Rudy Mendoza is the mayor of Woodlake and the second vice president of Cal Cities’ Mayors and Council Members Department. He can be reached at rudy@mcsrisk.com.

California has never lacked passion, innovation, or resolve. Yet when it comes to water, we find ourselves often divided, reactive, and constrained by politics. Water in California is often framed as a conflict: north versus south, urban versus rural, environment versus agriculture. But the truth is far more complex and far more interconnected.

Every community experiences water differently. What looks like a supply issue in one place may be a management challenge in another. Coastal cities may explore desalination, while inland communities depend on groundwater and snowpack. Agricultural regions face pressures that urban centers may not fully see and vice versa.

If we are serious about securing our future, we must begin by acknowledging this diversity of experience. We cannot solve a problem we do not fully understand. That means checking egos at the door. It means listening — especially when perspectives differ from our own. And it means committing to collaboration over confrontation.

At this year’s City Leaders Summit in Sacramento, I had the privilege of moderating an early morning panel on our water supply, attended by nearly 150 city officials. One thing was clear: There is a deep and growing urgency around water and a willingness to engage.

One of the most encouraging moments from our panel was the level of engagement. More than two dozen participants stepped forward to ask questions. Their questions were telling. Many focused on the growing water demands of data centers. Others raised concerns about land use, regulatory constraints, and the limitations of existing environmental policies.

Several participants pointed out a difficult truth: In drought years, we cannot continue to “conserve” what isn’t there. These are not easy conversations — but they are necessary ones. And they cannot end when the session adjourns.

Moving from conversation to action

If there is one message that I hope my colleagues across the state take away, it is this: This moment requires sustained engagement.

We must continue these conversations across regions, across sectors, and across political lines. We must bring new voices to the table, including those from industries like technology and agriculture that are shaping water demand in real time. And we must be willing to explore solutions at every scale.

Big solutions matter. But so do small ones. California has long debated large-scale water infrastructure — new reservoirs, expanded conveyance systems, and major storage projects. These conversations are important, but they are also complex, costly, and often slow-moving. We cannot afford to stand still.

In my own community of Woodlake, we pursued a small but meaningful solution: a stormwater capture project capable of storing approximately 200 acre-feet of water — enough water for 400 to 600 families a year. At $6 million, it is a fraction of what a new dam would require, but it delivers real, local impact.

It is not a silver bullet. But it is a step forward. And if every community takes steps like this, tailored to their own needs and capacities, the collective impact could be transformative.

A call to my colleagues

After the panel, I spoke with an elected official from a coastal city utilizing desalination. Their perspective added yet another dimension to the conversation — and underscored the importance of learning from one another.

This is exactly the kind of dialogue we need more of. Water solutions will not come from a single region, policy, or idea. They will come from a network of conversations, innovations, and partnerships that reflect the full diversity of California.

The energy we saw at the summit must not fade. The questions raised must not go unanswered. And the connections formed must not be lost.

I encourage you to stay engaged. Reach out. Share your experiences. Bring your ideas forward — especially ones that challenge conventional thinking. If we each do a little, together we can do a lot.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Western City, the League of California Cities, or its members. Are you interested in submitting an op-ed on an issue important to city leaders? Send a short pitch to editor@westerncity.com.