In Baltimore, there are vast, disturbing differences from neighborhood to neighborhood in factors such as employment, education, crime, and life expectancy. While it will take a wide variety of efforts to address the root causes, an effort is underway to evaluate how green stormwater infrastructure could provide benefits for residents and improve equity across the city.

In this episode, Meghan Hazer, a city planner with the Baltimore Department of Public Works, explains how a map that prioritizes work locations was created using socio-economic and health data along with suitability of the environment for green infrastructure. Meghan also discusses the importance of asking residents about their preferred projects rather than the city dictating what will happen.

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waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at https://bit.ly/waterloopVaruna

It took thousands of years for the Mississippi River to build the coastline of southern Louisiana and its vast network of wetlands and bayous. It only took several generations of people to disrupt the natural, land-building flow by controlling the river with concrete and levees.

Now a state-of-the-art, 10,000 square foot physical model is used to plan restoration projects for the area, as discussed in this episode with Clint Willson, the Director of the Center for River Studies at Louisiana State University. Clint explains how the Mississippi River Delta model operates and the unique learning opportunities it provides to students, scientists, and resource managers.

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The water industry is often described as conservative, risk-averse, and slow to change. That behavior and accompanying acceptance of the status quo frustrate Will Sarni, Founder and CEO of the Water Foundry, who believes the industry needs disruption, particularly to tackle “wicked problems.”

In this episode, Will explains how the government could play a key role in enabling more activity and faster innovation in water. He also discusses the importance of terminology used in reporting on water challenges, the launch of the Colorado River Basin Fund, and how corporations are doing on water sustainability.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners. Find all content at waterloop.org

Note: This episode is in Spanish. Watch it with English subtitles or read a transcript in English at https://bit.ly/TwoNationPark

The Rio Grande River serves as the border between the United States and Mexico and in many ways keeps people apart. A historic project is underway to create a binational park along the river in Laredo in Texas and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico as a way to bring the two communities and nations together, as well as provide a variety of amenities. The vision for the park is discussed in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes of Green Latinos. She speaks with Tricia Cortez and Martin Castro of the Rio Grande International Study Center, who explain that the aim is for the six-mile-long park to benefit the health of the Rio Grande and provide a gathering space for people, showcase local culture, drive tourism, and generate economic activity.

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Hundreds of millions of people around the world that lack water and sanitation spend money and valuable time to get access. The market-based model of Water.org has helped 43 million people to use microloans to gain proper access to water and sanitation and then use the saved money and time to better their lives.

The approach is discussed in this episode with Gary White, Co-founder and CEO of Water.org and author of a new book titled The Worth Of Water. Gary also shares stories of how people have lifted themselves out of poverty, the role and impact of actor and Water.org co-founder Matt Damon, and the path forward for the organization, which includes helping water providers expand services to reach more people.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit https://www.waterloop.org

The Colorado River has been named the most endangered river in the U.S. by American Rivers, with the organization citing the challenges it faces from the impacts of climate change, outdated water management practices, overallocation of resources, and a failure to manage the river equitably.

These problems and the overall state of the Colorado River are discussed in this episode with Matt Rice, Director of the Southwest Region for American Rivers. Matt also talks about how to respond to the challenges, including through funding from the new infrastructure act, expansion of a wide range of water efficiency measures, and by fully involving tribes in decisions and management.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org

Tremendous attention is paid to decisions, dollars, and officials at the federal and state levels, but local government is arguably the key cog in water management. Local leaders and staff are the ones ultimately spending funds, setting policy, and implementing programs that directly impact water resources and people’s daily lives.

That’s why it is vital to listen to and assist those at the local level, as explained in this episode with Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the WaterNow Alliance. She talks about top challenges and current trends for local government in the areas of finance, equity and affordability, and adoption of innovation, as well as how water utilities are becoming anchor institutions in the community.

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In many parts of the U.S., political partisanship and climate change pose challenges for environmental progress. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes have shown to be a place for rare bipartisan support for investing in clean water and healthy communities. Also, climate change could offer silver linings for the region, such as a longer growing season for agriculture and as a refuge for people migrating from impacts like drought or sea level rise.

These opportunities are discussed in this episode with Joel Brammeier, President and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Joel also talks about progress in cleaning up highly polluted areas, combating invasive species like Asian Carp, and engaging communities in shaping water projects.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org

The relationship between water and conflict has a long history. Sometimes a fight arises over water resources. Other times water is used as a weapon during war. In other cases water is collateral damage. The history is detailed in the Water and Conflict Chronology and discussed in this episode with Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Institute.

Peter also talks about examples from the chronology such as the first entry from 2400 B.C. in Mesopotamia, the destruction of a water system in New York City during the Revolutionary War, and the involvement of water in the current invasion of Ukraine.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org

Water is a rather simple chemical compound, with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Yet this seemingly basic substance is necessary for all known forms of life, comprises two-thirds of the human body, and covers 70 percent of the Earth. Water also displays a wide range of unique behaviors, such as how it sticks to itself, goes against gravity, and dissolves many other substances.

The wonder and weirdness of water is discussed in this episode with Alok Jha, author of The Water Book. He talks about water’s strange properties, cosmic origins, arrival on this planet, and presence throughout the universe. Alok says that although water is arguably the most studied substance in history, it is also one of the most mysterious.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org