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.
2017 Meeting: Santa Barbara
The Mayors Water Council recently met in Santa Barbara. Here are the presentations that were given at the meeting:
News Headlines
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: [...]