ABOUT CUWA
Established in 1990, the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) is a non-profit corporation of 11 major urban water agencies that are responsible for serving drinking water to about two-thirds of California’s population. As the collective voice for the largest urban water purveyors in California, CUWA provides a technical perspective to promote common understanding and consensus solutions among the urban water community.
OUR MISSION AND VISION
CUWA’s mission is to provide a unified voice for urban water solutions that keep our environment and communities thriving. CUWA’s vision is a California where everyone can rely on safe and accessible water.
OUR approach
CUWA’s efforts are guided by its 11 member agencies and supported by an Executive Director. Member agencies’ resources are pooled to study water management issues, develop consensus solutions among the urban water community, and engage with California water leaders. CUWA member agencies benefit from the collective sharing of information, leveraging work conducted by one another with case studies and lessons learned.
OUR VALUES
Unified. CUWA collaborates to form strong partnerships that deliver comprehensive and inclusive water, environmental, and organizational solutions.
Trusted. CUWA is the recognized and respected source for objective information on California’s urban water systems.
Balanced. CUWA’s leaders seek consensus-driven solutions that represent a diverse cross-section of California’s urban communities.
Committed. CUWA’s leaders are dedicated to finding actions to address California’s most complex water challenges.
OUR WORK
CUWA develops technical information on California water to help inform policy. CUWA presents this information in reports, fact sheets, presentations, and more.
CUWA’s Policy Principles represent member agency consensus on a broad range of important California water issues and are updated regularly to reflect current thinking on evolving issues. Member agencies engage in active dialogue with other water leaders across California to share their ideas.
Visit our publications page to view CUWA’s work products on a variety of topics, including annual reports that highlight CUWA’s accomplishments each year.
Techinical Assistance
Since 2023, CUWA has served as a Technical Assistance Provider under the State Water Boards’ Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program, joining other Providers in helping small, disadvantaged communities secure safe and accessible water. In this role, CUWA is assisting communities to develop and implement sustainable solutions for their drinking water needs, ranging from water quality concerns to long-term system management planning. In addition, CUWA is contracting with small and local firms to help these communities solve their water needs and increase local capacity to manage challenges in the future.
MEMBER AGENCIES & Board Representatives
Alameda County Water District
Representative: Ed Stevenson, General Manager
City of Fresno
Representative: Brock Buche, Director of Public Utilities
City of San Diego Public Utilities Department
Representative: Juan Guerreiro, Director of Public Utilities
Contra Costa Water District
Representative: Rachel Murphy, General Manager
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Representative: Clifford Chan, General Manager
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Representative: Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager, Water System
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Representative: Deven Upadhyay, General Manager
San Diego County Water Authority
Representative: Dan Denham, General Manager
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Representative: Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager, Water Enterprise
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Representative: Rick Callender, Chief Executive Officer
Zone 7 Water Agency
Representative: Valerie Pryor, General Manager
CUWA leadership
Wendy Broley
Executive Director
Katie Ruby
Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement
Julia Teixeira
Deputy Director of Operations