Significant technological advancements in monitoring, assessing and treating water ensures today what is generally a safe drinking water supply in California. Yet treatment challenges remain as scientists, regulators and policy-makers address concerns over both naturally occurring contaminants and those caused by human activities. Challenges of chromium 6, watershed management, groundwater, water recycling and infrastructure needs were addressed in a December 2000 discussion among Foundation staff and four stakeholders: Bill Mills, general manager of the Orange County Water District; David Spath, chief of the California Department of Health Services’ Division of Drinking Water; Alexis Strauss, director of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region IX Water Division; and Marguerite Young, California director of Clean Water Action.