INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY 

What did we learn…
Be involved in development of policies at the state level; provide technical assistance to regulatory agencies; partner with NGO's; work with agriculture interests on pollutant trading; long term - build trust and relationships. Have a legislative advocate. With many different stakeholders at the same table within the Member Association i.e. state regulators, municipalities, rate payers, industry ... whose side does the MA represent? Shows how important it is to understand the view from the other side. Also state regulators have unrealistic implementation deadlines...no training, so it is important for the MA to get people to the state board meetings to show what is important to the MA.

California WEA (2012) | Presentation
Shared the importance of inviting public officials to attend their annual conference, increased work with WEF to raise the profile of the water professional, and continue expansion of other partnerships.

British Columbia WWA (2012) | Presentation
Importance of providing input to public legislation / regulations; position statements; and public outreach.

Missouri WEA (2012) | Presentation
Focused on the USEPA Region 7 Four State MA Meeting (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska) to discuss the latest regulatory drivers.

New England WEA (2012) | Presentation
Success in being at the table for congressional briefings; state legislative breakfast; Utility Council.

Ohio WEA (2012) | Presentation
Focused on what they do to influence policy. Prior to 2011, OWEA placed efforts on their MOU with USEPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory in Cincinnati. They realized they were preaching to the choir and so began looking at expanding their focus. They began to comment on all relevant early stakeholder's issues, restructured their Government Affairs Committee to have the Vice Chair be the "agency Liaison". Be prepared as once you start down this road, you get the snowball effect and things run pretty fast!