Every state in America is grappling with the same urgent mission: ensuring clean, safe, and affordable water for their communities.

That’s where Ben Grumbles and the Environmental Council of the States are focused.

As the national nonprofit that brings together all 50 state environmental secretaries, ECOS helps leaders educate, collaborate, and advocate so states can keep making real progress on the water challenges that matter most.

Grumbles says states are under immense pressure — from emerging contaminants like PFAS, to nutrient pollution, to damaged infrastructure struggling under extreme weather and climate change. They’re also working to make regulatory systems more resilient and adaptive as science and risks continue to evolve.

But one issue rises above the rest: funding.

States implement more than 90% of the nation’s environmental and water laws, and rely on federal support to keep Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs running. Recent federal investments have helped — but looming budget cuts threaten to push states off a fiscal cliff.

“States are very focused on the need for a fair share of federal funding as one of the unifying priorities all communities are going to benefit from.” Grumbles notes.

ECOS is a partner at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. Content filmed at the US Water Alliance One Water Summit.

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