WaterNow Alliance is a network of local water leaders advancing sustainable, affordable, equitable, and climate resilient water strategies in their communities.
Our Mission.
WaterNow works to advance transformation in the urban water sector to accelerate the widespread adoption of equitable, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable water management strategies. We do this as a national network for local water leaders and decision makers, empowering them with the technical assistance, resources, and tools they need to implement innovative One Water drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater solutions in their communities.
WaterNow is a catalyst for change, and an architect for solutions. We identify and overcome financial and legal barriers to innovation. We provide a forum for collaborative action, and a network for local leaders to learn from each other. We provide capacity to communities to bring sustainable water management approaches to scale.
Our Focus: Unlocking the Power of Water Leaders
Local decision makers hold the keys to our water future. In fact, 95% or more of water infrastructure spending occurs at the community level, and 87% of people nationwide are served by public water utilities. While Federal and State agencies have a vital role – the policies, strategies and priorities established by local leaders have the power to fundamentally shift how we think about and use water.
WaterNow Alliance catalyzes action by:
- ENGAGING our network of decision-makers and connecting them to ideas, resources and one another.
- CHAMPIONING a sustainable water future by eliminating barriers and advancing solutions through our policy work.
- DEMONSTRATING success by showcasing strategies that work and that communities can replicate and scale.
- DELIVERING value for our members with an effective, well-run organization that leverages a diverse portfolio of funding.
%
of water infrastructure spending occurs at the community level
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
WaterNow Alliance definitions
Sustainability n.
Providing safe, healthy, and affordable water services for people while preserving the integrity of water resources and the environment for future generations
Resilience n.
The ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions.
One Water exp.
Treating all water in communities – drinking water, stormwater, wastewater – as part of a unified and integrated system.
Equity n.
Equity is the fair and inclusive distribution of economic, political, social, and natural resources and opportunities to improve the livelihood of individuals and the overall health of society. Water equity means universal access to secure, affordable, safe, and healthy drinking water, and wastewater and stormwater management services. Equitable water infrastructure investment should support the long-term sustainability of our waterways, water systems, and utilities.
ALLIANCE STAFF
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
2024
2023
2021
Madison MacLeod | Policy Research Associate
2020
2019
Kathryn (Katie) Simon | Research Associate
ADVISORY BOARD
Adam Davis | Partner, Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP)
Alan Viterbi | President/CEO, Liquid Environmental Solutions
Brad Udall | Professor, Colorado State University Colorado Water Institute
Cameron Diehl | Executive Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns
Cameron Diehl became the Executive Director on October 16, 2017. Cameron studied political science at the University of Utah, was the Editor of the Hinckley Institute Journal of Politics, and later graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law. He started his career at ULCT as a legislative intern and returned to ULCT in 2010. During his time at ULCT, he has also been an administrative assistant, policy analyst, attorney, and Director of Government Relations. He previously worked for the Boys and Girls Club in Salt Lake City and coached basketball and football at Justice (CO), Fairview (CO), and Murray (UT) High Schools. He is an avid University of Utah fan; his paternal grandparents had their first date during the Utah State-Utah game on Thanksgiving Day in 1944 and Cameron and his family have been fixtures at Utah football games ever since. Meanwhile, his maternal grandparents met at BYU and his grandfather was later the mayor of Glenns Ferry, Idaho for 24 years. Cameron is a Murray native where he was a member of the Murray City Youth Council and attended ULCT Local Officials Day. Cameron and his wife Rachel are the proud parents of Annelise, who visited three national parks with her parents before she was four months old. Ask him anything about local government, Utah history, Utah football, Jazz basketball, or politics.
Clifford Gerber | Partner, Norton Rose Fullbright LLP
Dave Richins | President/CEO, United Food Bank
David Aladjem | Partner, Downey Brand LLP
David Sunding | Professor, College of Natural Resources, UC Berkeley
George Hawkins | Founder and President, Moonshot LLC
Jad Daley | President and CEO, American Forests
James H. Gibbs | Principal, Sperry Capital
Jill Kauffman Johnson | Head of Global Development, Corbion
Johanna Wald | Senior Counselor, Natural Resources Defense Council (ret.)
Jonathan Parfey | Executive Director, Climate Resolve
Kevin Powell | Director, Emerging Building Technologies, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Phyllis Faber | Biologist and Educator
Randall Sosnick | President/CEO, NEXT Lighting Corp.
Richard Sykes | Director of Natural Resources, EBMUD (ret.)
Robert Wilkinson | Adjunct Professor, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, UC Santa Barbara
Robert’s research and teaching is focused on water and energy policy, climate change, and issues of environmental policy. He serves on the public advisory committee for the California Water Plan, has represented the University of California on the Governor's Task Force on Desalination. He has advised the California Energy Commission and U.S. EPA on climate research, and has served as coordinator for the climate impacts assessment of the California Region for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
OUR HISTORY
WaterNow was founded in 2014 by Cynthia Koehler, Audrey Finci and Kathleen Moazed. As an elected board member of her local water district and longtime water policy expert in California, Cynthia identified the need for an organization that connected local leaders interested in sustainable water solutions and provided support to accelerate their adoption. Pooling their collective backgrounds in policy, business, law and government, Audrey, Kathleen and Cynthia envisioned a dynamic new model to catalyze change and implement sustainable water solutions at the community level.
WaterNow Alliance was formed with the support of our partners including the National League of Cities and Walton Family Foundation.
ABOUT MULTIPLIER
WaterNow is a project of the Multiplier, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which helps us protect and foster a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Because we save tens of thousands of dollars per year by working with the Multiplier, we can focus more of our time, energy and resources on programming, making your donations stretch farther and work harder. All contributions are tax deductible.