A Strategic Assessment of the Future of Water Utilities

In 2000, three trends papers, grouped as societal, business, and utility categories, were written to provide context for expert workshops. These trend documents were updated and compiled into a single trend document that provides the data supporting the trend as well as potential implications for the trends. This critical briefing document was created to prepare participants for a Futures Workshop. The workshop identified the most important trends and strategies. The study resulted in six trend papers that were published in Journal AWWA. This study will provide water utility managers with current strategic planning information to help develop strategies for future utility success. The trend papers can serve as resource documents to identify the environmental factors that will affect a given utility in the future. Other local factors must also be considered, but the trends documented here will likely be in play at most utilities. The results of the research can comprise a significant part of the "environmental scan" element of traditional strategic planning as well as give guidance to water utilities regarding potential strategies to better position the utility for future success.