The Water Collaborative

THE WATER

COLLABORATIVE

THE WATER

COLLABORATIVE

SEEKING TO ENSURE A LIFETIME OF LIVING, THRIVING, & LOVING WATER FOR EVERY RESIDENT.

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SEEKING TO ENSURE A LIFETIME OF LIVING, THRIVING, & LOVING WATER FOR EVERY RESIDENT.

THE WATER

COLLABORATIVE

We actualize water as a human right by tackling systemic injustices through policy, education, and equity.

WHAT DO WE ADVOCATE FOR?

WATER QUALITY
The environmental protection agency estimates that investments into drinking water systems would cost $648 Billion over the next 20 years. The costs will be even higher in southern states as historically neglected communities are confronted with poor water quality, increasing pollution, climate change, and historical divestment. Water quality is a big area.
LEARN MORE
WATER ACCESSIBILITY
Over 2 million Americans lack access to clean drinking water. Indigenous Americans are 19 times more likely to lack access to indoor plumbing. Access to potable water is critical to both individuals and communities. No one should go without water in a country with a trillion-dollar budget.
LEARN MORE
WATER AFFORDABILITY
More than 12.1 - 19.2 Million Americans lack access to affordable water services. Compounding factors create environments where water becomes unaffordable, including water privatization, weakening or failing infrastructure, and budget shortfalls caused by increased overhead costs, are just a few common reasons. Since 1977, federal funding for water infrastructure has been cut by 82%. Getting more federal investment in our nation’s most important resource is critical to the health, security, and growth of the country.
LEARN MORE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION &
MITIGATION
In our current climate reality, water is both our country's most vulnerable resource, and our biggest threat. On average, flooding costs 4.5 billion, while tropical cyclones cost 34.3 billion annually. The costs of these water-related events only balloon as the world continues to warm. Investments in nature-based solutions, clean energy, fortified homes, and other tools can make or break communities, especially coastal cities, on the brink of disappearing. Our path forward is learning to live with water, but it requires system change and innovative approaches.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The only way to see innovative approaches and solutions move forward is through the lens of those experiencing the challenges. Collaborative, community-centered procedures and policies improve the success of a project and make those projects more sustainable and resilient to change.
WATER QUALITY
The environmental protection agency estimates that investments into drinking water systems would cost $648 Billion over the next 20 years. The costs will be even higher in southern states as historically neglected communities are confronted with poor water quality, increasing pollution, climate change, and historical divestment. Water quality is a big area.
LEARN MORE
WATER ACCESSIBILITY
Over 2 million Americans lack access to clean drinking water. Indigenous Americans are 19 times more likely to lack access to indoor plumbing. Access to potable water is critical to both individuals and communities. No one should go without water in a country with a trillion-dollar budget.
LEARN MORE
WATER AFFORDABILITY
More than 12.1 - 19.2 Million Americans lack access to affordable water services. Compounding factors create environments where water becomes unaffordable, including water privatization, weakening or failing infrastructure, and budget shortfalls caused by increased overhead costs, are just a few common reasons. Since 1977, federal funding for water infrastructure has been cut by 82%. Getting more federal investment in our nation’s most important resource is critical to the health, security, and growth of the country.
LEARN MORE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION &
MITIGATION
In our current climate reality, water is both our country's most vulnerable resource, and our biggest threat. On average, flooding costs 4.5 billion, while tropical cyclones cost 34.3 billion annually. The costs of these water-related events only balloon as the world continues to warm. Investments in nature-based solutions, clean energy, fortified homes, and other tools can make or break communities, especially coastal cities, on the brink of disappearing. Our path forward is learning to live with water, but it requires system change and innovative approaches.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The only way to see innovative approaches and solutions move forward is through the lens of those experiencing the challenges. Collaborative, community-centered procedures and policies improve the success of a project and make those projects more sustainable and resilient to change.
WATER QUALITY
The environmental protection agency estimates that investments into drinking water systems would cost $648 Billion over the next 20 years. The costs will be even higher in southern states as historically neglected communities are confronted with poor water quality, increasing pollution, climate change, and historical divestment. Water quality is a big area.
LEARN MORE
WATER ACCESSIBILITY
Over 2 million Americans lack access to clean drinking water. Indigenous Americans are 19 times more likely to lack access to indoor plumbing. Access to potable water is critical to both individuals and communities. No one should go without water in a country with a trillion-dollar budget.
LEARN MORE
WATER AFFORDABILITY
More than 12.1 - 19.2 Million Americans lack access to affordable water services. Compounding factors create environments where water becomes unaffordable, including water privatization, weakening or failing infrastructure, and budget shortfalls caused by increased overhead costs, are just a few common reasons. Since 1977, federal funding for water infrastructure has been cut by 82%. Getting more federal investment in our nation’s most important resource is critical to the health, security, and growth of the country.
LEARN MORE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION &
MITIGATION
In our current climate reality, water is both our country's most vulnerable resource, and our biggest threat. On average, flooding costs 4.5 billion, while tropical cyclones cost 34.3 billion annually. The costs of these water-related events only balloon as the world continues to warm. Investments in nature-based solutions, clean energy, fortified homes, and other tools can make or break communities, especially coastal cities, on the brink of disappearing. Our path forward is learning to live with water, but it requires system change and innovative approaches.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The only way to see innovative approaches and solutions move forward is through the lens of those experiencing the challenges. Collaborative, community-centered procedures and policies improve the success of a project and make those projects more sustainable and resilient to change.
WATER QUALITY
The environmental protection agency estimates that investments into drinking water systems would cost $648 Billion over the next 20 years. The costs will be even higher in southern states as historically neglected communities are confronted with poor water quality, increasing pollution, climate change, and historical divestment. Water quality is a big area.
LEARN MORE
WATER ACCESSIBILITY
Over 2 million Americans lack access to clean drinking water. Indigenous Americans are 19 times more likely to lack access to indoor plumbing. Access to potable water is critical to both individuals and communities. No one should go without water in a country with a trillion-dollar budget.
LEARN MORE
WATER AFFORDABILITY
More than 12.1 - 19.2 Million Americans lack access to affordable water services. Compounding factors create environments where water becomes unaffordable, including water privatization, weakening or failing infrastructure, and budget shortfalls caused by increased overhead costs, are just a few common reasons. Since 1977, federal funding for water infrastructure has been cut by 82%. Getting more federal investment in our nation’s most important resource is critical to the health, security, and growth of the country.
LEARN MORE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION &
MITIGATION
In our current climate reality, water is both our country's most vulnerable resource, and our biggest threat. On average, flooding costs 4.5 billion, while tropical cyclones cost 34.3 billion annually. The costs of these water-related events only balloon as the world continues to warm. Investments in nature-based solutions, clean energy, fortified homes, and other tools can make or break communities, especially coastal cities, on the brink of disappearing. Our path forward is learning to live with water, but it requires system change and innovative approaches.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The only way to see innovative approaches and solutions move forward is through the lens of those experiencing the challenges. Collaborative, community-centered procedures and policies improve the success of a project and make those projects more sustainable and resilient to change.

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Since 2019, I’ve been building The Water Collaborative to be a trendsetter in the sector. Prioritizing innovation and agile planning, trauma-informed policy-making, Kingian Nonviolence Theory, and intersectional collaborative design are just a few core techniques we employ at all levels of the organization, both internally and externally.

To many of you, that just sounds like words - but through it all, it means we move with intention, and like water, we flow where the river takes us. Like any river, we move with nutrient-rich soil and sediment; wherever we flow, we build land and ecosystems. Above all, we build hope where there often seems to be none.

Our work at The Water Collaborative works to undo historical pain and trauma where water has been weaponized against vulnerable communities. And while water is a human right, we are not naive to think or perpetuate that it becomes a human right because we wish it to be. It becomes a human right when we respect land and nature, build community-centered solutions and policies, and create a practice of de-siloing and sharing knowledge across affinity groups. Our multidisciplinary programs speak to the uniqueness of water and its versatility. Whether you’re an engineer, an educator, or a creator, this is your space - and you have vital knowledge to gain or contribute. So, while we are deeply committed to policy and educational solutions for water, the knowledge we gain is better used when others understand and share it. To reach this goal, making our information accessible is half the battle.

Water is the bearer of strength, power, joy, healing, and hope. When you harness it, especially for good, you can improve the world. No matter how you found us, water is your right, your community’s right, and the right of nature, and you belong here.

here will the river take you?

- Jessica Dandridge