A Note From CalWEP Deputy Director Melissa Matlock
The Alliance for Water Efficiency’s Symposium in Chicago wasn’t just another industry conference—it was a chance to zoom out. At CalWEP, we’re often laser-focused on California’s regulatory landscape, program design, and partner needs. But stepping into a national convening like AWE's reminds us that while our challenges may be local, the themes of water efficiency, equity, resilience, and innovation are universal.
From keynote sessions to hallway conversations, it was clear that agencies across the U.S. are navigating many of the same issues we face in California—aging infrastructure, drought preparedness, changing customer expectations, and the need for cross-sector collaboration. But what made this event powerful wasn’t just the alignment of concerns—it was the diversity of responses. I left Chicago with fresh ideas, unexpected partnerships, and a broader sense of what’s possible.
With gratitude,
Melissa