Spencer Saks, CASA Legislative & Regulatory Advocate
In today’s complex legislative and regulatory landscape, local public agencies are being inundated with new standards, laws, and regulations daily. Providing feedback on regulatory developments and shaping pending legislation is a difficult task for any individual agency to take on alone. This is where associations like CASA and CWEA play a critical role: bringing members together to unify their message into one strong, consistent voice. While it is essential for individual agencies to engage in advocacy, collective action is more impactful for the entire clean water sector than a singular effort.
CASA represents more than 140 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment, and recycling of wastewater, and CWEA represents over 10,000 wastewater professionals. CASA’s mission is to provide trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California’s clean water agencies and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources. Through our work, we bring local public agencies together and unify the voice of the clean water sector to ensure that policymakers know where wastewater utilities stand on critical issues.
Public agencies can engage in advocacy on their own, but messages may conflict, priorities may differ, and decision-makers may struggle to discern where consensus truly lies. Associations address this challenge by gathering member input, identifying common ground, and distilling diverse perspectives into clear policy positions. As a result, legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders hear a cohesive and credible message that reflects the clean water sector, which can at times speak louder than individual viewpoints. Time and again, the collective strength of the group has moved the needle on regulatory and legislative issues.
Associations also provide a trusted, neutral forum for collaboration. Through workgroups and committees, members can share information, debate issues, and resolve differences in an environment where everyone has a common stake in advancing clean water sector goals. The association then becomes the spokesperson, reducing the burden on individual organizations to engage directly on every issue while still ensuring their voices are heard. Collecting and unifying this feedback enables the sector to speak with one voice. Additionally, by being involved in association meetings, local agency staff are made aware of pending legislation and regulations without having to track every item independently.
A unified voice not only increases volume, but it also builds credibility. Policymakers are more likely to listen to associations that represent entire sectors, knowing that the positions they advance are carefully considered consensus, not isolated opinions. No single agency can monitor and engage on all pending regulatory and legislative actions, but through associations, agencies can stay informed and actively engaged. By streamlining advocacy efforts, associations allow members to focus on their core missions of providing essential public services while still benefiting from the collective strength of the group.
Associations like CASA and CWEA embody the principle that unity creates strength. By fostering collaboration, building consensus, and speaking with one voice, they enable the clean water sector to be more effective advocates for their shared priorities. In a world where clarity and credibility are essential, associations ensure that their members’ voices are not only listened to but truly heard together.
My Profile
