Our Work

Pacific Institute 2024 Impact Report: Reimagining Water for a Changing World

We are at a critical moment in history, and 2024 again proved that the need for the Pacific Institute’s work has never been greater. During 2024, the Pacific Institute launched a new Strategic Plan outlining objectives across four Impact Areas: Water Efficiency and Reuse, Nature-Based Solutions, Water Equity, and Corporate Water Stewardship. In 2024, our impact was broad, as our work influenced policies, practices, investments, and other decisions across the public and private sectors.

California Water Action Collaborative Celebrates 10 Years of Impact 

September 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

130+ Strategies for Resilient Rural Water and Sanitation Across the United States

A new report released today by the Pacific Institute, a nonpartisan water think tank, outlines over 130 actionable strategies for rural communities across the United States to strengthen the climate resilience of water and sanitation systems. “Strategies for Resilient Rural Water and Sanitation in the US” showcases tangible actions communities are already implementing.

Strategies for Resilient Rural Water and Sanitation in the United States

Developed in collaboration with the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN), rural communities, and rural technical assistance providers, the report outlines over 130 actionable strategies and approaches for rural communities across the United States to strengthen the climate resilience of water and sanitation systems.

August 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

Breathing Hazard: Air Pollution in the Salton Sea Region

This report assesses the complex and growing air quality threats in the Salton Sea region of southeastern California and outlines more effective strategies to protect public health.

New Pacific Institute Report: Shrinking Salton Sea Just One Part of a Larger Air Pollution Problem 

A new report released today by the Pacific Institute, a global nonpartisan think tank, assesses the complex and growing air quality threats in the Salton Sea region of southeastern California and outlines more effective strategies to protect public health.

Matt Kistler Appointed CEO of the Water Resilience Coalition, Ushering in a New Chapter Toward Collective Positive Water Impact in 100 Priority Basins 

The Pacific Institute today announced Matt Kistler has joined its team as CEO of the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), an industry-driven, CEO-led initiative in partnership with the UN Global Compact and the CEO Water Mandate. This milestone appointment marks a pivotal moment for the WRC as it scales up its ambition to drive measurable, collective impact across the world’s most water-stressed basins. 

July 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

June 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

Feasibility and Applicability of Leading and Innovative Utility-Led Water Affordability Efforts

Over the past decade, as the cost to operate and maintain safe, reliable water and wastewater services has continued to rise, many utilities have taken proactive steps to reduce the burden of increasing costs for customers, especially those who are not able to afford their bills. This project fills some of these gaps by documenting leading and innovative utility-led water and wastewater affordability programs and practices and the feasibility, costs, and benefits of implementation for utilities and customers in need. 

May 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

The Business Case for Investing in Nature: From Novel to the New Normal

Nature-based solutions are essential infrastructure investments with the potential to produce broad benefits. Many businesses and governments struggle to identify and implement nature-based solutions due to uncertainty in assessing and measuring their benefits and value.

April 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

World Water Day 2025: Pacific Institute Reaffirms its Commitment to Water Resilience 

To mark World Water Day, the Pacific Institute is proud to announce accelerated action across its four water Impact Areas, while reaffirming its commitment to the ambitious goal of “catalyzing the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change by 2030.” 

New Report Highlights 100+ Actionable Strategies for Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation in Frontline Communities Across US 

New research released today by the Pacific Institute and DigDeep outlines over 100 actionable strategies for frontline communities’ water and sanitation systems in the face of intensifying climate impacts while addressing systemic inequities.

Achieving Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation for Frontline Communities: Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States, Part 3

Communities, local, state, and federal agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and others are working to create equitable, climate-resilient water and sanitation in the US. This report outlines over 100 actionable strategies for frontline communities’ water and sanitation systems in the face of intensifying climate impacts while addressing systemic inequities.

March 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

The Growing Threat of Catastrophic Flooding in Rural America

February 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

Evaluating Cost-Effectiveness of Corporate Water Stewardship Projects 

To achieve ambitious and time-bound water stewardship goals, companies often invest in different projects spanning their operations, value chains, and local watersheds. When companies have a number of different projects to choose from, they may evaluate them against multiple criteria, including geographic scope, feasibility, innovation, and costs.

Pacific Institute Strategic Plan (Shortened)

January 2025 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

December 2024 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.