Climate risk perceptions, change in water demand, and preferences for future interlocal collaboration

In a world of increasing pressures from climate change, water utilities need to maintain—or even improve—their ability to continue provision safe and secure water supply. To ensure capacity in service delivery, some providers have embraced different forms of interlocal collaboration. Yet, such interdependence engenders risk, thus driving some collaborating providers to enter into contractual agreements. While these agreements can reduce risk, but new complexities may still arise, especially when the agreement is capital intense and physically constrained. This study asks: i) How does perceived risk of from external climate-related pressures to public service provision affect preferences for the future of current contractual agreements? and ii) how do local efforts to offset need for collaboration shape these future preferences? This study examines how beliefs and local strategies (i.e., technical, managerial, or programmatic advances) affect contract preferences among community water systems linked through interlocal agreements. The paper discusses insights about ways ontological beliefs may shape operational decisions specific to interlocal collaboration and the potential for consolidation of water service operations.