Radhika Fox, former head of EPA’s Office of Water, reflects on the civil servants behind the scenes: engineers, scientists, lawyers, and policy pros who dedicate their careers to clean water and public health. At a time when government work is often politicized or misunderstood, Radhika reminds us how these professionals…
When water is on the ballot, it wins. In the last election cycle, more water-related ballot measures were introduced—and passed—than ever before, from New York to California. Former EPA water chief Radhika Fox says during an interview at the Reservoir Center that it's proof: clean water transcends partisanship and unites…
This is a $2 billion Texas-sized solution to land subsidence and future water scarcity. The Northeast Water Purification Plant in Houston is now the largest design-build drinking water project in the U.S., quadrupling capacity to deliver 400 million gallons a day. By switching from groundwater to surface water from Lake…
EPA’s PFAS plan focused on Research, Restrict, Remediate. Radhika Fox shares how the agency tackled “forever chemicals” in water, land, and air with a unified, science-based strategy. PFAS have contaminated drinking water, land, and air across the U.S. To take action on PFAS during her tenure at EPA, Radhika Fox…
Meet An Indigenous Water Guardian Fighting For Conservation 💧 H2O INTRO 🌿 Meet Beth Roach of the Sierra Club & Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia What does it mean to protect water through culture, ceremony, and story? Beth Roach brings a powerful blend of Indigenous leadership and environmental advocacy to…
EPA's $500M WaterTA program helps 1,500 rural and underserved communities access clean water funding through technical assistance, planning support, and infrastructure capacity building. “It was about building capacity so more people could actually get on the list,” says Radhika Fox, former head of EPA’s Office of Water. Episode at https://bit.ly/RadhikaFoxPolicy…
What HAPPENS When Water Policy Puts People First? Radhika Fox Reflects Radhika Fox has spent her career at the intersection of people, policy, and infrastructure. In a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., the former head of EPA's Office of Water shares how she helped lead the largest…
Uncover the shocking truth behind Baytown's abandoned neighborhood and the factors of groundwater, flooding, and subsidence that led to its demise. Explore the hydrology of Houston in this eye-opening video! What happens when you pump too much groundwater? In Baytown, Texas, it sank a neighborhood. Over four decades, the ground…
For Muslims observing Ramadan, the first sip of water at sunset is more than hydration—it’s a sacred reconnection with life itself. Huda Alkaff of Wisconsin Green Muslims shares how Islamic teachings foster a deep spiritual and sustainable relationship with water. Through practices like fasting and conservation, her work uplifts water…
In this episode of Water Street Questions, Travis Loop hits the streets outside the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. to ask a simple question: How much is your water bill? The most common answer? “I don’t know.” With rent-included utilities and autopay on the rise, many people are disconnected from…
Many frontline communities face environmental challenges with few resources and little recognition. One solution is to build culturally grounded, community-led movements for environmental justice. In this episode, Huda Alkaff, Founder and Director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, shares how she has spent over two decades weaving together faith, ecology, and grassroots…
Funding Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has powered over 8,100 environmental projects—and its future is now in Congress’s hands. Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is calling for reauthorization and renewed investment over the next five years, warning that failure to act could jeopardize $440 billion in U.S. economic output tied to the region.…
What happens when federal water funding is stalled? For Benton Harbor, it means delayed upgrades to the filtration plant, stunted riverfront development, and communities still waiting for clean water. Mayor Marcus Muhammad says over $100 million was allocated to his city-transforming water infrastructure, housing, and Ox Creek cleanup. But when…
Sewer Overflows in Mount Vernon Spark Urgent Infrastructure Fix “Imagine not being able to flush your toilet—for two and a half years.” That was the reality for 1,100 families in Mount Vernon, New York, due to a catastrophic failure of sewer and stormwater infrastructure. Bypass pumps filled intersections just to…
💧 H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Jonathan Altenberg of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Access to clean, safe water shouldn’t depend on the size of a city’s budget. Jonathan Altenberg leads a coalition of more than 250 U.S. and Canadian cities working together to address water equity, coastal…
YouTube Shorts: Great Lakes Mayors Unite For Clean Water And Infrastructure What if hundreds of cities could speak with one voice to protect the most vital freshwater resource in North America? That’s exactly what the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative empowers local leaders to do. Mayor Marcus Muhammad…
Mayors Urge DC To Fund Great Lakes NOW Mayors from cities around the Great Lakes are urging the Trump Administration and Congress to provide funding for crucial water infrastructure projects in the region. Decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure have caused major issues—lead pipes, sewer overflows, and stormwater failures—in cities…
Water leaks, infrastructure, and utility management take center stage in this H2O Intro with Khanh Kim of Houston Water. How can you tell if a leak is your responsibility—or the city’s? Start by checking the water meter. Khanh Kim, Managing Engineer with Houston Water, leads a team that not only…
Kayaking deep in a swamp along North Carolina’s Black River leads to a bald cypress that’s over 2,600 years old—older than the Roman Empire, the Great Wall of China, and even the birth of Jesus Christ. This ancient tree started growing in 600 BCE and has quietly recorded millennia of…
On World Water Day, leaders from across the water world joined a special paddle through North Carolina’s Black River, led by members of the Coharie Tribe, to honor the importance of water and visit one of the oldest trees on Earth, a 2,600 year-old bald cypress. They offered reflections inspired…
Iowa farmer Mark Schleisman is taking tile drainage to the next level—capturing and reusing nutrient-rich water instead of letting it flow downstream. Unlike traditional conservation practices like saturated buffers or bioreactors, tile drain water recycling removes nitrogen and returns it to the field, boosting crop growth and sustainability. “It’s a…
Capturing and reusing tile drainage water isn’t just about irrigation—it’s dramatically reducing nitrogen pollution. At some sites, this system has slashed nitrogen loads by over 90%, keeping thousands of pounds of harmful runoff from flowing downstream. Chris Hay of Hay Water Solutions breaks down the impact of this innovative approach…
Farmers rely on tile drainage to keep their soil healthy and productive, ensuring roots have the right balance of moisture and oxygen. Without proper drainage, roots suffocate, and crops struggle. “If we buy a farm, the first thing we do is tile it,” says Iowa farmer Mark Schleisman, explaining how…
💧 H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Oscar Vasquez of the City of Hialeah A long-standing sewer moratorium in Miami was blocking development, preventing homeowners and businesses from upgrading properties. Regulators assumed nighttime flows were due to infiltration—but what if they weren’t? Oscar Vasquez, Deputy Public Works Director for Hialeah, led an…