ASDWA Attends NGA Water Policy Institute

This week, ASDWA staff joined about 60 representatives from 28 Governors’ offices, several state Departments of Environment, Energy, and Transportation, and other interested members of the water community to learn about the best policies being adopted across the country on a wide range of water issues at the National Governors Association (NGA) Water Policy Institute meeting in Annapolis, MD.  In addition to traditional discussions around water quality and quantity, panel discussions and breakout groups looked at green infrastructure, integrated water planning, lead service line replacement, and water infrastructure financing.  Discussions also dug into subjects ranging from water efficiency and cybersecurity to emerging contaminants and the governors’ roles in coordinated water management.
The event was hosted by the NGA Center for Best Practices and is part of the NGA Water Policy Learning Network.  Created in 2017, the Network is co-chaired by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) and California Governor Jerry Brown (D).  The principal goal of the Network is to inform governors’ advisors on best practices for water policy.  ASDWA members Lori Mathieu (CT) and Pete Goodmann (KY) participated in the drinking water-focused discussions and former ASDWA member Clark Halvorson (WA) presented his state’s approach to lead service line replacement in a session moderated by ASDWA’s former Executive Director, Jim Taft.