The article discusses potential improvements that can be embraced by the water utilities in Mexico as highlighted in an international seminar organized by the Instituto Mexicano de Technologia del Agua on July 25-27, 2007. It details the major problems being faced by Mexico, which are associated with water service quality, efficiency and coverage, particularly in rural areas. The seminar explored the needs for change in the areas of management, regulation and politics in order to improve overall utility performance. Discussions in the seminar focused on issues of self-regulation, commercial efficiency, governance structures and benchmarking.