Water United

It's time to unite, to get our collective act together. It's time for Water United. We want to solve water scarcity in the Colorado River Basin. We are bringing our network of unreasonable people – technologists, corporates, communicators, academics and utilities – to solve unsolvable problems. We’re building a catalytic community that will drive impact on one of the most overstressed, overallocated, overworked rivers in the world. If you refuse to be told that it is too hard, or too expensive, or too complicated to provide reliable, abundant clean water to 40 million people, you are in good company. #WaterStewardship #Water #ColoradoRiver #CorporateWaterStewardship #ESG #Sustainability #WaterPositive #WaterReplenishment #Arizona

Utah is challenging the traditional "use it or lose it" approach to water rights in the Colorado River Basin. They're investing $200 million in their Agricultural Water Optimization Program, funding farmers to implement water-efficient practices like drip irrigation and real-time metering. This prioritizes long-term sustainability and resilience over maximizing immediate usage. ???? In a region facing increasing water scarcity, Utah's innovative approach offers a potential model for other states. It's a key example of how we can rethink water management to alleviate stress on basins. Want to learn more about how Utah is bucking the trend and what it means for the Colorado River Basin? Read the full story on the Water United website!?? https://lnkd.in/eWUUyVwK #WaterConversation #Agriculture #Utah

Meta is the latest global technology company to join an innovative water replenishment program in the Colorado River Basin via the Water United initiative. Under a new agreement with FIDO Tech, Meta will fund the use of powerful FIDO AI to rapidly reduce leakage across 300km of clean water pipeline network in the City of Farmington - Farmington, New Mexico for 10 years. Meta has been part of the United Nations CEO Water Mandate and the Water Resilience Coalition since 2022. It focuses investment on water restoration projects in water stressed regions that also provide co-benefits such as supporting local water supply or restoring local habitats and wildlife, including existing projects with first nation peoples in New Mexico and the Colorado River. Benedikte Webb, the Operations, Maintenance & Environmental Administrator at the City of Farmington - Farmington, New Mexico, said: “The City of Farmington is thrilled to see businesses investing in our community infrastructure, especially in the area of water conservation. The installation of FIDO leak detection equipment is a significant step forward in safeguarding our water resources, a critical focus for our region. This project not only supports the City’s 40-year water plan; it highlights the incredible growth potential of the Four Corners region, showcasing how public-private partnerships can drive sustainable development and enhance our community's future.” View the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ebdJ8tb5 In addition to supporting the Farmington project, Meta has also joined Water United as a partner member, sitting alongside its founder members Microsoft, PepsiCo, FIDO Tech, Oldcastle Infrastructure (a CRH Company), Water Foundry (an Earth Finance, Inc. company) and Atlantean Media. ?? Photo from City of Farmington - Farmington, New Mexico #WaterReplenishment #Meta #WaterPositive #Farmington #NewMexico

Water United is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Meta, the latest global technology company to join our innovative water replenishment program in the Colorado River Basin. Under a new agreement with FIDO Tech, Meta will fund the use of powerful FIDO AI to rapidly reduce leakage across 300km of clean water pipeline network in the City of Farmington - Farmington, New Mexico for 10 years. The Water United collaboration is working to unite the public and private sectors and accelerate water action to develop an AI-watershed model across the Colorado River Basin, starting by reducing non-revenue water. Stefanie Woodward, Water Restoration Lead at Meta, said: “There’s a genuine need to accelerate collective action for water restoration efforts. FIDO Plus and the wider Water United initiative provides an opportunity to make a systemic impact on water availability through the use of AI. With our data center in the Colorado River basin, Farmington has been the earliest opportunity we have to work with AI in basin restoration and I am very excited to see the results.” Meta’s commitment to becoming water positive by 2030 aligns perfectly with our mission at Water United. Together, we're proving that smart technology and strategic partnerships can drive tangible water positive progress in the Colorado River Basin. ? View the full new story that was announced yesterday at Trellis Group’s #GreenBiz25: https://lnkd.in/ebdJ8tb5 In addition to supporting the Farmington project, Meta has also joined Water United as a partner member, sitting alongside its founder members Microsoft, PepsiCo, FIDO Tech, Oldcastle Infrastructure (a CRH Company), Water Foundry (an Earth Finance, Inc. company) and Atlantean Media. #WaterReplenishment #Meta #WaterPositive

Exciting news from Farmington, New Mexico ?? Meta is the latest global technology company to join an innovative water replenishment program in the Colorado River Basin. Meta will fund the use of powerful FIDO Tech’s AI to rapidly reduce leakage across 300km of clean water pipeline network in the City of Farmington for 10 years. The project is the latest to be launched under the auspices of Water United, a new private-public catalytic community committed to developing a watershed-level solution to water scarcity. The agreement will help Meta make progress against its commitment to be water positive in 2030 and to return 200% of the water it consumes in high water-stressed areas. Stefanie Woodward, Water Restoration Lead at Meta, said: “There’s a genuine need to accelerate collective action for water restoration efforts. FIDO Plus and the wider Water United initiative provides an opportunity to make a systemic impact on water availability through the use of AI. With our data center in the Colorado River basin, Farmington has been the earliest opportunity we have to work with AI in basin restoration and I am very excited to see the results.” In addition to supporting the Farmington project, Meta has also joined Water United as a partner member, sitting alongside its founder members Microsoft, PepsiCo, FIDO Tech, Oldcastle Infrastructure (a CRH Company), Water Foundry (an Earth Finance, Inc. company) and Atlantean Media. Read the full story announced at Trellis Group’s #GreenBiz: https://lnkd.in/ebdJ8tb5 #WaterReplenishment #Meta #WaterPositive

The Bureau of Reclamation has proposed five options for managing the water taken from the Colorado River. Several of the schemes would involve cutting back the amount of water taken in dry years starting from 2027. However, there is an impasse between upper basin and lower basin states on many of the details. Broken down, the options are: ?? Status Quo: This option closely follows the current rules. It allows for high releases from Lake Powell (5-9.5 million acre-feet) and may require significant water cuts in the Lower Basin states (up to 3.5 million acre-feet). This option may also involve utilizing upstream reservoirs like Blue Mesa in Colorado. ??? Increased Basin-Wide Conservation: This option emphasizes water conservation across all states, including Colorado, during times of shortage. It would involve utilizing multiple federal reservoirs, which has been a point of contention with Upper Basin states who argue they shouldn't have to conserve as they already use less than their allocated share. This option also includes provisions for accounting for unused tribal water rights. ?? Conservation-Focused: This option, supported by conservation organizations, proposes higher releases from Lake Powell (up to 11 million acre-feet) and increased conservation efforts in the Lower Basin (up to 4 million acre-feet). ?? Compromise Approach: This option attempts to blend the proposals from Upper and Lower Basin states, as well as tribal nations. It may involve higher releases from Lake Powell (up to 12 million acre-feet) and the potential use of upstream reservoirs depending on basin conditions. It includes provisions for tribal involvement in water management and calls for lower basin cutbacks (maximum 2.1 million acre-feet). ?? No Action: This option maintains the current situation; however, it is considered unlikely. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ePrHA-rR?

Hydroelectric power from the Colorado River is a crucial source of renewable energy for the region. ?? Dams like Hoover and Glen Canyon harness the river's force to produce approximately 4,200 megawatts of electricity. But declining water levels in the river due to drought threaten the reliability of hydroelectric power generation. By working together, we can ensure that the Colorado River continues to nurture our industries, sustain our cities, and preserve the natural beauty and diversity that make it irreplaceable. Read more about Water United: https://lnkd.in/e7-QPBfV #coloradoriver #hydropower #hooverdam #glencanyon

In 2021, one of Water United's founding partners, PepsiCo, introduced what its chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta, called ‘a new North Star to guide our work’. He described pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) as more than a business strategy, but a journey across operations, from production to marketing to distribution. The company has set a target of replenishing 100% of water by 2025 and more than 100% by 2030. Pepsico is currently replenishing 69% of water using a broad array of activities. David Grant, Senior Director of Water and Climate Solutions at PepsiCo explained to Water United that “even where water is not stressed, you still need to manage it properly, because if you don’t then it can become stressed, whether you are in a high-risk area or not. It’s just that our high-risk goals are more aggressive than our non-high-risk goals.” Read more about PepsiCo's pep+ journey here: https://lnkd.in/eHvgAByA?

We envision a future where the water supply in the Colorado River Basin is abundant, resilient and healthy – forever. A world of equitable access, where water quality is consistently prioritized and all communities, habitats and industries always have clean, safe water. By connecting all stakeholders as a catalytic community, we can ensure the Colorado River is a thriving, resilient lifeline nurturing everyone. Learn more at: https://water-united.com/?

The Colorado River irrigates a staggering 5.5 million acres of land, producing 15% of the US crops and 13% of our livestock. From fruits and vegetables to cattle and dairy, this vital waterway sustains a significant portion of America's food supply. The Colorado River is facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change and overuse. It's crucial that we implement sustainable water management practices in agriculture and beyond to ensure the long-term health of the river and the food system it supports. Read more about the work Water United is doing in the Basin here: https://lnkd.in/dXK65hKR #coloradoriver #agriculture #waterreplenishment