January 21, 2026, 12:30 – 1:30 pm ET
Register here
Water connects every part of our economy—powering industries, protecting communities, and sustaining life itself. Yet as costs rise, infrastructure ages, industry expands, and climate risks intensify, the true value of water is being tested. Utilities are being asked to solve for a fundamentally new challenge: how to deliver resilient and affordable services in an era defined by extremes. Across the sector, new research is shedding light on the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of what it will take. This includes funding, smarter strategies, modern tools, and sound policy to ensure investments deliver for people, resilience, and long-term prosperity.
The webinar will take place on January 21, 2026, and include insights from Water Environment Federation’s valuation of the circular water economy, and Xylem’s work on climate resilience, investment strategy, and AI. The discussion will also include updates on the Value of Water Campaign’s investment and economy findings, and together, will tell a powerful story about why this moment matters for water, and how our leaders can respond.
The discussion will connect the dots between the economic, environmental, and equity imperatives facing the sector and highlight how water leaders can use this research to build the case for sustained investment—especially as Congress considers reauthorization of the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and other critical federal commitments. It will also surface practical pathways and actionable strategies that local leaders can adopt today to rethink resilience, deploy smarter systems, and advance a circular and economically sound water future.
Moderator:
Emily Simonson, Senior Director, Water Leadership and Innovation, US Water Alliance
Speakers:
Fidan Karimova, Senior Director, Circular Water Economy, Water Environment Federation
Josh Mahan, Senior Director of Government and Industry Relations, Xylem
