March 26 – 27, 2024
Norton Sports and Learning Center
Louisville, Kentucky
One Water Leadership Institutes are an exclusive opportunity for US Water Alliance members to learn from sector-wide leaders, gain in-depth knowledge, and put new skills into practice alongside peers from across the country. The second One Water Leadership Institute of 2024 will be co-hosted with Louisville Water Company and Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) in-person on March 26 and March 27, focusing on affordability.
With 17 percent of Americans struggling to pay their water bills and a water access gap of over two million people, providing affordable access to water and wastewater services for all has never been more critical. At the same time, pollution, aging infrastructure, and climate risks and impacts make providing these services increasingly complex and expensive. Relying mostly on local customers to cover the costs doesn’t reflect where these cost increases come from, can put significant strain on households struggling with their bills, and often leaves utilities without the revenue required to meet their communities’ needs. A shift toward understanding water as a common good expands opportunities to address water stresses, challenges, and inequities in ways that can fundamentally transform our water systems and make safe and reliable water service affordable for all.
US Water Alliance members are advancing the One Water movement—a transformative idea that envisions managing all water in an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable manner. Local leaders—including utility professionals, residents, nonprofits, municipal officials, and others—are stepping up to pursue community-led solutions and advocate for change at state and federal levels. Collectively, their work reveals a key insight: the biggest wins come from collaboratively designed, multi-pronged approaches rather than any one utility policy or program.
At this Institute, US Water Alliance members will hear from innovators driving a local, state, and federal agenda toward this vision and gain tangible takeaways for affecting water affordability and access. They will also learn from the success of Louisville Water Company and Louisville MSD’s innovative One Water partnership, explore affordability and assistance best practices, and develop approaches they can use in their own work to ensure everyone has access to life’s most essential resource.
One Water Leadership Institutes are free of charge for US Water Alliance members. Two breakfasts, two lunches, a networking dinner, and an optional site visit are included. Attendees are responsible for lodging and transportation to Louisville. An Alliance member organization may request registration for up to two individuals.
