What started as a bold experiment in the 1950s turned into one of California’s most inspiring examples of water reuse. Santee Lakes in San Diego transformed treated wastewater into a thriving community asset — 200 acres of preserved land that now welcomes 800,000 visitors a year for fishing, camping, and…
San Diego is proving that the future of water is recycled. This episode visits Santee Lakes—one of California’s earliest examples of water reuse—with Kyle Swanson of Padre Dam Municipal Water District, who explains how a 1960s experiment turned wastewater into a beloved community asset and a model for the world.…
Water challenges aren’t just global — they’re happening in under-resourced communities across the U.S. too. For Brooke Poppe the solution starts with local partnerships and pro bono engineering. As a Program Engineer with Engineers Without Borders USA, Poppe manages the Community Engineering Corps, connecting communities with technical expertise they wouldn’t…
Introducing the Hydro20, a group of twenty individuals celebrated for driving change, disrupting norms, and doing good for water sustainability across the United States. The Hydro20 is an initiative of waterloop, a nonprofit news outlet, and was announced during Climate Week NYC at the Rethinking Water conference hosted by Columbia…
Jorge Richardson, Founder and CEO of Hope Hydration, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his innovative work in advancing public access to clean drinking water and reducing plastic pollution. Recognizing the outdated infrastructure of scarce and untrusted water fountains, coupled with widespread reliance on single-use plastics, Richardson developed a…
Dr. Raha Hakimdavar, currently a leader at Zyon Space and Georgetown University, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her pioneering work in space-based hydrology. Previously, through her roles at NASA and the U.S. Forest Service, she advanced satellite technology, data analysis, and science-based decision-making to promote water sustainability. While…
Jerry Holden Jr., Director of the Southern Region for Ducks Unlimited, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his leadership in wetland restoration and land conservation across the southern U.S., from New Mexico to the Chesapeake Bay. Overseeing the Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic flyways, Holden leads a diverse team of…
Rachel Brown, former Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Interior, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her dedication to improving water access for tribal communities and the Native Hawaiian community. Her work supported the Department’s treaty and trust responsibilities, fostering collaboration across bureaus like the Fish and…
Tom Gamble, a third-generation farmer and first-generation grape grower at Gamble Estates, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his pioneering efforts in water conservation within Napa Valley’s wine industry. At Gamble Estates, where all grapes are grown and bottled in-house, a healthy watershed is imperative for producing high-quality wine.…
Lorelei Cloud, a member of the Southern Ute Tribe, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her trailblazing leadership in water rights and sustainable water management. Rising from a community without reliable water access, Cloud became a powerful advocate for tribal sovereignty and Indigenous voices in water governance. As Vice…
Greg Newbloom, Founder and CEO of Membrion, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his pioneering work in transforming industrial wastewater treatment through advanced membrane technology. Recognizing the limitations of traditional polymeric membranes, which are delicate and struggle with hazardous waste streams, Newbloom developed breakthrough electro-ceramic desalination membranes. These durable…
Britton Smith, Founder of the funk band Britton and The Sting, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for using music to raise awareness about water’s fundamental role in life and on the planet. Inspired by a commission to write for an amphitheater on the water, Smith recognized that water’s deeper…
Omar Mitchell, Vice President of Industry Growth and Sustainability for the National Hockey League (NHL), is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his leadership in advancing water stewardship within the hockey industry. Under his tenure, the NHL has advanced innovative practices, such as those seen with the Seattle Kraken, who…
Shanna Yazzie, Safety and Compliance Manager for DigDeep’s Right to Water Project, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her leadership in bringing running water to homes across the Navajo Nation, where one in three households lacks access to running water. Growing up in a Navajo family that relied on…
Carletta Davis, President of the We Matter Community Association, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for exposing the failing water system in Prichard, Alabama, and leading a fight for environmental justice. Facing a crumbling water infrastructure that loses 66% of its supply to leaks and spills millions of gallons of…
Dan Tedesco, leader of Brita’s dedicated lead reduction initiative, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his work partnering with over 320 communities across the U.S. to combat lead contamination in drinking water. By collaborating with water utilities, Tedesco ensures pitcher filters are provided to residents during the critical transition…
Manny Teodoro, Professor at the University of Wisconsin, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his impactful work in addressing water affordability and public trust in water systems. Focusing on the growing crisis of water affordability, Teodoro examines the challenges faced by low-income households as water and sewer costs rise…
Seth Watkins, operator of Pinhook Farm in southwest Iowa, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his leadership in regenerative farming and water sustainability. Committed to happy cows, clean water, and healthy soil at his family’s farm since the 1840s, Watkins addresses the depletion of Iowa’s topsoil—where two-thirds to 100%…
Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current and leader of Great Lakes ReNEW, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her transformative leadership in advancing circular water economy principles in the Great Lakes region, which holds 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. Recognizing the historical lack of careful stewardship, Harkness drives…
Richard Diaz is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his advocacy for transforming water infrastructure to protect public health, create local jobs, and prioritize investment in marginalized communities. In cities like Milwaukee, where nearly 50% of Wisconsin’s lead service lines are concentrated yet receive only 10% of available funding, Diaz…
Dana Okano, Program Director at the Hawaii Community Foundation, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for founding the Hawaii Environmental Finance Center and advancing water sustainability in rural Hawaiian communities. Facing the challenge of limited population bases to fund infrastructure, Okano established the Center to provide technical assistance to agencies…
Aaron Kirkland, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green Stormwater Operations Unit, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for his leadership in green stormwater infrastructure maintenance and inclusive workforce development. Recognizing that green stormwater systems, vital for managing flooding and ensuring environmental sustainability, were often neglected post-construction, Kirkland emphasized the…
Teal Lehto, known as Western Water Girl, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for her innovative use of social media to educate and empower millions about water conservation and policy. After facing rejection from county commissioners for a position on the Southwest Basin Roundtable, which contributes to the Colorado Water…
Aaron Tartakovsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for leading the onsite water reuse revolution, transforming urban resilience by scaling systems that significantly reduce water demand. Challenging outdated centralized water systems, Tartakovsky promotes decentralized recycling at the building scale, capable of reusing up to…