The continued consolidation and regionalization of water supply utilities suggest that parochial and competitive attitudes may be changing. PWS no longer consider city and county boundaries a limiting factor. Increasing capacity to sell to others received a response of eight percent saying yes, and 80 percent undecided. The following pie chart illustrates this issue. Fewer than a third of PWS would not consider purchasing water from another source.
Many small cities are open to the possibility of purchasing water rather than producing it.
Because the IDNR already accumulates extensive water use data through PWS regulation and water withdrawal permits, it is the logical agency to coordinate statewide planning efforts. The addition of one or two full-time staff to concentrate on a continuously updated water use planning effort could provide a valuable service to local efforts and statewide organizations in meeting the future water needs of all citizens in Iowa. Cost is an important consideration that would need to be addressed by the IDNR and the Iowa State Legislature.