Vessel™ Collective Leads Collaborative Effort to Ensure Clean Water and Sanitation for All Americans 

May 7, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Vessel™, a collective of United States WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) organizations dedicated to addressing the water and sanitation crisis in the United States, is proud to host the inaugural U.S. WASH Convening from May 7-9 at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf. This groundbreaking event comes on the heels of the Vice President’s historic acknowledgment that every person in the United States should have a right and the ability to have access to clean water and the EPA’s commitment to improving water and sanitation access across the nation. 

In October 2023 the Pacific Institute became a founding member of Vessel™ with several other prominent organizations doing domestic WASH work, including DigDeep, Water For People, the American Business Water Coalition (ABWC), the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC), the Community Engineering Corps, GreenLatinos, International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), IRC WASH, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, Moonshot Missions, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), the US Water Alliance, and Xylem. 

The convening will bring together over 300 attendees from more than 100 organizations to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and solutions to closing the water access gap in the United States. More than 2 million people across the country live in households without running water or a flush toilet, and this event aims to foster collaboration and drive action to address this critical issue. 

The 3-day event will feature workshops, panels, and regional breakout groups, with strong representation from frontline communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn from experts in the field, and develop strategies for improving water access and sanitation across the country. 

On the final day of the convening, attendees will participate in an education and advocacy day on Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers and government staff to discuss the importance of investing in water and wastewater infrastructure and ensuring that all Americans have access to clean water and sanitation. 

“We are proud to be part of this major gathering of US WASH-sector organizations under the Vessel Collective. Pacific Institute’s work to bring climate change into the conversations at the convening will be critical for our collaborative effort to close the water access gap in the United States,” said Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Morgan Shimabuku and Senior Researcher and Water & Climate Equity Lead Dr. Shannon McNeeley.  

For more information about Vessel™, please visit vesselcollective.us. To register or learn more about the U.S. WASH Convening, please visit digdeep.me/uswash. 

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About Vessel™ 

Vessel™ is a collective of U.S. WASH organizations dedicated to addressing the water and sanitation crisis in the United States. Formed with the belief in collective action, the coalition aims to close the U.S. Water Gap through collaboration, community engagement, setting actionable targets, knowledge exchange, policy advocacy, and raising public awareness. By uniting organizations with a shared mission and forming the foundation of the domestic U.S. WASH sector, Vessel™ strives to ensure every individual’s right to clean and reliable water services. For more information, please visit www.vesselcollective.us.  

About the Pacific Institute 

Founded in 1987, the Pacific Institute is a global water think tank that combines science-based thought leadership with active outreach to influence local, national, and international efforts in developing sustainable water policies. From working with Fortune 500 companies to frontline communities, our mission is to create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. Since 2009, the Pacific Institute has also acted as co-secretariat for the CEO Water Mandate, a global commitment platform that mobilizes a critical mass of business leaders to address global water challenges through corporate water stewardship. For more information, visit pacinst.org.