While a Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool for managing graphic and nongraphic information and applying intelligence to that data, it is often difficult to integrate into the daily operations of a water system. Although most water systems deal with similar types of data, every water system does not have the same needs in engineering applications or operation and management tools. Also, utilities do not always have the financial resources to develop data, applications and tools as desired. Therefore, the support services to the water industry (consultants, suppliers, software developers, etc.) must be prepared to take advantage of the flexibility that is inherently avaliable through geographic information systems (GIS) to cost effectively integrate GIS with the desired applications. This integration can happen when the combined knowledge of the individuals and organizational groups are brought together to achieve a common goal or set of goals. These goals and objectives can often be classified as follows: facilities management, planning, design, system or facility operation, and customer service. To obtain maximum flexibility, this consolidation of applications will involve the use of different programs on the same, or different, platforms to achieve an objective. Experience demonstrates that an integrated information system can be built from diverse information islands and does not require a new system or the complete dismemberment of the old system. This paper describes how this method of integrating systems may not provide as seamless a system as a completely new system, but it is potentially less disruptive and often more cost effective. Case studies are given.