WaterNow is excited to announce the winners of our Spring 2025 Project Accelerator application cycle! Project Accelerator provides 250 hours of pro bono support to communities and utilities to jumpstart innovative water management projects.
The Accelerator focuses on supporting localized water infrastructure – such as water conservation, reuse, green stormwater infrastructure, and other consumer-focused initiatives – that address water management throughout an entire community. These approaches complement and extend the life of more conventional centralized water systems, while also creating job and economic development opportunities, providing neighborhood amenities and green space, and supporting public health.
Our newest Accelerator projects include:
Enhancing Participation in Water Conservation | East Bay Municipal Utility District, California
WaterNow will partner with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which provides water services to 1.4 million people and wastewater services to approximately 740,000 residents across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, to advance access to EBMUD’s long-standing water conservation programs. The project team will conduct a comprehensive conservation program participation analysis to identify gaps and trends across customer segments, drawing on insights from EBMUD staff, community-based organizations, and customers. These findings will inform the development of a Water Conservation Outreach and Communications Strategic Plan, which will outline strategies to reduce participation disparities, identify communication preferences and trusted information channels, and guide the design and evaluation of future engagement efforts to ensure all customers have access to water-saving resources and services.
Creating a Sustainable Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program in Montana | City of Missoula and the Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC)
WaterNow will partner with the City of Missoula and the Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC) to analyze and evaluate stormwater and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) programs in various states, to inform the development of a funded, sustainable GSI program in Montana. The project team will identify best practices from GSI programs in comparable states; facilitate discussions with the WMCC’s Stormwater Advisory Council, local governments, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with community priorities; draft policy recommendations and best management practices tailored to Montana’s unique regulatory, environmental, and funding context; and identify federal, state, and private funding sources. This research will inform the creation of an implementation roadmap, outlining the next steps for launching a sustainable GSI program.
Lead Service Line Replacement Program | West Allis, Wisconsin
WaterNow will work with the City of West Allis to develop an initiative to replace lead service lines. The effort will focus on re-engaging property owners who previously declined City support on lead service line replacements, seeking to address past barriers such as lack of awareness and financial hardship. The project team will develop the program, ensuring compliance with regulations, identifying potential funding sources, and engaging the community to shape and implement this effort. By expanding access to lead service line replacements and removing financial and logistical hurdles, the City aims to enhance transparency and support long-term community well-being.
Looking Ahead
We received many strong and compelling proposals in this application round, to manage stormwater, enhance water conservation, foster leadership and professional development, and build trust and partnerships between utilities and communities. While we are limited to accepting only a few of the proposals we receive, we are excited to know that utilities and organizations throughout our network are pursuing innovative and transformative projects that advance environmental sustainability, economic benefit, and broadly distributed benefits for the residents of their service areas. The next application rounds for Project Accelerator are coming up in the winter and spring of 2026, and we look forward to more opportunities to collaborate to implement your innovative water management projects.
Congratulations to our newest partner communities and thank you to all of our applicants for their commitment to sustainable water solutions.