Utilities across the U.S. are increasingly investing in upstream watershed protection—saving money and securing cleaner water at the source. Cynthia Koehler of WaterNow Alliance explains how cities from Arkansas to New York and Utah are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to fund forest restoration, reducing long-term treatment costs while…
When New Orleans set out to make every street, park, and parking lot part of its green infrastructure system, outdated municipal codes stood in the way. Cynthia Koehler and WaterNow Alliance stepped in to audit the city’s ordinances—finding 70 conflicting regulations. By building a customized roadmap to modernize local codes,…
For a quarter century, North City Water Reclamation Plant has recycled 30 million gallons of wastewater a day—supplying irrigation for Torrey Pines Golf Course, Qualcomm, and parks across San Diego. But its role is evolving. With major upgrades underway, North City is expanding capacity and advancing treatment to support Pure…
Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has helped Milwaukee accelerate replacement of lead service lines from 1,000 to 3,500 a year and replace the private side with no cost to the homeowner, says Janet Meissner Pritchard of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). Episode at https://lnkd.in/evgu73fN Subscribe to catch every…
Amanda Clark conducts community outreach about lead in a Milwaukee neighborhood. She says even more education is needed, particularly by meeting people where they are, whether that's talking to people at stores or knocking on doors. Episode at https://lnkd.in/evgu73fN Subscribe to catch every video: https://www.youtube.com/@waterloop waterloop is a nonprofit news…
Milwaukee is prioritizing lead service line replacement for neighborhoods most in need based on: ➡️ socioeconomic factors ➡️ lead levels in children ➡️ density of service lines This approach is recommended by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the State of Wisconsin. Episode: https://lnkd.in/evgu73fN Subscribe to catch every video: https://www.youtube.com/@waterloop waterloop…
Milwaukee's lead service line replacement program is boosting workforce development by requiring contractors to hire 40% of their workforce from disadvantaged zip codes. This initiative also mandates apprenticeships for skilled trades, resulting in increased diversity among laborers, plumbers, and engineers, with a significant number of apprentices being women and minorities,…
What happens when thousands of small utilities face aging pipes, rising regulations—and a $625 billion funding gap? Rania Bashar is helping communities bridge that crisis. As Senior Program Manager at Moonshot Missions, she provides step-by-step technical assistance for under-resourced water and wastewater utilities—helping diagnose infrastructure problems, boost operational efficiency, meet…
From funding gaps to political hurdles, many communities struggle to scale distributed water infrastructure. That’s where Cynthia Koehler and WaterNow Alliance step in. Their Project Accelerator program provides utilities with free technical assistance—from policy and data analysis to program design and public outreach—to help overcome barriers and advance distributed, innovative…
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…
What does a 21st-century water-powered economy look like? In this conversation, Brett Walton of Circle of Blue discusses their new reporting series on the blue economy in the Great Lakes region—where water is being used to drive innovation, jobs, and sustainable growth. The discussion explores how cities like Milwaukee, Cleveland,…
Ever visited a lake filled with treated wastewater? Just outside San Diego, Santee Lakes proves that what was once seen as waste can become one of California’s most treasured community assets. In 1961, at a time when water reuse was controversial, Padre Dam Municipal Water District filled seven man-made lakes…
Matthew Watts discusses the looming labor shortage in the water industry, with projections showing a significant loss of experienced water treatment plant operator in the next decade. 💧H2O INTRO 👨🔧 Meet Matthew Watts of Middlesex Water Company What happens when half your water operators retire—and no one knows the job…
EPA is moving forward with PFAS drinking water limits but delaying compliance deadlines and withdrawing a controversial hazard index. At the same time, the Trump White House has proposed about a 90% cut to the State Revolving Funds—raising serious concerns about how utilities will afford compliance and critical infrastructure upgrades.…
Could a key to climate resilience be better relationships not just better policies? Beth Roach of the Nottoway Indian Tribe and Sierra Club introduces the Tribal Coastal Resilience Connections Project, a powerful effort to foster understanding between tribal governments and state and federal agencies. By creating safe spaces for learning,…
Would you drink treated wastewater, aka sewage? It might sound gross, but when we hit the streets of Washington, D.C., the answers surprised us. In the latest episode of Water Street Questions, host Travis Loop asked people outside the Reservoir Center: Would you drink treated wastewater? Most smiled and said…
When DEI momentum fades, Beth Roach of the Nottoway Indian Tribe and Sierra Club leans into something stronger: relationships. She says lasting change for clean water and justice depends on deep partnerships—across organization, generations, and cultures. This is not a moment; it’s a movement rooted in ancestral resilience. Episode at…
Once written off as dead, the James River is now teeming with life—thanks to one of the most powerful environmental laws in U.S. history. The return of bald eagles, blue herons, and even the elusive sturgeon shows how the Clean Water Act sparked one of America's greatest ecological comebacks. Beth…
💧H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Olivia Lopatofsky of Lycoming County Water & Sewer Authority Small towns across Pennsylvania are struggling with complex stormwater regulations—and too often, they’re left to figure it out alone. But in Lycoming County, Olivia Lopatofsky is helping change that. As a project engineer and stormwater administrator, she’s…
Reviving Ancestral Waters In Modern Times: Beth Roach On Indigenous Advocacy For Clean Water A legacy of pollution and neglect once left the James River and surrounding waterways in ecological crisis. But decades of federal protections and grassroots advocacy have shown that nature can heal—if given the chance. In this…
Los Angeles is digging deep to fix its stormwater problem — literally. In the San Fernando Valley, a landscape once ideal for soaking up rain is now paved over, sending precious water straight to the ocean. But through its Green Streets initiative, LA is punching hundreds of dry wells into…
Stormwater management solution sends water through soils to recharge groundwater. Picture this: a 100-foot-deep gravel-filled shaft that sends stormwater straight back into the ground. It’s called a dry well, and it’s helping communities recharge groundwater right beneath their feet—efficiently, cleanly, and sustainably. Gregor Patsch of Oldcastle Infrastructure explains how it…
Soil type matters in stormwater management. Deep infiltration systems like dry wells are designed to bypass clay and silt and reach the sandy, gravelly layers where water can truly soak in. It's not just smarter infrastructure—it’s a return to the natural water cycle. Insight from Gregor Patsch of Oldcastle Infrastructure.…
💧 H2O Intro 🔬 Meet Blen Jimma of WSSC Water Every year, more than 260,000 water main breaks disrupt communities across the U.S. and Canada—putting public health and budgets at risk. At WSSC Water in Maryland, Blen Jimma is tackling the problem head-on with a forensic engineering program that digs…