Imagination Challenge: Water’s Role in the Race to Zero

In 2021 the US Water Alliance, together with four core partners, launched the Imagination Challenge as part of our Recovering Stronger and Climate Initiatives. An Imagination Team of diverse experts will tackle water’s role in climate mitigation and set a strategic pathway for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. 

About the Imagination Challenge

Scientists say we have less than a decade to act on climate, and any efforts to help the water sector recover stronger must contribute to progress on the climate crisis. The water sector has ample opportunities to contribute to climate mitigation and adaption efforts while pursuing sector goals like resilience and sustainability. From renewable energy generation to carbon sinks, water can help reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.
 
The Imagination Challenge was developed to create the intellectual, creative, and collaborative space that surfaces innovative solutions and an overarching strategy to reduce water’s GHG footprint across the nation. A sector-wide Imagination Team will undertake this challenge, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
 
The Challenge kicked off with an International Water and Climate Mitigation Symposium, co-hosted by the US Water Alliance and Xylem. This symposium explored insights and recent developments from international water partners pursuing the Race to Zero vision: net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To learn more about the symposium and watch the recording, click here.
 
Following this symposium, the Imagination Team will take a deep dive into understanding how the US water sector can advance these efforts and unite around a vision and strategic pathway for water’s role in climate mitigation. The Imagination Team will be guided through a series of strategic dialogues, as well as a cross-sector roundtable in partnership with the Aspen Institute. A shared vision and codifying principles are expected for release in early 2022. 
 
Read more about the Imagination Challenge here.

Meet the Imagination Team

Comprised of over 35 diverse experts from across the sector, the Imagination Team will work together throughout 2021 to tackle this Challenge. The team includes representatives from water associations, utilities, academia, consulting firms, environmental organizations, equity leaders, rising One Water professionals, and artists.

*Core partner or supporter.

Barb Martin, Director of Engineering and Technical Services, American Water Works Association (AWWA) 
 
Erica Brown, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)
 
Ifetayo Venner, Vice President, Wastewater Practice Leader, Arcadis US
 
Cindy Wallis-Lage,* President, Global Water Business, Black and Veatch   
 
Nancy Andrews, Managing Principal, Solids and Energy, Brown and Caldwell
 
Erik Meyers, Vice President, Climate and Water Sustainability, The Conservation Fund 
 
David Gadis, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, DC Water 
 
Kishia Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, DC Water
 
Matt Ries, Director, Sustainability and Watershed Management, DC Water
 
Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome,* Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC  
 
Erin Genia, Multidisciplinary Artist, Educator, and Organizer, Erin Genia Studio 
 
Caitlin Berretta, Government Affairs and Sustainability Director, Evoqua Water Technologies
 
Snehal Desai, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC
 
Walt Walker, Associate / Water Equity Practice Leader, Greeley and Hansen 
 
Sharon Citino, Planning Director, Houston Water
 
Yvonne W. Forrest, Director, Houston Water 
 
Chauncia Willis, Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management 
 
Victoria Johnson, Social Value / Equity Practice Leader, Americas, Jacobs
 
Susan Moisio, Global Water Director, Jacobs 
 
Matt Bond, Deputy Director, KC Water 
 
Dr. Newsha K. Ajami, Chief Research Strategy and Development Officer, Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
 
Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 
 
Dee Zinke, Assistant General Manager and Chief External Affairs Officer, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
 
Hardeep Anand, Deputy Director, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department 
 
George Hawkins, Founder and President, Moonshot Missions
 
Andy Kricun, Managing Director, Moonshot Missions; Senior Fellow, US Water Alliance
 
Jason Isakovic, Director, Legislative Affairs, National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
 
Adam Krantz, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) 
 
Jane Atkinson Gajwani, Director, Office of Energy and Resource Recovery Programs, New York City Department of Environmental Protection 
 
Heather Cooley, Director of Research, Pacific Institute
 
Michael McAfee,* President and Chief Executive Officer, PolicyLink  
 
Yasmin Zaerpoor, Director of Water Equity and Climate Resilience, PolicyLink
 
Terisa Thomas, Director, Clean Water Finance, Quantified Ventures 
 
Ari Neumann, Director, Community and Environmental Services, Rural Community Assistance Partnership 
 
Jason Bregman, Partner, Singer Studio 
 
Janene Yazzie, Chief Executive Officer, Sixth World Solutions 
 
Art Umble,* Global Wastewater Practice Leader, Stantec  
 
Dr. Jose Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Bilingual Climate and Water Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists 
 
Dr. Diego Rosso, Professor and Director, Water-Energy Nexus Center, University of California, Irvine 
 
Sonia Brubaker, Director, Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center, US Environmental Protection Agency 
 
Katy Lackey,* Senior Program Manager, US Water Alliance 
 
Renée Willette,* Vice President, Programs and Strategy, US Water Alliance  
 
Dr. Barry Liner, Chief Technical Officer and Director, Water, Science, and Engineering Center, Water Environment Federation (WEF) 
 
Claudio Ternieden, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Water Environment Federation 
 
Ashwin Dhanasekar, Research Program Manager, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) 
 
Dr. Christobel Ferguson, Chief Innovation Officer, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) 
 
Al Cho,* Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Xylem 

 
 
For more information on the Imagination Challenge, please contact Katy Lackey at klackey@uswateralliance.org.
 
 

Thank you to the Imagination Challenge core partners and supporters!