This week, our nation elected a new president, a new Congress, new governors, attorneys general, state legislators, mayors, city councils, and more. Though we’re entering a new political landscape, the US Water Alliance will continue its pursuit of a One Water agenda and a sustainable water future for all regardless of who is in power. But the deeper question is what happens in the days, months, and years after November 5, 2024—and what this means for the country and democracy more broadly and water access and sustainable water management specifically.
The next several years will be momentous for water. The water investments allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will come to full fruition, and we will turn our attention to what comes next for water funding. New technical assistance efforts are building the pipeline of water projects from underserved communities. Further, the importance of water is increasingly spoken to by decision-makers, and both major political parties are celebrating local water projects in rural and urban communities alike. On the other hand, we also anticipate that water-related disasters fueled by climate change and failing infrastructure will rise, and that threats to our democratic norms and structures will continue to present themselves.
Ensuring a strong and cohesive response to the outcomes of the 2024 election will require aligning key stakeholders around a field-wide strategy and a coordinated implementation approach. We must craft a shared vision, cultivate new water champions and leaders, expand public support, and protect and strengthen our institutions. As part of this strategy, the Alliance plans to scale up our movement-building activities to empower leaders at all levels to implement One Water approaches. We’ll also continue advocating for further investment in water infrastructure and its workforce, as water systems and services will not survive without adequate funding and oversight. Across these efforts, we won’t falter on our commitment to equity, justice, and sustainability. And we will ground ourselves in the power of our network, reflected in the leadership, will, and perseverance of our incredible members, partners, and supporters.
We look forward to continuing this important work together.
In solidarity,
Mami Hara
