Waterloop

More than 130 organizations working on water access and sanitation are gathering in Washington, D.C.

Because millions of people in this country still don’t have reliable water.

The .wash is bringing together leaders from across the U.S. WASH sector to do something that hasn’t happened at this scale: align the work.

The focus is clear—break down silos, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate solutions for communities that have been waiting far too long.

This isn’t just another convening.

It’s an effort to move faster—and actually close the gap.

$20 million for PFAS. $20 million for lead. And up to $50 million already needed for aging pipes.

That’s the reality facing many U.S. water systems today.

Chad Seidel of the Water & Health Advisory Council describes a growing financial squeeze: new regulatory requirements are stacking on top of long-standing infrastructure needs—forcing cities to prioritize compliance over the condition of the system itself.

The risk is clear. Pipes that carry water from source to tap may fail—not because solutions don’t exist, but because funding is being pulled toward the latest contaminants.

It’s a shift in focus with real consequences.

Seidel points to the need for a broader approach—one that weighs risks across the entire system and prioritizes investments that keep water flowing safely and reliably.

Because if the system breaks down, water quality becomes secondary.

Episode at link in bio, on waterloop.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Solutions to some of the world’s biggest water challenges are taking shape through collaboration at the local level.

At a World Water Day gathering at the in Washington, D.C., leaders from across industry, advocacy, and government highlighted how convening the right people—across sectors and perspectives—is accelerating progress on water quality, scarcity, affordability, and resilience.

Josh Mahan, : “World Water Day reminds us that global challenges are ultimately solved locally through collaboration, convening, and ultimately action.”

Matthew Pine, Xylem: “We opened Reservoir in 2022… as a neutral place to convene the water sector… to talk about the critical issues around water… These topics are becoming relevant more and more every day.”

Maria Lehman, : “Water is critical to people and places for everyday life… whether it’s drinking water, wastewater, stormwater… these systems meet an essential need… and are central to their well-being and quality of life.”

Ross van Dongen, United for Infrastructure: "We all understand how challenging it is to do transformative things in our country right now, but infrastructure and water has always been a place where bipartisanship gets checked at the door."

U.S. Senator John Boozman, Arkansas: “We just simply have to make people understand how important water is. When you ask any futurist, they’ll say, looking forward, the top two things always listed… are energy and water.”

The takeaway: when the water sector comes together with purpose, solutions move forward—and communities are stronger for it.