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…
Stormwater management is evolving fast. After decades of simply moving water away, the new goal is keeping it local, treating it like the resource it is. The future isn’t just about slowing and filtering runoff — it’s about storing and reusing every drop. “Maybe we shouldn’t release it at all,”…
Stormwater management solutions that are effective, space-conscious, and sustainable are increasingly important for cities. One increasingly popular solution is deep infiltration, a practice that moves stormwater into native soils far below the surface, to avoid harmful runoff and recharge groundwater. In this episode, Gregor Patsch of Oldcastle Infrastructure explains how…
Lobbying Congress for water is actully straightfoward. Speak up—and do it smart. Mae Stevens of Banner Public Affairs urges advocates to get involved through trusted organizations like U.S. Water Alliance and RCAP that can guide strategic, well-timed engagement in Washington. "You have to make your voice heard." Episode at https://www.waterloop.org/outlook-on-federal-water-policy-in-a-divided-dc/…
What happens when a new administration inherits a water rule under fire? In the case of PFAS and lead pipe regulations, the lawsuits don’t pause—they pass hands. Mae Stevens of Banner Public Affairs breaks down why incoming leaders must quickly decide whether to defend water protections in court, even as…
A new wave of infrastructure investment is building in Congress—and water is at the center of it. Both Democrats and Republicans are preparing to move forward on a major bipartisan reauthorization bill, signaling rare unity in Washington around the need for clean, reliable water. “They realize this is something that’s…
While D.C. remains sharply divided, there’s one thing both parties still agree on—water infrastructure. Unlike issues rocked by political swings, federal water policy is steady, sustained, and quietly advancing. That’s because water infrastructure isn’t red or blue—it’s just essential. Mae Stevens of Banner Public Affairs explains why bipartisan support continues…
As a new administration and Congress settle into Washington, questions loom about how federal water policy will take shape amid broader political turbulence. Fortunately, water remains a rare bipartisan issue, providing a pathway for continued investment and action around critical infrastructure and public health. In this conversation from the Reservoir…
What do people think is the biggest water problem in America today? Scarcity, pollution, and access to clean water topped the list when we asked on Water Street outside the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. Several people raised concerns about groundwater depletion in the Southwest, while others pointed to water…