Stakeholder Perceptions of Utility Role in Environmental Leadership

This report will help water utility managers better understand the concept of environmental leadership and to describe strategies that drinking water utility managers can use to evolve their utilities into environmental leaders. It identified fundamental characteristics and examples of environmental leadership; assessed the views of drinking water utility mangers and residents resulting in strategies that can be applied as necessary. Findings indicate that residents believe environmental leadership is important and are will to pay for it and that water utility mangers must alter their thinking. The four fundamental characteristics of environmental leadership are: collaboration, environmental stewardship, visibility, and a willingness to be first.