Blog

Announcing the Launch of the Water Equity Network

Gina Wammock, Senior Fellow, US Water Alliance | September 21, 2020

The Water Equity Network is a nationwide community of practice where cities can share best practices—including COVID-19 response strategies—in real time, engage in cross-city coaching and mentoring, and advance equitable water management. Network members will have an opportunity to build trusting relationships with diverse local partners to tackle water equity issues, and they’ll engage with other city teams facing similar issues to share ideas and solutions.  | More >

Safe Septic Systems: a Key Component of Water Equity

Zoë Roller, Program Manager, US Water Alliance | September 11, 2020

The US Water Alliance is proud to join the EPA Decentralized Wastewater Management Partnership, a group formed to work collaboratively at the national level to protect the nation’s public health and water resources. The purpose of the partnership is to improve the overall performance and management of decentralized wastewater treatment systems, also known as septic systems. | More >

Washington DC Update—August 2020

Scott Berry, Policy Director, US Water Alliance | August 27, 2020

Washington lawmakers began August with three tall orders to fill. As unemployment hangs in the double digits, the need for another package of COVID-19 relief is growing more pronounced and key provisions of previous bills are expiring. And, with the September 30th deadline fast approaching, annual spending bills remain unfinished. And, looming just after the election, raising the debt ceiling will be a key need. Despite this consequential to-do list, Congress opted for a limited legislative schedule with long breaks in August and early September. That leaves only a few remaining months before a critical election for each party to act and make the case to the American for why their party deserves the mandate to govern. | More >

Investing in Water Infrastructure: Exponential Potential and the Cost of Inaction

Katie Henderson- Value of Water Campaign | August 26, 2020

A hidden network of pipes and pumps ensure water flows through homes and businesses, but people often take these critical systems for granted. This month, our organizations, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Value of Water Campaign (VOW), partnered on a new economic report that quantifies water infrastructure investment and what happens when the nation fails to invest. With the research firm EBP, we sought to understand two contrasting futures: a future where we meet our water infrastructure needs and a future where we allow water infrastructure investment to fall further and further behind. | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Cross-Sector Partnership: Flint Community Lab

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

In the wake of the water crisis that began in 2014 and exposed tens of thousands to toxic lead levels, many Flint, MI residents were left not knowing who to trust about the safety of their water. In 2018, two organizations, Flint Development Center, a community center located in a former elementary school, and Freshwater Future, an established organization dedicated to the protection of the Great Lakes, stepped up to address this challenge of trust. The organizations created the Flint Community Lab. The Lab began as a summer pilot program with 15 teens and aimed to both inspire local youths to get involved in their city’s water issues, and to provide accurate information to residents about the water that serves them. Because of its unique strategy of engaging youth to address one of the most high-profile water issues in America, the Flint Community Lab has earned the US Water Prize for Cross Sector Partnership  | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Private Sector Organization: Marriott International

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

Water is essential to every facet of America’s hotels—from the cooking of guests’ meals and cleaning linens and towels to hotel pools and air conditioning systems. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, hotel water usage accounts for approximately 15 percent of the nation’s commercial and industrial water use. Marriott International is a visionary leader addressing water challenges in the hotel industry and for that leadership earned the 2020 US Water Prize for Outstanding Private Sector Organization.   | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Nonprofit Organization: Iowa Soybean Association

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

Established in 1964, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), the largest soybean association in the nation, was founded “by farmers to serve farmers. Water management can be a challenging issue in Iowa, particularly when it comes to agricultural landscape practices. To overcome this, ISA has emerged as a One Water champion, exploring and promoting water management practices that benefit farmers, watersheds, and the people who live within Iowa’s watersheds. ISA’s leadership in building bridges between the agricultural community and other key water stakeholders in Iowa has earned the organization the US Water Prize for Outstanding Nonprofit Organization.   | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Public Sector Organization: Denver Water

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

Across the country, water and wastewater utilities are facing myriad challenges ranging from inadequate investment to the strain put on aging water system by climate impacts and extreme weather. Denver Water, the largest water provider in Colorado with 1.5 million customers, illustrates that utilities have the capacity to innovate and rise to these challenges. For its leadership, Denver Water is the 2020 recipient of the US Water Prize for Outstanding Public Sector Organization  | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Public Official: Senator Ben Cardin

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

Over his long career in Congress, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland has proven time and time again that he is a champion for America’s water. An advocate for the environment, and especially his home-state Chesapeake Bay, Senator Cardin has introduced legislation to restore the health of America's great water bodies and is a leading proponent of investing in improvements to America's aging water and wastewater infrastructure system. For his tireless work on behalf of the nation’s water, Senator Ben Cardin is the recipient of the 2020 US Water Prize for Outstanding Public Official.  | More >

US Water Prize for Outstanding Journalism: Jose A. Del Real, The New York Times

US Water Alliance | August 20, 2020

Jose Del Real has dedicated his work in recent years to bringing to light water access inequities in America. Writing for The New York Timeshe explored long-standing prejudices in California’s Central Valley, making the case through his reporting for everyone to have access to clean water regardless of their background or socio-economic status. For this important coverage, Jose Del Real has earned the 2020 US Water Prize for Outstanding Journalism.   | More >