Urban Water Institute, Inc.

09/14/2026

🚨 Early Bird pricing ends TOMORROW, September 15!

If you’re planning to attend UWI’s upcoming workshop ,'Where’s the Money: Covering Rising Costs — What Are the Legal Options?,' now is the time to register and SAVE!

Join us Friday, November 13 in San Jose for a focused discussion on the legal tools and funding strategies water utilities can use to help address rising operational and capital costs beyond traditional rate increases.

💧 Early Bird Rates:
UWI Members: $125
Non-Members: $175

👉 Register by tomorrow to save: urbanwater.com/events/water-cost-recovery-workshop/register

09/11/2026

🎤 '26 Annual Conference Kickoff Spotlight

The 2026 UWI Annual Conference kicked off with an energizing keynote from Nick Serrano, Board Chair of the San Diego County Water Authority.

Nick challenged attendees to reject the idea that long-standing, complex problems are impossible to solve. Drawing from the recently resolved litigation between the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District, he shared how shifting from conflict to collaboration opened the door to new partnerships and innovative water transfers.

One of his biggest messages: complexity is not the same as impossibility. Using the analogy of an airplane taking off, he reminded the room that pressure and resistance can be part of forward movement—not failure.

👏 Thank you, Nick, for kicking off the conference with such energy and a powerful call to challenge assumptions, embrace collaboration and keep moving forward.

09/08/2026

📅 Save the Date: 2027 UWI Spring Conference

We’re heading back to Indian Wells!

Mark your calendar for the 2027 UWI Spring Conference, happening February 24–26, 2027 at the beautiful Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa.

After an incredible year of UWI conferences, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next.

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

Save the date and stay tuned! Registration opens in early October.

09/03/2026

The 2026 UWI Annual Conference photo album is here! 📸

Take a look at our incredible time in San Diego filled with great conversations, new connections, and plenty of insights gleaned along the way: tinyurl.com/26annualconference

See a familiar face? Tag yourself and your colleagues so everyone can relive their favorite conference moments together.

While you’re browsing, tell us in the comments: What was your 'aha moment' at this year’s Annual Conference?

A big thank you again to everyone who helped make the event such a success. 🌊

09/01/2026

💧 New UWI Workshop: Water Cost Recovery — Covering Rising Costs: What Are the Legal Options?

Across California and the West, the cost of delivering safe, reliable water continues to rise. Aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, supply investments, and inflation are putting more pressure on utilities — while legal constraints and public scrutiny make recovering those costs increasingly complex.

Join UWI for a one-day Water Cost Recovery Workshop exploring the legal tools and funding strategies available beyond traditional rate increases. Led by attorneys, finance experts, and agency leaders, the program is designed to help utility managers, senior staff, directors, consultants, and other stakeholders better understand the options available to fund operations and capital needs.

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

💰 Early-Bird Pricing ends September 15:
$125 UWI Members
$175 Non-Members

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

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming three new members to the UWI Board of Directors!

At our most recent Board Meeting, UWI officially welcomed three new leaders to the Board:

💧 Danielle Blacet-Hyden — California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
💧 J.D. Harkey — Rancho Water District
💧 Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel — Milk Producers Council

Each brings a valuable perspective and deep experience from across California’s water and agricultural communities, and we’re excited to have their voices represented on the Board.

We’re grateful for their willingness to serve and we look forward to the insight, leadership and collaboration they will bring to UWI.

Please join us in giving them a warm welcome! 🌊

08/27/2026

08/24/2026

🌊 That’s a Wrap on the 2026 UWI Annual Conference!

What an incredible few days in San Diego.

From thought-provoking sessions and candid conversations to new connections and memorable moments on and off the stage, this year’s Annual Conference was truly one to remember.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made it possible:

🎤 Our speakers and moderators for sharing your expertise, time and perspectives
💎 Our sponsors and exhibitors for your generous support and partnership
🤝 Our Board of Directors for your leadership and commitment to growing UWI
👏 Our staff and event team for everything that happened behind the scenes
🌊 And, of course, our attendees for showing up, asking great questions, sharing ideas, and bringing such incredible energy to the conference

UWI conferences are only as strong as the people in the room, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make the 2026 Annual Conference such a success.

Thank you for being part of it. We hope you left San Diego with new ideas, new connections, and plenty to carry forward into your work ahead.

📸 Stay tuned — we’ll be sharing more conference highlights and photos soon!

08/19/2026

🌊 The 2026 UWI Annual Conference is officially underway!

We’re off to a great start in San Diego, with a full house of 300+ water leaders coming together for three days of bold ideas and candid conversations.

From today’s opening keynote with Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Aubrey Bettencourt to the conversations already happening throughout the room, the energy is high and we’re excited for everything still to come!