Misconceptions about municipal water systems and their role in the Los Angeles wildfires are widespread. These systems, including fire hydrants, are designed to handle localized urban fires, not the massive, wind-driven wildfires that swept through the region. High winds, not water availability from a reservoir, were a critical factor preventing…
Tribal communities often face unique challenges in securing safe drinking water. Through the SAFER program, California's State Water Resources Control Board partnered with the Gwaitu Paiute Tribe to provide interim filtration systems and fund an operator's salary, ensuring access to clean water while a long-term well repair project was underway.…
The next phase of the SAFER program is taking on some of California’s most challenging water access issues, focusing on areas with dispersed rural communities and limited water resources. By prioritizing regional coordination, transparency, and robust community engagement, the program is addressing long-standing gaps in water equity. Adriana Renteria explains…
Amid the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires, confusion and misinformation have surrounded the role of water resources. This episode clarifies key inaccuracies, highlighting how municipal water systems are designed to support localized firefighting efforts rather than large-scale wildfires fueled by extreme weather conditions. Kathryn Sorenson of Arizona State University’s…
How do you fix water systems in communities that can’t even apply for funding? California's SAFER program takes a groundbreaking approach by identifying at-risk water systems through annual needs assessments, then directly helping them create plans to meet safe drinking water standards. It’s not just funding—it’s a holistic, hands-on partnership…
What does it take to ensure every drop of water in California is safe and sustainable? The State Water Resources Control Board tackles this challenge by setting rigorous drinking water standards, protecting surface water rights, and enforcing quality measures statewide. Regional boards develop basin plans to manage local rivers, lakes,…
At the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, waterloop founder Travis Loop shared key insights from his travels across the United States, documenting innovative water projects. He identified a number of commonalities that define sustainable solutions. A return to nature is a recurring theme, with projects like Louisiana’s $3…
Since launching in 2014, the Clean Water Partnership in Prince George’s County, Maryland has provided a blueprint on how the government and a company can work together to simultaneously tackle environmental challenges and achieve community and business development. In this episode, Roland Jones of CIS and Jim Lyons of Prince…
Adriana Renteria of the State Water Resources Control Board grew up questioning why water access and quality varied so widely within her family’s Central Valley communities. From relying on jugs at her Tia’s house to brushing her teeth with filtered water at her cousin’s, these disparities shaped her understanding of…
The water industry faces a critical challenge: over 30% of certified water and wastewater operators are set to retire in the coming years, leaving utilities nationwide grappling with a workforce gap. Andrew Moore, Director of Plant Operations at Lehigh County Authority, shares how their innovative Waterworks Internship Program is tackling…
About one million Californians face persistent challenges accessing safe, affordable drinking water, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. California’s SAFER program, led by the State Water Resources Control Board, takes a holistic and proactive approach to address these inequities, providing funding, technical assistance, and regulatory tools to ensure clean water…
Mollicy Farms, once a soybean operation, is now the largest floodplain reconnection in the Mississippi River Basin. This 25-square-mile project allows the Ouachita River to flood its historic plain, reducing downstream flooding, filtering nutrients, and creating vital wildlife habitat. A transformative example of nature-based solutions in action. #MollicyFarms #FloodplainReconnection #NatureBasedSolutions…
Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, has reemerged in California’s San Joaquin Valley due to record rainfall and snowmelt. Despite modern water infrastructure, the lake’s resurgence highlights the challenges of managing extreme water events. With nearby communities like Corcoran already impacted, the focus now turns…
How many people in the U.S. lack safe drinking water? How much water do you drink each day? Where does your drinking water come from? Hear how people answered in this edition of Water Your Questions, recorded by the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. Tell us in the comments the…
Linda Ofori is the Assistant Director of Water Systems Operations for New Jersey. Linda highlights the growing need for investment in drinking water infrastructure, noting that estimated needs in New Jersey have tripled or quadrupled since 2003. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the EPA and states to secure…
💧H2O Minute News ⏰ Rogelio Rodriguez of Water Finance Exchange (WFX): Water Finance Exchange Municipal Advisors launched to further the organization's mission of helping communities access funding, financing, and expertise to implement resilient, sustainable, and equitable water infrastructure solutions. More: https://waterfx.org/wfx-launches-municipal-advisory-firm/ H2O Minute News is sponsored by 120Water. Learn more…
💧H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Bethel Abate The Potomac River and other waterways in Washington, D.C., are undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the DC Clean Rivers Project. This $2.7 billion initiative addresses the city's historic combined sewer overflow problem, which has long polluted its rivers. Bethel Abate, a Civil Engineer…
Built in 1869, the Chicago Water Tower stands as one of the oldest and most iconic pieces of public infrastructure in the U.S. Surviving the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, it has become a lasting symbol of resilience and innovation. Designed in Gothic Revival style, the tower originally housed 140-foot…
Farm conservation practices are making a measurable impact on water quality and climate. Adam Kiel of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund highlights significant results in 2023, including saving 8 to 10 pounds of nitrogen and three-quarters of a pound of phosphorus per acre while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by…
Supporting farmers in adopting conservation practices often requires innovative funding. Adam Kiel of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund explains how financial assistance from USDA, EPA, and state agencies helps incentivize water quality improvements, while new creative approaches aim to bridge funding gaps and meet farmers' economic needs. Episode at…
Lance Jones is the Director of Drinking Water for Arkansas. Lance says that many smaller water systems around the state are cooperating and even consolidating under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This has allowed them to take advantage of reservoirs in the state’s north and west, which provide high-quality water…
What should we rethink about water? Attracting top talent is critical for the future of water and wastewater. Austin Meyermann, CEO of Hunter Crown, highlights the need to engage people early by offering skill-building opportunities, career growth, and networking access. He also calls for rethinking how the industry communicates, framing…
Farmers are adopting a mix of in-field and structural conservation practices to improve water quality and enhance sustainability. Adam Kiel of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund highlights strategies like cover crops, no-till, saturated buffers, and prairie strips that treat and store water while supporting farm productivity. Episode at https://bit.ly/FundFarmOutcomes…
Excess nutrients from farms in Iowa and across the Midwest are a major challenge, polluting local waterways and ultimately impacting the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. To address this, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund incentivizes farmers to adopt practices that improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.…