New Colorado River Basin Water Efficiency Network Launches To Advance Regional Collaboration On Water Sustainability

First convening brings together water and land use practitioners to advance municipal water efficiency across the Basin.

Alliance for Water Efficiency and the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy today announced the launch of the Colorado River Basin Water Efficiency Network (CRB Network), a collaborative initiative designed to accelerate urban water efficiency and link land and water decisions across the Colorado River Basin (CRB). The Network held its kick off meeting recently, bringing together an inaugural cohort of 40+ water service providers as well as local and state land use and water planning agencies committed to strengthening the Basin’s long-term water resilience.

The CRB faces mounting pressures from drought, population growth, and climate change that have contributed to water demands exceeding available supplies, threatening the sustainability of communities, food supplies, ecosystems, and economies that depend on this shared resource. While the seven CRB states and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation work towards an overarching agreement to align supply and demand, local water providers continue to address the challenge by implementing innovative programs that reduce water use. The Network is not a forum to influence state negotiations.

“Large-scale reductions in water use are necessary to eliminate chronic over-allocation of CRB water and ensure affordable, sustainable water supplies,” said Ron Burke, President and CEO of Alliance for Water Efficiency. “Local water providers are already doing their part, and the CRB Network creates a space for practitioners to come together and be even more effective.”

The CRB Network emphasizes practical learning, cross-sector collaboration, and the sharing of tools, data, and case studies to advance effective water efficiency and integrative water and land use management strategies. By creating a structured, ongoing forum for collaboration, the CRB Network aims to accelerate the adoption of proven water efficiency solutions while fostering innovation to meet emerging challenges

The Network’s launch builds on momentum from a 2023 milestone agreement in which 30 water providers across Colorado River Basin states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to address ongoing water challenges. The signatories pledged to expand non-functional turf (NFT) replacement programs and implement additional water-saving strategies to reduce demand and improve system sustainability.

To support that effort, Alliance for Water Efficiency convened a series of collaborative meetings that enabled MOU signers to share best practices, align strategies, and make measurable progress toward their commitments. Strong interest in continued collaboration led directly to the formation of the CRB Network.

“The challenges facing the Colorado River Basin demand coordinated, forward-looking action,” said John Farner, Executive Director of the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy. “This Network is about turning ideas into action and ensuring communities across the Basin have the tools and partnerships they need to thrive.”

The CRB Network will convene regularly through virtual meetings, an online collaboration platform, and other peer learning opportunities designed to support implementation and knowledge-sharing across the region

About Alliance for Water Efficiency
Alliance for Water Efficiency is a North American nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the efficient and sustainable use of water across North America. AWE advocates for water-efficient products and programs, develops cutting-edge research, and provides technical assistance to its diverse membership base.

About The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy
The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy advances the integration of land and water management to ensure sustainability and meet the needs of communities, economies, and ecosystems