Just a few years ago, competition in the world of domestic water/wastewater was unheard of. But as we near the end of the 20th century, competition internally and externally has become not just a reality, but a force likely to change the entire industry in the early years of the 21st century. Communities across the country are struggling to meet the demands of growth and age on their facilities while at the same time feeling the political and public pressure to reduce costs and stabilize rates. As more communities focus on the need to improve their competitive position, they will turn to options such as internal re-engineering, privatization, managed competition, P/P/P's and other alternative approaches to achieve their goals.