Earlier this month, more than 60 attendees joined a webinar led by Jordan Hoang to explore the FlowWest's Step Zero Consolidation Calculator—a new planning tool designed to address a persistent challenge in California’s drinking water landscape: the lack of early-stage cost insights that often stall water system consolidation efforts.
The webinar, hosted in conjunction with the State Water Board, spotlighted how the Step Zero tool is helping communities and technical assistance providers move from uncertainty to actionable planning.
Tackling the Consolidation Planning Bottleneck
FlowWest has been working closely with the Water Foundation, with support from the State Water Resources Control Board and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, to address a planning paradox:
Many consolidation projects never get off the ground because agencies are hesitant to fund feasibility studies without a clear sense of viability or community interest. But without those studies, there’s no way to generate the cost data needed to inform those very decisions.
This Catch-22 can stall progress indefinitely—especially in underserved communities that need access to safe, affordable drinking water the most.
What the Step Zero Calculator Does
To help overcome this challenge, FlowWest developed the Step Zero Consolidation Calculator—a web-based tool that provides interactive, high-level cost estimates early in the planning process.
The tool enables users to:
Input real-world data on small water systems
Adjust variables to reflect system-specific scenarios
Instantly compare the costs of consolidation vs. remaining independent with capital improvements
The result? A more transparent and informed planning conversation between community leaders, technical assistance providers, and decision-makers—one that can happen long before funding commitments are required.
Momentum and Next Steps
Feedback from the webinar was overwhelmingly positive. Participants appreciated how the calculator supports early, low-risk decision-making—enabling communities to explore options, understand trade-offs, and build consensus with realistic cost expectations in hand.
FlowWest is now refining the tool based on user input and exploring ways to enhance its functionality for broader adoption.
If you missed the session, you can still view the recording here, as well the presentation slides.
A huge thank-you to Jordan Hoang for leading the session, and to all who participated. Tools like the Step Zero Calculator are helping to unlock real progress for California’s water systems—starting with smarter conversations and better data.
