This section explores the nuances of global water challenges, featuring insights by our researchers, collaborative pieces with our partners, and Q&A styled dialogues with industry experts. It complements our work by providing context, commentary, and a deeper understanding of our research findings.
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Moving Toward Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water Systems in Rural Communities in the United States
May 11, 2023
One out of every five Americans—approximately 60 million people—live in rural areas that provide critical water, energy, food, resources, and recreational opportunities for the entire country. Many of these Americans live in frontline communities—those that experience climate change impacts on their water systems “first and worst” due to a combination of socioeconomic, geographical, and infrastructure characteristics.
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Harnessing the Power of Nature-Based Solutions to Invest in Our Planet’s Future
April 21, 2023
As Earth Day 2023 dawns upon us, we find ourselves immersed in a world where nature and humanity are inextricably linked. This special day serves as a reminder of the delicate balance that exists on our planet and seeks to explore our relationship and connections with nature.
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Historic UN Water Conference Concludes With New Cross-Sector Global Momentum, but Calls Emerge for More Binding Commitments
April 20, 2023
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritize ambitions on 17 interlinked sustainability issues to reach by 2030. Of these, SDG 6 focused on water is central to achieving the overall 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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Pacific Institute Approaches Historic UN 2023 Water Conference Through Lens of Water Resilience
March 16, 2023
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritize ambitions on 17 interlinked sustainability issues to reach by 2030. Of these, SDG 6 focused on water is central to achieving the overall 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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Saving Water, Time, and Money by Fixing Leaks in Affordable Housing
March 14, 2023
Climate change is accelerating the water and wastewater access gap faced by millions of people in the United States. While no one region or group of people will be spared from the impacts of the climate crisis, frontline communities—those who experience climate change first and worst—are those most at risk.
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A Pivotal Moment for Water
March 9, 2023
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritize ambitions on 17 interlinked sustainability issues to reach by 2030. Of these, SDG 6 focused on water is central to achieving the overall 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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The Climate Crisis is a WASH* Crisis
March 7, 2023
Climate change is accelerating the water and wastewater access gap faced by millions of people in the United States. While no one region or group of people will be spared from the impacts of the climate crisis, frontline communities—those who experience climate change first and worst—are those most at risk.
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How Onsite Water Systems Can Contribute to Regional Water Resilience
February 15, 2023
Across the United States and the world, communities are facing more severe and frequent extreme weather events. Companies undertaking new development projects are considering ways to make their sites more resilient to disruptions caused by these extreme events.
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The Wonder of Wetlands: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Challenges
February 2, 2023
It’s all hands on deck for the Colorado River Basin. Nearing a quarter-century of drought (better described as a continuing shift to an ever-hotter and ever-drier climate), the most famous and important river in the West faces an existential crisis.
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Managing the Unmeasured – Colorado River
January 31, 2023
It’s all hands on deck for the Colorado River Basin. Nearing a quarter-century of drought (better described as a continuing shift to an ever-hotter and ever-drier climate), the most famous and important river in the West faces an existential crisis.
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Water Advances on Global Climate Agenda at COP27
December 9, 2022
Pacific Institute featured at COP for water resilience thought leadership, innovative tools
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Advancing Innovative Water Efficiency Solutions at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference 2022
November 18, 2022
Pacific Institute research and innovative solutions related to water efficiency and conservation were recently featured at the 2022 WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas. From October 4 to 6, technical sessions covered a spectrum of water efficiency and conservation topics, including advancing the adoption of water-efficient products, alternative water supplies, and marketing and outreach.
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Saving Water Makes Cents
October 5, 2022
For the past 30 years, water rates in the United States have risen faster than inflation and all other utility rates, adding to the struggle faced by millions of people across the nation to pay water and sewer bills. Water efficiency investments reduce the need for expensive new water and wastewater infrastructure, saving communities hundreds of millions and in some instances billions of dollars in capital costs and millions more in annual operating costs.
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Pacific Institute Launches New Water and Climate Equity Strategy for United States
July 11, 2022
Throughout the world and in the United States, water insecurity and climate change both disproportionately affect frontline communities—those who are impacted first and worst from climate change. Historically disadvantaged and marginalized communities, including rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color, often suffer the most from environmental injustices related to climate change and lack of safe and reliable water from household and community water systems.
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Ensuring Water Conservation and Efficiency Programs Are Accessible to All—In California and Beyond
July 5, 2022
Californians and others in the Western United States need to save water. This is true now amidst a historic megadrought, and it will continue to be true when this drought ends. But many water conservation and efficiency programs aren’t accessible to low-income households.
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California non-functional turf irrigation ban provides businesses an opportunity to step up on sustainability
June 9, 2022
A new ban on non-functional turf irrigation in California—part of recently announced emergency drought regulations—provides a unique opportunity for California’s business community to demonstrate sustainability leadership through proactive drought response.
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Pacific Institute Statement on White House Action Plan on Global Water Security
June 1, 2022
Today’s announcement of the White House Action Plan on Global Water Security is a step in the right direction for building water resilience both in the United States and around the world.
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Innovative urban water strategies offer vast opportunity for California drought relief and longer-term water resilience
April 12, 2022
Throughout California, innovative urban water strategies—water efficiency, water reuse, and stormwater capture—are already finding success in many communities. These cost-effective and technologically feasible strategies reduce urban water use (currently 6.6 million acre-feet per year), while boosting local water supplies...
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Snowpack Report Underscores Need for Transformative Changes to Address Record-Setting California Drought
April 1, 2022
April 1st marks the end of the wet season in California. It’s also the day the California Department of Water Resources announces key seasonal snowpack measurements and makes projections of water availability for the rest of the water year. Today, the news is extremely bad and is a call to action to do much more — and to do some things much differently.
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World Water Day Focuses Attention on How Water is Underappreciated — Especially Groundwater
March 22, 2022
Around the world, people and nature rely on groundwater for survival. The newly released United Nations World Water Development Report 2022 underscores humanity’s reliance on this resource, noting groundwater currently provides about half the volume of domestic water and a quarter the volume of irrigation water withdrawn globally.
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