About the Council
The primary purpose of the Mayors Water Council (MWC) is to assist local governments in providing high quality water resources in a cost effective manner. The MWC provides a forum for local governments to share information on water technology, management methods, operational experience, and financing of infrastructure development. The MWC will monitor and respond, as appropriate, to federal legislative, regulatory or policy proposals affecting the delivery of municipal water services. The MWC will also provide a forum to assist local government in exploring competition and public-private partnership approaches, and alternative methods of financing water infrastructure development.
The Mayors Water Council (MWC) officially commenced operations within the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) on August 1, 1995. The MWC began its first program year with an August 4, 1994 forum held in Washington, DC. At the forum, Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner noted that the federal government will not be able to meet the future water development financing needs of cities. Therefore, local governments must seek public/private partnerships to finance future water development projects.
Participation in the Mayors Water Council is open to all mayors, and functions like a USCM task force.
Mayors Water Council Newsletter – November 2018
Water and Sewer Infrastructure Investments
2017 Meeting: Miami Beach
The Mayors Water Council recently met in Miami Beach. Here are the presentations that were given at the meeting:
2017 Meeting: Santa Barbara
The Mayors Water Council met in Santa Barbara. Here are the presentations that were given at the meeting:
2013 Report: Municipal Procurement
News Headlines
Integrated Planning Legislation Adopted by Congress
Cities Facing Costly Clean Water Act Mandates Can Use New Tool - May Bring Financial Relief! Congress passed the Integrated Planning bill in late 2018 legislative action; and, it potentially will have a direct financial impact [...]
Local Government Investment in Public Water and Sewer Hits a Record $123.7 Billion in 2016
Long-term infrastructure investment commitment to clean water and sewer/stormwater management tops $1.99 Trillion from 1993 to 2016 By Rich Anderson Public spending on water and sewer/stormwater management continues to set new nominal dollar highs according [...]
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
WRDA Support Letter View Bill Section-by-Section
City Resiliency Planning Takes Data Analytic Turn. Will It Make a Difference?
The parade of natural disasters in 2017, once again, proved that cities, with their expanding infrastructure and growing populations, continue to be vulnerable to acute impacts from drought, earthquakes, flooding, land subsidence, coastal hazards, and [...]
Local Government Investment in Water and Sewer, 2000-2015
What investments will be needed to rebuild our national water and sewer infrastructure and provide services to a growing and shifting population and an expanding economy? By Richard F. Anderson, Ph.D. Introduction Will a new [...]
Mayors Buttigieg and Dupree Testify on Wastewater and Stormwater Costs Request to Congress – Pass Integrated Planning and Affordability Legislation
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg testified on behalf of The US Conference of Mayors and Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree testified on behalf of the National League of Cities before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee [...]
Extraordinary Measures Taken to Diversify Sustainable Water Supplies in Western Cities
The Mayors Water Council convened their spring 2017 meeting in Santa Barbara, hosted by Mayor Helene Schneider on April 13-14, 2017. Mayor and Water Council Co-Chair Jill Techel led a diverse group of mayors, [...]
Mayors Testify Today on Environmental Priorities, Push for Brownfields and Integrated Planning Legislation
Conference of Mayors Brownfields Chair Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray and Rialto (CA) Mayor Deborah Robertson testified on March 28, regarding Conference of Mayors environmental priorities. Mayors Bollwage and Robertson testified [...]
The Nation’s Mayors Praise Passage of Water Infrastructure Bill Including Aid for Flint
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) today is praising Congress for passing the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act in the Senate by a vote of 78-21 that contains numerous [...]
Statement by Tom Cochran On the House Passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016
Washington, D.C. – Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors issued the following statement on passage by The U.S. House of Representatives of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016: [...]