Your monthly source for One Water news, events, and updates.
One Water Newsletter: November 2019
Please welcome our newest US Water Alliance member!

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project's (SERCAP) mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income individuals by promoting affordable water and wastewater services, community development, environmental health, and economic self-sufficiency. For nearly five decades, SERCAP has earned a reputation at the state, regional, national, and international levels for providing expert service in the fields of water and wastewater infrastructure, housing, and community development. I Learn more about Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
US Water Alliance and Partners Release National Report on Water Access Challenges

This month, the  US Water Alliance, in partnership with DigDeep and Michigan State University, released a new report, " Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan",  the most comprehensive report to date on water access challenges in the United States. 

With on the ground research and data analysis, we discovered that over two million Americans live without access to running water, indoor plumbing, and safe sanitation.  The report draws on water challenges in  six distinct regions including the California Central Valley, Navajo Nation, Texas colonias, Rural South, Appalachia, and Puerto Rico. First-hand accounts from local residents shed a light on daily struggles related to failing infrastructure, contamination, and high financial costs for limited amounts of water just to live.

The report also offers a national plan of action to ensure equitable water access in our lifetimes. I Read the Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States here


Coverage Highlights from the Report Release
One Water Leadership Insights - with Terry Leeds, KC Water

As part of the ongoing  Leadership Insights series, US Water Alliance CEO Radhika Fox spoke with Terry Leeds, the Director of KC Water about his 28 years in the water sector and what One Water to means to him. 

From his experience at KC Water, Terry offers advice for young professionals at the beginning of their careers, discusses his leadership style, and reveals his Kansas City favorites. I Read the interview here
The Value of Water Campaign to Co-host "Moving America Forward" Candidate Forum 

On November 20th, the Value of Water Campaign and a group of leading labor unions and associations announced the 2020 presidential candidate forum,  "Moving America Forward: a 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on Infrastructure." US Water Alliance CEO and Value of Water Director, Radhika Fox stated, "Infrastructure is about so much, from jobs and the economy to public health and quality of life, and water is absolutely essential to all of it. We're eager to hear from the presidential candidates about their plans to improve water infrastructure for the country and address the water challenges facing Americans every day." 

The forum is slated for President's Day weekend in February and convened by United for Infrastructure, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and policymakers about the importance of America's infrastructure. Follow the Value of Water for more updates. I Learn more about Moving America Forward
One Water Leaders Learn at Strategic Leadership Institute


On November 7th and 8th, the US Water Alliance convened 40 One Water leaders from across the water sector to build deeper understanding of strategic communications and how to advance the One Water message. The institute was hosted by Valley Water at their Headquarters in San Jose and taught practices for developing strategic communications plans and campaigns. Speakers provided participants with an arsenal of information to bring back to their organization. Topic included agency rebranding, messages and storytelling, public opinion research, and more. The Institute adjourned with a site tour of the Silicon Valley Advanced Purification Center. Thank you to all who attended! I Learn more about One Water Leadership Institutes
Upcoming One Water Events
  • Webinar: Utility Action for Climate Resilience in Cities Dec. 3, 2:00 PM ET Via Webinar I Learn more
  • Moving America Forward: A Presidential Candidate Forum on Infrastructure, Jobs, and Building a Better America February (President's Day Weekend), Las Vegas, NV I Learn more
One Water News and Resources
  • Alliance member Nature Conservancy helped develop the new Floodplain Prioritization Tool to identity floodplain development opportunities in the Mississippi River Basin. I Read here
  • The announcement for the candidate forum "Moving America Forward", co-hosted by the Value of Water Campaign, was reported on by POLITICO. I Read here
  • The New York Times covered Flint, MI's struggle with providing individualized education programs for children with extensive high lead exposure. I Read here
  • Alliance member Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority's 2020 low-income assistance programs were highlighted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I Read here
  •  The US Water Alliance's Pittsburgh Water Equity Taskforce was featured in coverage of local neighborhood-focused sustainability and solutions. I Read here
From the One Water Blog
  • Water Fares Well on the Ballot in 2019 Elections by Scott Berry, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, US Water Alliance I Read here
  • US Water Alliance and Partners Release "Closing The Water Gap in the United States" by Radhika Fox, CEO, US Water Alliance I Read here
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