Many frontline communities face environmental challenges with few resources and little recognition. One solution is to build culturally grounded, community-led movements for environmental justice. In this episode, Huda Alkaff, Founder and Director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, shares how she has spent over two decades weaving together faith, ecology, and grassroots…
Funding Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has powered over 8,100 environmental projects—and its future is now in Congress’s hands. Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is calling for reauthorization and renewed investment over the next five years, warning that failure to act could jeopardize $440 billion in U.S. economic output tied to the region.…
What happens when federal water funding is stalled? For Benton Harbor, it means delayed upgrades to the filtration plant, stunted riverfront development, and communities still waiting for clean water. Mayor Marcus Muhammad says over $100 million was allocated to his city-transforming water infrastructure, housing, and Ox Creek cleanup. But when…
Sewer Overflows in Mount Vernon Spark Urgent Infrastructure Fix “Imagine not being able to flush your toilet—for two and a half years.” That was the reality for 1,100 families in Mount Vernon, New York, due to a catastrophic failure of sewer and stormwater infrastructure. Bypass pumps filled intersections just to…
💧 H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Jonathan Altenberg of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Access to clean, safe water shouldn’t depend on the size of a city’s budget. Jonathan Altenberg leads a coalition of more than 250 U.S. and Canadian cities working together to address water equity, coastal…
YouTube Shorts: Great Lakes Mayors Unite For Clean Water And Infrastructure What if hundreds of cities could speak with one voice to protect the most vital freshwater resource in North America? That’s exactly what the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative empowers local leaders to do. Mayor Marcus Muhammad…
Mayors Urge DC To Fund Great Lakes NOW Mayors from cities around the Great Lakes are urging the Trump Administration and Congress to provide funding for crucial water infrastructure projects in the region. Decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure have caused major issues—lead pipes, sewer overflows, and stormwater failures—in cities…
Water leaks, infrastructure, and utility management take center stage in this H2O Intro with Khanh Kim of Houston Water. How can you tell if a leak is your responsibility—or the city’s? Start by checking the water meter. Khanh Kim, Managing Engineer with Houston Water, leads a team that not only…
Kayaking deep in a swamp along North Carolina’s Black River leads to a bald cypress that’s over 2,600 years old—older than the Roman Empire, the Great Wall of China, and even the birth of Jesus Christ. This ancient tree started growing in 600 BCE and has quietly recorded millennia of…
On World Water Day, leaders from across the water world joined a special paddle through North Carolina’s Black River, led by members of the Coharie Tribe, to honor the importance of water and visit one of the oldest trees on Earth, a 2,600 year-old bald cypress. They offered reflections inspired…
Iowa farmer Mark Schleisman is taking tile drainage to the next level—capturing and reusing nutrient-rich water instead of letting it flow downstream. Unlike traditional conservation practices like saturated buffers or bioreactors, tile drain water recycling removes nitrogen and returns it to the field, boosting crop growth and sustainability. “It’s a…
Capturing and reusing tile drainage water isn’t just about irrigation—it’s dramatically reducing nitrogen pollution. At some sites, this system has slashed nitrogen loads by over 90%, keeping thousands of pounds of harmful runoff from flowing downstream. Chris Hay of Hay Water Solutions breaks down the impact of this innovative approach…
Farmers rely on tile drainage to keep their soil healthy and productive, ensuring roots have the right balance of moisture and oxygen. Without proper drainage, roots suffocate, and crops struggle. “If we buy a farm, the first thing we do is tile it,” says Iowa farmer Mark Schleisman, explaining how…
💧 H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Oscar Vasquez of the City of Hialeah A long-standing sewer moratorium in Miami was blocking development, preventing homeowners and businesses from upgrading properties. Regulators assumed nighttime flows were due to infiltration—but what if they weren’t? Oscar Vasquez, Deputy Public Works Director for Hialeah, led an…
Instead of letting nutrient-rich tile drainage water flow away, innovative farmers are capturing it in reservoirs and reusing it for irrigation—boosting yields while cutting runoff. Some are even using tile lines themselves to return water directly to crops. Chris Hay of Hay Water Solutions explains how this approach transforms waste…
Nutrient runoff from tile drainage systems on Iowa farms is a significant challenge, affecting local waterways and the Mississippi River. Tile drain water recycling offers an innovative solution by capturing nutrient-rich drainage water, storing it in reservoirs, and reusing it for irrigation. This approach reduces nitrogen runoff while providing farmers…
Drought and overpumping have put immense pressure on the Edwards Aquifer, but innovative water management strategies are helping keep Barton Springs in Austin flowing. Through science-driven permitting systems, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has implemented a tiered approach to groundwater use—requiring greater reductions in pumping during severe drought to…
For the Coahuiltecan people, Texas’ Four Fountain Springs—Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and San Pedro Springs—are more than water sources. Before colonization, these springs surged skyward, connecting earth and sky in a breathtaking display of nature’s power. Maria Rocha of the Indigenous Cultures Institute shares how these sacred…
Protecting Texas springs starts with education. In Wimberley, every student visits local water sources like Jacob’s Well to learn firsthand about aquifers and conservation. Even the schools reflect this deep connection—Jacob’s Well Elementary and Blue Hole Primary are named after iconic local springs. “The things we do today will impact…
💧 H2O INTRO 🤝 Meet Terence Byrd of Jackson Water In 2022, the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis left tens of thousands without drinking water for weeks, exposing deep infrastructure challenges. Now, the city is taking bold steps to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself. Terence Byrd, Chief Water Operations Officer for…
Finding the right executive talent, including for the water industry, isn’t just about filling a role—it’s about driving business success. Bo Burch, CEO of Human Capital Solutions, has redefined executive search by shifting the focus from volume to precision. Instead of simply sourcing candidates, his team helps companies identify the…
The key to saving Texas springs? Pumping limits and land conservation. Without sustainable groundwater management, iconic springs like Jacob’s Well will continue to decline. David Baker of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association explains how setting pumping caps and protecting aquifer recharge land are critical solutions. Cities like Austin and San…
Texas’ iconic springs are drying up at an alarming rate—three times as many have disappeared in the last 50 years. As groundwater pumping increases, spring flows decline, serving as a warning sign for unsustainable water use. "When a spring goes dry, that’s a clear signal we’re pumping too much," says…
Beneath the surface of Texas, limestone aquifers act as natural filters and reservoirs, feeding the state’s iconic springs. These springs do more than offer a place to swim—they sustain ecosystems, provide drinking water, and keep rivers flowing. "Nearly half of Texas' water supply depends on spring flow," says Vanessa Puig-Williams…