National Dialogues

 

September 2010 National Dialogue: Managing One Water

The Clean Water America Alliance (Alliance) hosted its third National Dialogue entitled Managing One Water in Los Angeles on September 28-29, 2010 as an important follow-up to its first two National Dialogues. Managing One Water picked up where What’s Water Worth? left off. Discussions focused on breaking down the silos within the clean water community to better integrate drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, reuse, and stormwater management; improving stakeholder relations; and advancing regional water sustainability. It will brought together the nation’s leading water policy experts, including representative from state water authorities, the federal government, municipal water and wastewater agencies, engineering firms, academia, energy, industry, green infrastructure interests, agriculture, and conservation to integrate water management at the local and regional level.  

Learn more about the event by clicking HERE.               

A summary report of the National Dialogue is available to download, by clicking HERE.

March 2010 National Dialogue: What’s Water Worth (W³)?

The Clean Water America Alliance (Alliance) convened its second National Dialogue entitled What’s Water Worth (W3)?^TM last week, bringing together over 100 experts and observers from energy, conservation, agriculture, water practitioners, academia, and federal, state, and local officials to explore the value of water. (Participant List). Sponsored by Black & Veatch, CDM, Insituform Technologies, and Greeley & Hansen, the invitation-only event took place in Washington, DC on March 25-26.

Highlights of the National Dialogue included a captivating keynote address by Robert Glennon, author of Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What To Do About It, an informative speech by Nancy Stoner, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at EPA, and a diverse panel of speakers who decried how water is currently undervalued in America, both economically and socially.

The National Dialogue was chaired by Benjamin Grumbles, former Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at EPA and current Director of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality, and facilitated by LaJuana Wilcher, former Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at EPA and former Secretary of the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.

Participants in the National Dialogue discussed a number of topics and questions over the two days including: how clean and abundant water is valued in this country; the linkage between its availability and our nation’s economic, ecological, and social well being; how clean water is currently undervalued and how the pricing system does not reflect the true cost or value; and what challenges the nation will face if the quality or quantity of water supply diminishes in the future. The focus of the second day was on what steps should be taken to improve how the public and policy makers value clean and abundant water. Ideas included stepping up outreach and educational efforts on the value of water, moving toward a true cost pricing system, better integrating water-dependent sectors, and improving cooperation across political and watershed boundaries.

A summary report of the National Dialogue is available to download, by clicking HERE. The Alliance plans to host a third National Dialogue this fall to continue the discussion on developing a national water policy. More information, including sponsorship opportunities, will be available soon.

If you have any questions regarding this Dialogue please contact Eli Weissman at eweissman@cleanwateramericaalliance.org or 202-533-1807.

 

2009 National Dialogue on an Integrated Water Policy

The Clean Water America Alliance hosted its first National Dialogue on an Integrated Water Policy: Urban Water Sustainability, in September 2009, bringing together nearly 30 leaders and experts in the clean water community to discuss urban water sustainability and how to meet the nation’s growing demands despite increasingly stressed water resources.

The United States faces increasing challenges that threaten its ability to provide adequate supplies of clean and safe water to meet the competing demands of energy production, agriculture, and water, wastewater, and stormwater management. Population growth, climate change, aging infrastructure, and new regulatory requirements all present complex but interwoven challenges that are best addressed through an integrated national policy.

Participants in the National Dialogue included a broad range of the “best and brightest” from across the water sector, including representatives from the activist community, state water authorities, the federal government, municipal water and wastewater agencies, engineering firms, academia, industry, green infrastructure interests, and others.

A report summarizing our Dialogue is available for download HERE.