Washington, D.C. (April 7, 2025) — Federal water policy is in the spotlight this week as the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) kicks off its 2025 Water Policy Conference, the premier drinking water policy event in Washington, D.C. Held during Water Week this year, the annual event convenes utility executives from across the country to engage with top policymakers, regulators, and experts on the pressing issues shaping the future of drinking water in the United States.
Award-winning journalist and Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward will headline the conference’s opening day with exclusive remarks for AMWA attendees by offering his analysis of the nation’s political landscape and what it could mean for infrastructure, environmental, and other policy during President Trump’s second term.
“This year’s Water Policy Conference comes at a critical moment for our sector,” said AMWA CEO Tom Dobbins. “Water utilities are navigating a fast-changing policy environment that includes PFAS standards, cyber threats, and affordability challenges. Our goal is to ensure that the voice of the nation’s largest drinking water systems is heard clearly and effectively on Capitol Hill.”
Following Woodward’s keynote, Jennifer McLain, Director of the EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, will share the agency’s drinking water priorities for 2025, as the agency gears up to propose new rules on microbial disinfection byproducts and perchlorate, and charts a path forward on implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and drinking water standards for PFAS. The day will close with a member-led panel on lead service line replacement strategies.
Tuesday’s agenda includes sessions on drinking water policy, covering topics, including, PFAS, affordability, utility resilience in the face of extreme weather events, infrastructure investment, and water sector cybersecurity, with participation from key members of Congress, including Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), and others. The day also features EPA and Capitol Hill speakers during the National Water Policy Fly-In.
On Wednesday morning, members will have the opportunity to participate in a cybersecurity briefing led by Jennifer Lyn Walker, Infrastructure Cyber Defense Director for WaterISAC; the briefing will outline how utilities can enhance their resilience amid the latest threats to water systems.
During the afternoon, AMWA members will meet with their Congressional representatives to advocate for federal support on priority issues such as water infrastructure funding, PFAS regulation, climate and drought resilience, and maintaining tax-exempt municipal bond financing.
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The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has been the unified and definitive voice for the nation's largest publicly owned water systems for over 40 years. AMWA's membership serves more than 160 million people with safe drinking water.
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