Scaling Distributed Infrastructure: Lawns, Parks, and Forests

Turning lawns into water savings, rewriting city codes, and protecting forests upstream—these are just some of the ways communities are reimagining their water systems with help from the WaterNow Alliance.

In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the organization, shares how their Project Accelerator provides pro bono support to utilities ready to scale distributed, climate-resilient solutions.

From helping Golden, Colorado craft the state’s first graywater ordinance to guiding New Orleans through a citywide green infrastructure overhaul, Cynthia details how local leaders can make meaningful progress with the right technical, policy, and financial tools.

She explains how WaterNow tackles challenges like lead pipe replacement, equitable community outreach, and securing capital funding for projects traditionally seen as “non-infrastructure.”

The discussion also explores the growing role of forest restoration in source water protection and the need for utilities to communicate more clearly with the public about the true cost—and value—of water.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.