Barriers to Innovation in Urban Wastewater Utilities: Attitudes of Managers in California

This report details an innovation deficit in urban wastewater utilities and highlights key barriers to innovation among wastewater managers. Understanding these barriers and working to overcome them will be crucial for California’s long-term water and environmental security. The most frequently reported barriers to innovation included cost and financing; risk and risk aversion; and regulatory compliance.

Additional Authors: Barton Thompson Jr., Christian Binz, David Sedlak, Lars Tummers, Bernhard Truffer