Pacific Institute-Led Water Efficiency Project Earns Prestigious Sustainability Award
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A Pacific Institute-led California water efficiency project that uses remote sensors to detect toilet leaks has been awarded the Water Industry Leader Award by the Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge (LABBC). The LABBC’s “Best Buildings” Innovation Awards program identifies organizations demonstrating exceptional ingenuity in energy and water efficiency.
The Pacific Institute project, entitled “Advancing Water Efficiency through Leak Detection for Low-Income Housing in Southern California,” was highlighted as an urban water efficiency best practice for conserving water during historic drought in the US West. The 2021 multi-sector initiative installed 1,200 remote sensors to detect toilet leaks and send alerts in real time. At one project site, a low-income senior housing community west of downtown Los Angeles, the project has saved more than 1 million gallons of water, reduced water use by more than 25%, and saved an estimated $10,000 in water bills.
The water prize was formally awarded to the Retirement Housing Foundation, which owns and operates the 183-unit MacArthur Park Tower site.
Key partners of this project, in addition to the Pacific Institute, include:
Click here to learn more about the LA Better Buildings Challenge awards.
Click here to learn more about the award-winning project.
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CEO Water Mandate Update: 2023 UN Water Conference Special Accreditation |
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The first such event since 1977, the 2023 UN Water Conference is a historic occasion for the global water community. Taking place at UN Headquarters in New York, March 22-24, 2023, the conference will serve as a Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action (2018-2028) on SDG 6. In addition to national governments, the conference will bring together non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private and public sectors, philanthropic organizations, and other stakeholders to convene on water. |
The CEO Water Mandate, a partnership between the Pacific Institute and the UN Global Compact, will collaborate with UN DESA to conduct special accreditation for private sector organizations seeking to attend the conference. With just 150 companies in a position to influence one third of the world's freshwater, the private sector has a significant role to play in achieving SDG 6.
The first round to apply closes July 15, 2022. The Pacific Institute encourages all stakeholder organizations interested in the conference to explore the special accreditation process by clicking here.
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On June 28, 2022 at 12 PM PT, Senior Researcher - Michael Cohen - and the Pacific Institute will host a distinguished panel of Salton Sea experts and practitioners for a robust 90-minute conversation about best practices for community engagement. Prof. Chris Benner of UC Santa Cruz will moderate the conversation, joined by Mariela Loera of Leadership Counsel, Silvia Paz of Alianza CV, Christian Rodgriguez of KDI, and Frank Ruiz of Audubon. This webinar will be available in English and in Spanish. Topics will include:
- How community input is integrated into project objectives and design
- Requirements for contractors to maintain community engagement throughout project design and construction
- Differences between public relations and community engagement
- How to develop a strong framework for responding to community input in a timely and clear manner
Register here for the webinar.
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Expanding Frontline Communities' Access to Federal Funding |
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Pacific Institute Senior Researcher of Public Policy & Practice Uptake - Shannon Spurlock - will present on a panel for "Expanding Frontline Communities' Access to Federal Funding" on July 13, 2022 at 10 AM PT.
The event will be hosted by WaterNow Alliance, in partnership with River Network, for utility and community leaders nationwide facing the first, and worst, water challenges. From flooding to drought to basement backups to water contamination and more, this panel will advise on how to access State Revolving Fund grants and loans to help overcome these challenges.
Register here for the webinar.
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New WASH Projects of the WASH4Work Initiative Launched in June 2022 |
The WASH4Work initiative, an initiative in partnership with the Pacific Institute, has launched three new projects, focused on advancing corporate actions on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access. The projects also provide guidance for integration into corporate water stewardship and resilience strategies:
- Standardized Accounting Method for the Co-Benefits of WASH
- Climate-Resilient WASH Business Framework
- WASH in the Supply Chain: Identifying leading practice & WASH Pledge for Suppliers
The WASH4Work team invites input into the following research on WASH:
- Water, sanitation and hygiene benefit accounting approaches and methods
- Climate resilient WASH frameworks and implementation guidance
- WASH in supply chains – leading practice across sectors
WASH4Work invites interested parties to indicate interest in joining the working groups for each of the projects by sending an email to Wash4Work Secretariat, secretariat@wash4work.org.
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Coming Soon: Water Climate and Equity Strategy |
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In July 2022, the Pacific Institute will formally launch its new Water and Climate Equity (WCE) strategy designed to address community and decision maker needs by focusing research and outreach efforts on the nexus of water insecurity, climate change, and social inequity. The work aims to inform decision makers on the realities of the situation and highlight climate-resilient strategies to address the humanitarian water crisis in the context of current and future climate change. Stay tuned for more information! |
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Coming Soon: Pacific Institute's 2021 Annual Review |
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In June 2022, the Pacific Institute will debut its 2021 Annual Review. For the Pacific Institute, 2021 was one of the boldest years yet to provide solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. The 2021 Annual Review features the Pacific Institute’s yearly impacts while highlighting the aggressive action required ahead to catalyze the transformation to water resilience. Stay tuned for the full reveal! |
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Pacific Institute in the News |
CBS Bay Area: Study: Earth's groundwater basins may sink for decades if levels don't rebound
Los Angeles Times: Did California learn anything from the last drought? ‘Gambling’ with water continues
Los Angeles Times: Unprecedented water restrictions hit Southern California today: What they mean to you
VOA News: US Elevates Water Security as Foreign Policy Priority
Yahoo! News: Harris unveils White House plan to tackle water scarcity as national security priority
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Help create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. |
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