AWWA ACE54463

In the United States there are approximately 54,000 community water systems. Systems serving 3,300 or fewer persons account for 85% of all community water systems. The institutional structure of small systems is quite diverse, and includes a significant number of mobile home parks and homeowners associations as well as more traditional utility structures under both public and private ownership. Many of these small systems came into being as a simple, inexpensive way to provide water supply at a time when regulatory standards were minimal. These systems now face a complex array of challenges including new regulatory standards, aging infrastructure, issues of source water quantity and protection, and increasing public expectations. Much has been written about "restructuring" and "consolidation". These concepts still have great value but do not fully address the complex challenges facing small water systems. New institutional models for small-scale water systems are needed to meet these challenges. This paper explores existing structures and presents a framework for developing/assessing new institutional models. Includes tables.