Water Projects Win or Lose in the Community, Not the Courtroom
The technical case for a water project is rarely what determines its outcome. Projects stall — or fail entirely — because of opposition that organized before the proponent did, because rate communications were handled poorly, or because the community never understood why the project was necessary. We chart the strategic communications path early, build the coalition that can sustain the project through opposition, and make sure the public case is as strong as the engineering case.
Water Rate and Cost Communications
Rate increases are among the most politically sensitive communications challenges a water utility faces. We help utilities explain the connection between infrastructure investment and rate changes in terms that ratepayers can understand and accept — not just tolerate. Our approach is built on transparency: what the project costs, why it is necessary, and what happens if it does not get built.
Water Contamination and Crisis Response
Sigler has worked on more than 40 groundwater contamination sites nationwide. We have managed boil-water notices, PFAS and VOC contamination disclosures, lead service line replacement programs, and emerging contaminant communications. When a water quality issue becomes public, the first 24 hours determine whether the utility is seen as transparent and competent or evasive and reactive. We help utilities get that right.
Public Education and Conservation
We launched the first statewide public education campaign in Colorado on the value of water — an award-winning program that educated the public on conservation, water quality, and civic engagement on water issues. We have worked with the green industry for more than two decades on wise water use in landscapes. Public education is not a soft add-on; it is the foundation of long-term public support for water investment.
Areas of Experience
What we bring to the engagement.
- —Water project permitting support and public involvement
- —Water infrastructure siting and community relations
- —Water project cost and rate communications
- —Construction communications and stakeholder updates
- —Water conservation public education campaigns
- —Water quality and stormwater education
- —Water utility branding and positioning
- —Public involvement on water resource plans
- —Water contamination crisis communications (VOCs, PFAS, lead)
- —Boil-water notice and service disruption communications
- —Coalition building and ally network development
- —Federal EIS and regulatory comment period support
Representative Work
Projects that demonstrate the practice.
Colorado Springs Utilities
Southern Delivery System — $850M Water Pipeline
Public affairs and community relations for an $850 million water delivery pipeline serving the Pikes Peak region, navigating multi-county opposition and a decade-long permitting process.
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Utah Division of Water Resources
Lake Powell Pipeline — Public Affairs & Community Support
Sustained public affairs program for a several-billion-dollar water infrastructure project in southern Utah, building a coalition that generated more than 1,000 federal EIS support letters despite well-funded opposition.
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Security Water District
Security Water District — Contamination Response
Crisis communications for a water district facing a contamination event, managing public notification, media relations, and regulatory coordination to maintain customer confidence.
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Northern Water
Northern Integrated Supply Project — Long-Term Public Affairs
Multi-year public affairs support for one of the most contested water storage projects on the Front Range, managing stakeholder engagement through a complex federal permitting process.
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Common Questions
Answers to questions we hear often.
What does a water infrastructure communications firm do?
A water infrastructure communications firm helps water utilities, water districts, and water project developers manage the public affairs, community relations, and media relations work that large water projects require. This includes stakeholder engagement, coalition building, rate communications, public involvement processes required by federal and state regulators, and crisis communications when water quality issues arise.
How does Sigler help water utilities with rate communications?
We help utilities explain the connection between infrastructure investment and rate changes clearly and honestly. The goal is not to sell a rate increase — it is to give ratepayers the information they need to understand why the investment is necessary and what the alternative would cost. Utilities that communicate transparently about rates face less opposition than those that do not.
Does Sigler handle water contamination communications?
Yes. We have worked on more than 40 groundwater contamination sites nationwide and have managed boil-water notices, PFAS disclosures, lead service line replacement programs, and other water quality crises. We also have a FEMA Advanced PIO and NIMS-certified practitioner on staff with direct experience managing water utility emergencies.
What is the Lake Powell Pipeline project?
The Lake Powell Pipeline is a proposed several-billion-dollar water infrastructure project that would move water from the Colorado River at Lake Powell to southern Utah — one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Sigler was retained to develop and execute a sustained public affairs and community support program for the Utah Division of Water Resources and the Washington County Water Conservancy District. Despite well-organized opposition, the project secured more than 1,000 support letters during the federal EIS process.
Can Sigler help with water project permitting communications?
Yes. Federal and state water project permitting processes — NEPA environmental impact statements, Section 404 permits, state water rights proceedings — all have public involvement requirements. We help project proponents meet those requirements while building genuine public understanding and support, not just checking the regulatory box.
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We work with organizations that face real complexity. If that describes you, let's have a direct conversation.