New Hampshire water advocates gathered at The Hotel Concord on March 6th for the 2025 “Water’s Worth It” Legislative Breakfast in Concord, NH. Attended by state legislators and water professionals from all facets of the industry, the annual Legislative Breakfast provides an opportunity to address the unique challenges that the unified sectors of the water industry are facing and to advocate for legislation that promotes responsible, effective, and science-based water management practices.
Moderator Fred McNeill, a recently retired water industry professional with 43 years of service, welcomed attendees and introduced the priority issues for 2025: funding for infrastructure, energy, and workforce development. Investing in water infrastructure projects and technological upgrades to meet changing regulations, workforce development initiatives to create a resilient workforce, and recognizing the energy demands and resulting challenges for water utilities has become crucial for the continued success of these indispensable facilities and the communities they serve.
State Senator Denise Ricciardi led with opening remarks on the necessity of clean, affordable water to the residents of New Hampshire, and emphasized dependable water infrastructure as a prerequisite for the increase of affordable housing within the state. Congressional greetings followed with the sharing of letters of support from Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, as well as a pre-recorded video from Congressman Chris Pappas. Congressman Pappas acknowledged the importance of federal funding for critical water systems and for the continued management and reduction of PFAS contamination, advocating source control and a polluter pays approach.
Focusing on an often overlooked challenge for water utilities, Keynote Speaker Alyssa Rosenzweig, Deputy Director of the Overwatch Foundation, highlighted the recent increase in cybersecurity attacks targeting the water sector. The Overwatch Foundation, a not-for-profit cyber defense group, offers “in a box” grant programs that include cybersecurity assessment and implementation services for municipal water systems, providing protection from the many forms of cyber-attacks that can immobilize a utility.
Reiterating the need for workforce development, NEWWA CEO Kirsten King presented on the Work For Water Coalition, a collaborative effort between NEWWA and NEWEA that was developed to elevate the water profession and address the most pressing workforce challenges. Through the creation and implementation of a multi-phase strategic plan, the coalition continues to make invaluable strides in recruiting, training, and strengthening New England’s water workforce.
The event wrapped up with closing remarks from Rene Pelletier, Director of the NH DES Water Division, who encouraged the legislators in attendance to stay interested and informed about water policy. Thanks to the coalition of water associations who host this annual event, our water professionals can continue to educate our policymakers on the value of water and the actions needed to ensure that it remains safe, clean, and affordable throughout the Granite State. These efforts are mirrored at the annual National Water Policy Fly-In held in Washington, D.C, where our water advocates gather to connect with legislators on Capitol Hill to further promote sound, science-based water management practices and legislation.
