On March 21, the Columbia Water Center will partner with the U.S. Water Partnership to present “Making the Grade: How to Fix America’s Failing Water Infrastructure,” a live webinar to be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. Registration is available online at water.columbia.edu/events.
The presentation will include an introduction by the Columbia Water Center, a short video about the America’s Water Initiative, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session. Featuring experts from the Columbia Water Center, the American Water Works Association, Veolia Environnement and Xylem, Inc., the panel will discuss the possible ways to finance and repair decades old, deteriorating infrastructure that has trapped the country in a recurring cycle of debt and rate hikes. Additionally, a new study released by Columbia, “Assessment of Groundwater Level Trends across the United States,” suggests that declining groundwater levels throughout the United States could point to insufficient and unsustainable groundwater management.
As part of his role as the moderator, Dan Bena, PepsiCo Sustainable Development Executive, will talk about building public-private partnerships and the human right to water. With innovative financing models appearing across the country as a result of public-private partnerships, these team efforts to address the challenges facing local water infrastructure are sure to be a topic of intense discussion as the experts explore the options at hand.