Episodes

Flooding and water quality degradation are significant challenges in Iowa's agricultural watersheds, driven by intensive farming practices and increasingly extreme weather events. Relay cropping, a regenerative farming practi...

Grand Rapids is restoring the namesake rapids of the Grand River, reversing decades of human intervention that removed natural rock formations and altered the river’s flow. The city’s River For All project is removing five lo...

Agriculture in Iowa is vital to feeding the world, but it poses challenges for water quality and flood management due to nutrient runoff and extreme weather. One innovative solution is the restoration of oxbow lakes—former ri...

The presence of 200,000 lead service lines in Cook County, Illinois poses a serious public health threat, especially to young children who are highly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Addressing this issue requires ...

Amid the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires, confusion and misinformation have surrounded the role of water resources. This episode clarifies key inaccuracies, highlighting how municipal water systems are designed to su...

At the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, waterloop founder Travis Loop shared key insights from his travels across the United States, documenting innovative water projects. He identified a number of commona...

Since launching in 2014, the Clean Water Partnership in Prince George’s County, Maryland has provided a blueprint on how the government and a company can work together to simultaneously tackle environmental challenges and ach...

About one million Californians face persistent challenges accessing safe, affordable drinking water, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. California’s SAFER program, led by the State Water Resources Control Bo...

Excess nutrients from farms in Iowa and across the Midwest are a major challenge, polluting local waterways and ultimately impacting the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. To address this, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund ...

Flooding is impacting communities nationwide with both devastating and costly effects. The solution requires resilience planning, infrastructure adaptation, and community involvement to effectively address flood risk. In this...

The Mississippi River is essential to global agriculture and trade, but it is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, including severe droughts and floods, resulting in significant economic and environmental challenges. C...

The ever-changing nature of the Mississippi River poses significant challenges for those living behind the levee at Dogtooth Bend in southern Illinois, where increased flooding and infrastructure strain can impact everyday ex...

Las Vegas faces unique challenges as a rapidly growing city with a small share of water from the Colorado River and an arid desert climate. To meet the demands of residents and 40 million annual visitors, Las Vegas implemente...

The federal government's historic investment in water infrastructure has presented both opportunities and challenges. The solution lies in efficiently distributing funds, overcoming barriers like permitting and regulatory req...

Communities across the country are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices like water pollution and inadequate infrastructure. The solution requires not only winning court battles but also building long-term, ...

Wetlands along the Mississippi River have been disappearing for decades, leading to increased flooding and degradation of water quality, as well as loss of wildlife habitat. Nature-based solutions, like wetland restoration an...

Memphis faces the dual challenge of protecting itself from Mississippi River flooding while enhancing the environment and public spaces. The solution lies in nature-based projects that manage stormwater, restore wetlands, and...

Many water utilities across the U.S. are grappling with aging infrastructure, underfunding, and staffing challenges, but solutions are within reach through smarter management and targeted technical assistance. George Hawkins,...

Milwaukee faces a significant challenge with over 70,000 lead service lines. In response, the city has implemented a replacement program initiated by an ordinance in 2017. This initiative leverages federal funding to focus on...

Milwaukee is tackling stormwater through an innovative community-based public-private partnership. The Fresh Coast Protection Partnership is expanding green infrastructure, enhancing neighborhood quality, and developing the local workforce.

Developing and recognizing emerging leaders in the water sector is crucial for addressing current and future challenges. The WaterNow Alliance’s Emerging Leaders program plays a vital role in this effort by identifying and supporting professionals.

Managing water resources effectively is crucial, especially in regions facing scarcity and drought. The OpenET platform offers a groundbreaking solution by leveraging satellite data to measure evapotranspiration.

Marine conservation and the preservation of the U.S.'s most cherished underwater environments are critically important issues. National Marine Sanctuaries provide a solution by protecting these vital ecosystems.

The Colorado Water Fellows Program connects students with water issues and equips them with practical experience.