The Western Urban Water Coalition (WUWC) was established in 1992 to present a distinct and innovative perspective on water resource management in the modern West. The association includes municipal water utilities serving the largest Western cities, representing more than 40 million water consumers across eight states.

WUWC members are public utilities and water providers dedicated to providing a reliable, high-quality urban water supply for present and future generations while preserving the unique environmental and recreational attributes of the West. Achieving this goal is critical to the region’s economic growth and sustainable quality of life. To meet this goal, WUWC is an active public and legislative advocate for pragmatic water resource management programs. WUWC encourages water exchanges and transfers, supports an adequate supply of water for environmental purposes, advances multi-purpose storage and hydropower opportunities, promotes water use efficiency, and advocates for effective and practical environmental regulatory programs.

WUWC members face challenges resulting from aging infrastructure, changing regulatory landscapes, declining water supplies, and changing environmental conditions, while simultaneously seeking to secure sustainable water supplies for growing populations. These challenges are exacerbated by the region’s arid climate, growing fluctuations in annual precipitation, and other climate effects that result in extreme weather events and natural disasters, including wildfires, that strain watersheds and threaten urban water supplies. At the same time, maintaining and enhancing critical public resources and preserving environmental values are paramount. Therefore, WUWC actions reflect a pragmatic integration of water supply activities and other water-dependent uses such as commerce, recreation, and managing habitats. The actions taken to date by WUWC to address such challenges reflect the Coalition’s commitment to proactively manage water supply in the West. WUWC’s successes have created the momentum needed to confront future challenges. However, support from Congress and federal agencies is needed to maintain that momentum.

WUWC uses its collective voice to engage with water policy. We work with federal agencies, appear before congressional committees, participate in workshops and roundtable discussions, comment on agency guidance and rulemaking, and serve as a party in litigation. And, of course, WUWC members are active collaborating partners with a variety of stakeholders and other industry associations.

WUWC advocates for effective and practicable approaches to implementation of environmental protection programs in a time when water sources are being diminished by extreme weather and the development of sustainable supplies is vital. The Coalition advocates for effective resource management policy that:

  • Enhances predictability and certainty for Western water utilities and the populations we serve
  • Promotes efficient and effective environmental review
  • Encourages water exchanges and transfers and regional collaboration
  • Develops resilience to environmental challenges such as droughts, wildfires, landslides and floods, as well as the public safety threats of seismic events and facility failures
  • Supports an adequate supply of water for environmental purposes
  • Protects and preserves high quality water resources for current and future generations
  • Promotes the replacement and development of aging infrastructure
  • Establishes effective and practicable water quality standards
  • Uses and promotes innovative water use efficiency, reuse, and recycling practices and technologies
  • Promotes affordability for customers and ratepayers and supports low-income communities