valley Water District | San Jose, CA

Registration Rates:
💧 UWI Members: $150
💧 Non-Members: $200

⏰ Registration now closes November 6!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation. 👉 Register today: urbanwater.com/events/water-cost-recovery-workshop/register

10/26/2026

🎉 Our first 2027 Silver sponsor is officially on board!

A big thank you to Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) for becoming UWI’s first Silver sponsor for 2027.

EMWD plays an important role in supporting reliable water and wastewater service, long-term resource planning, and resilient communities across its service area. Their continued investment in California’s water future makes their support of UWI especially meaningful.

We’re grateful to have EMWD helping make another year of UWI conferences and conversations possible. 💧

Interested in joining them as a 2027 UWI Sponsor?

Our Annual sponsorships cover both the Spring and Annual Conferences and include benefits such as:

🤝 Opportunities to connect with water leaders and decision-makers
📣 Year-round visibility across UWI conference and marketing channels
🎟️ Complimentary registrations and exhibitor opportunities at select levels

👉 Explore 2027 sponsorship opportunities: urbanwater.com/sponsor-exhibitor-opportunities

10/23/2026

📣 2027 UWI Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities Are Now Available!

Want to put your organization in front of the leaders shaping Western water? UWI’s 2027 sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are designed to help you build visibility, strengthen relationships and connect directly with senior decision-makers from across the water community.

A few reasons to get involved:
💧 Stay visible all year: One annual sponsorship covers both the 2027 Spring Conference in Indian Wells and the 2027 Annual Conference in San Diego.
🤝 Connect with the right audience: UWI conferences bring together water district leaders, utility managers, agricultural water leaders, consultants, attorneys and other industry professionals.
🎯 Choose the level that fits your goals: Sponsorship opportunities range from Bronze ($1,000) through the exclusive Title Sponsorship ($15,000), with benefits that include conference recognition, complimentary registrations, exhibitor space, social media promotion, attendee lists and more!

Ready to get your organization in front of the UWI community in 2027?

👉 Explore sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities: urbanwater.com/sponsor-exhibitor-opportunities

10/20/2026

🎤 '26 Annual Conference Session Spotlight: Beyond the Ag Bubble

What happens when changes in water policy extend far beyond the farm gate?

At the 2026 UWI Annual Conference, this panel explored how groundwater management, land fallowing and other pressures facing agriculture can ripple through Central Valley communities.

Key themes included:
🌾 Agriculture’s impact reaches far beyond the field — Reduced production can mean significant economic and employment impacts throughout rural communities.
🤝 Collaboration is critical — Panelists emphasized bringing more voices to the table and finding solutions that address shared vulnerabilities across regions.
💧 Transition can create opportunity — Groundwater recharge, habitat projects, new jobs and other investments can help communities adapt alongside changing water management.
🏘️ People must remain part of the conversation — Successful solutions need to consider housing, economic opportunity and the long-term well-being of San Joaquin Valley communities.

The discussion closed with a strong call for greater understanding and partnership between California’s agricultural and urban regions. The panelists recognized that water reliability, food production and community resilience are deeply connected.

👏 Thank you to our moderator and panelists for bringing the people and communities behind these policy decisions into the conversation.

Eddie Ocampo, Director of Public Affairs, Self-Help Enterprises
Aaron Fukuda, CEO, Tulare Irrigation District & Mid-Kaweah GSA
Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District
Jason Phillips, Vice President, Water Business Group, HDR

📅 Want to be part of more conversations like this? Registration is now open for the 2027 UWI Spring Conference: urbanwater.com/events/2027-spring-conference/register

10/16/2026

🌟 Please join us in welcoming the City of Buellton as the newest meber to UWI! 🌟

Located in Santa Barbara County, the City of Buellton provides water and wastewater service to its community while managing the infrastructure needed to support reliable, high-quality service. The City’s Public Works Department oversees its water, sewer, storm drain, street and other essential public systems.

💧 Reliable Water Service
Buellton’s water supply comes primarily from local groundwater in the Buellton Uplands and Santa Ynez River basins, supplemented when needed by treated State Water Project water. The City operates its own wells, treatment facilities and distribution system to serve local customers.

🏗️ Investing in Essential Infrastructure
From water and wastewater systems to streets, storm drains and capital improvement projects, Buellton’s Public Works team plays a central role in maintaining the infrastructure its community depends on every day.

🌿 Focused on the Future
The City continues to plan for long-term water and wastewater needs, including operations, maintenance, capital improvements and financial sustainability to support safe and efficient service well into the future.

We’re excited to welcome the City of Buellton to the UWI community and look forward to the experience and perspective they’ll bring to conversations about California’s water future.

👉 Learn more: cityofbuellton.com

10/13/2026

📣 One week in and registration for the 2027 UWI Spring Conference is already off to a strong start!

We love seeing the early excitement and momentum building for another great UWI conference. A special shoutout to Mesa Water District and Orchard Dale Water District for being the first to register! 👏

📅 February 24–26, 2027
📍 Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Indian Wells, CA

If you’re planning to join us, don’t wait too long. Early Bird pricing ends November 6!

👉 Register today: urbanwater.com/events/2027-spring-conference/register

10/09/2026

🎤 '26 Annual Conference Session Spotlight: Tiny Bubbles Everywhere - Breaking Through the Noise

How can public agencies use social media to do more than simply share information? At the 2026 UWI Annual Conference, this panel explored how the right strategy can help agencies educate their communities, humanize their work, and build trust over time.

A few key takeaways:
📱 Show the work — Give the public a behind-the-scenes look at the people, projects and essential services that keep communities running.
🎥 Keep it authentic — Real photos, phone-shot videos and relatable employees can often connect more effectively than overly polished or templated content.
💬 Find your agency’s voice — Drop the jargon, communicate like a person and develop a tone that can flex from lighthearted to serious when the situation calls for it.
⚡ Be present when it matters — During service disruptions or critical incidents, timely and factual updates can reduce confusion and strengthen public trust.
📊 Measure what matters — Success doesn’t always mean more followers. Start with your communication goal, understand who you need to reach, and adapt your strategy accordingly.

And perhaps one of the biggest reminders from the conversation: if you don’t tell your story, someone else will. A proactive social presence gives public agencies the opportunity to explain their work, demonstrate the value of public services, and engage directly with the communities they serve.

Moderator:
Marice DePasquale, Board President, Mesa Water District; Principal, MConsensus

Panelists:
Pasquale Talarico, CEO & President, HashtagPinpoint Corporation
Kyle Oldoerp, Public Information Officer, Irvine Police Department

👏 Thank you to Marice, Pasquale, and Kyle for a creative and practical conversation about making public-sector communications more engaging, responsive, and human.

10/06/2026

📣 Registration is officially OPEN for the 2027 UWI Spring Conference!

Join us February 24–26, 2027 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells for another opportunity to connect with California water leaders, hear fresh perspectives, and dive into the issues shaping the industry.

🐦 Early Bird pricing is available for a limited time. Register now to lock in the lowest rate!

UWI Members: $745
Non-Members: $945

📅 February 24–26, 2027
📍 Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Indian Wells, CA
👉 Register today: urbanwater.com/events/2027-spring-conference/register

We can’t wait to welcome you back to Indian Wells!

10/02/2026

🎤 '26 Annual Conference Session Spotlight: Virtual Bubbles: AI, Data Centers & Cybersecurity in the Water Sector

AI is changing how water agencies work but it is also raising new questions around data security, infrastructure demand, cybersecurity and governance.

At the 2026 UWI Annual Conference, this panel took a practical look at what water agencies should be thinking about now as AI adoption grows and data centers expand.

Key themes from the discussion included:

🤖 Create a clear AI strategy — Standardize tools, configure them properly, establish an organizational policy, and make training part of implementation.

💧 Understand the data center impact — Water use varies widely by facility and technology, while the energy required to power data centers can create additional upstream water demands. Federal policy is moving to accelerate permitting and infrastructure development for large data centers.

🔐 Make cybersecurity a priority — Organizational AI accounts, multi-factor authentication, strong governance, and systems designed with human error in mind were all part of the conversation. Recent attacks affecting multiple U.S. water systems have reinforced the need for continued vigilance and investment in cyber resilience.

👥 Keep people in the loop — AI can be a powerful tool, but panelists emphasized the importance of human oversight, particularly when the technology touches operational systems and critical infrastructure.

👏 Thank you to our panelists for helping attendees unpack a fast-moving topic and consider what responsible AI adoption, infrastructure planning, and cybersecurity can look like for the water sector.

Moderator:
Frank Ury, Vice Chair, Santa Margarita Water District

Panelists:
Vivian Welsh, CEO and Co-Founder, Vivians.io
Joel Barber, Colorado Regional Director, EKI Environment & Water, Inc.
Kevin Morley, Senior Manager of Federal Relations, American Water Works Association

09/29/2026

Looking for new strategies to help your agency manage rising water costs?

UWI’s upcoming Water Cost Recovery Workshop: 'Where’s the Money: Covering Rising Costs — What Are the Legal Options?' will bring together experienced leaders from the legal, finance and water sectors for a focused discussion on the tools available beyond traditional rate increases.

Attendees will hear from:

Dan Hentschke, Attorney at Law; Former General Counsel, San Diego County Water Authority
Shawn Dewane, Vice President, Mesa Water District; Registered Principal / Investment Management Consultant, Raymond James Financial Services
Stephen Dopudja, President/CEO, Dopudja & Wells Consulting; Former Director, Trabuco Canyon Water District

Moderator:
David Pedersen, UWI Chair; General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

Together, they’ll explore legal considerations, financial strategies, and real-world approaches agencies can use as operational and capital costs continue to climb.

📅 Friday, November 13
🕘 9:00am – 2:00pm
📍 Valley Water District | San Jose

If your agency is navigating affordability, funding or long-term cost recovery, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

👉 Register today: urbanwater.com/events/water-cost-recovery-workshop/register

Address

Lake Forest, CA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19496799676

Website

http://urbanwater.com/

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