Surviving or Thriving in Economic Recession: Strategies of Water Utility Leaders

Convened a CEO forum where utility leaders discussed the recession's impacts and shared with peers their experiences and successful strategies for coping with the current economy and its unprecedented impacts. Strategies span operations, capital programs, finance, revenues, risk management, and communications. Leaders identified cost impacts, specific tradeoffs, and sustainability of a wide range of strategies. They also identified opportunities and "silver linings" strategies that would have far-reaching long-term benefits. Additionally, potential ideas for research emerged that would strengthen drinking water utilities responses to future economic challenges. A forum report was developed to share the strategies and discussion highlights with WRF subscribers. Published in 2009.