Integrated Planning & Water Management

As increased pressure on water supplies drives the need for more efficient and effective processes, many utilities are recognizing the need to not only integrate their drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and reuse operations—but also to coordinate with other sectors, including energy, agriculture, industry, and municipalities.

Although this holistic approach has the potential to offer many multi-benefit solutions, implementation can be a challenge. Because integrated planning involves so many stakeholders and moving parts, the prospect of this approach can be overwhelming. The challenge is also increased because these integrated goals often contain big-picture, long-term objectives, which run counter to traditional regulation timelines and funding strategies.