Pacific Institute

06/01/2026

Water is essential for California, supporting households, agriculture, ecosystems, and the state’s economy. Yet across the state, rivers, streams, and aquifers are stressed from overuse, and climate change and continued growth are increasing pressure on water resources.

Our latest blog highlights 5 key findings from 60 Years of water use in California. Read more: https://pacinst.org/5-key-findings-from-60-years-of-water-use-in-california/

05/08/2026

The Pacific Institute's Water Conflict Chronology was recently featured by Smart Water Magazine.

The article highlights how and infrastructure are increasingly targets during armed conflicts in recent years. The Water Conflict Chronology is the world's leading effort to identify, track, and analyze water-related conflict from around the world.

Read the article: https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/smart-water-magazine/water-a-military-asset-when-infrastructure-becomes-a-target
Explore the database: https://pacinst.org/water-conflict-chronology/

From Kakhovka to Gaza, the deliberate destruction of water systems has become a defining feature of modern conflict.

04/30/2026

The Pacific Institute’s April newsletter presents our latest updates in .

Read the full newsletter here: https://conta.cc/4dedeoD
Subscribe to get first access straight to your inbox here: https://pacinst.org/newsletter/

04/22/2026

Water is at the center of the climate challenge.

And increasingly, it is where the impacts of climate change are being felt first, and most deeply.

This Earth Day, at the Pacific Institute, we are reflecting on some of our recent work shaping how we respond to this moment, across communities, ecosystems, and economies.

1 ➡️ https://pacinst.org/our-impact-areas/water-equity/water-and-climate-equity/
2 ➡️ https://pacinst.org/the-business-case-for-investing-in-nature-from-novel-to-the-new-normal/
3 ➡️ https://pacinst.org/publication/untapped-potential-municipal-and-industrial-water-efficiency-potential-in-the-united-states/
4 ➡️ https://pacinst.org/publication/breathing-hazard-air-pollution-in-the-salton-sea-region/
5 ➡️ https://pacinst.org/our-impact-areas/corporate-water-stewardship/

Across all of this work, one thing remains constant: water resilience is about building systems that are equitable, sustainable, and built to last.

04/07/2026

Last month, Pacific Institute’s Chief Research and Program Officer Heather Cooley testified before the California State Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee. She spoke with elected officials about large commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water users, including data centers, and the opportunity for efficiency measures across the state.

"There are significant opportunities for water savings across subsectors and across sub-uses. That is good news as we see water supply challenges intensify in California and across the West. These are opportunities for us to continue to have a robust economy while still meeting the needs of people and the environment,” says Cooley.

This is a great example of how the Pacific Institute uses evidence-based research and analysis to inform policy and decision-making and scale local water solutions globally. Thank you to the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee for having us!

Watch the full briefing here: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/media/assembly-water-parks-and-wildlife-committee-20260311

04/03/2026

Leaky toilets are a leading source of water waste in multi-family housing — a hidden problem that is costly, wasteful, and hard to detect in large buildings.

To address this challenge, members led by Pacific Institute and Bonneville Environmental Foundation helped pilot an innovative technology that remotely identifies leaks and sends real-time alerts to property managers. With early detection, leaks can be fixed quickly, saving both water and money for affordable housing providers.

The pilot demonstrated the potential for major water savings in Los Angeles, while also supporting low-income communities. These results help build the business case for scaling this solution across California.

This project shows the unique value of the California Water Action Collaborative: bringing diverse partners together, combining resources and expertise, and turning innovative ideas into real-world water solutions.

As we celebrate 10 years of CWAC, we’re proud of projects like this — where collective action delivers impact for people, nature, and communities.

Learn more: Https://pacinst.org/california-water-action-collaborative-celebrates-10-years-of-impact/

04/02/2026

One more day! 🚨 Apply by April 3 to be considered.

Interested in receiving pro-bono assistance for up to 9 months to increase your investments in efficiency incentives through debt financing?

The WaterNow Alliance and Pacific Institute’s joint Accelerator program is designed to support utilities seeking to increase investments in water efficiency through debt financing.

Learn to see if your organization is eligible and apply today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaD1MjeyMbWnuKx9E2XkswJDqAuoySvti8bHh-jICdTAj3dg/viewform

More information here: https://waternow.org/2026/02/17/apply-today-project-accelerator-applications-are-now-open-2/

03/31/2026

The Pacific Institute’s March newsletter presents our latest updates in .

Read the full newsletter here: https://conta.cc/4tdvrb6
Subscribe to get first access straight to your inbox here: https://pacinst.org/newsletter/

03/27/2026

A new blog on the Salton Sea brings much-needed nuance to a complex and urgent issue.

Originally published by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), this piece features insights from Pacific Institute’s Mike Cohen and explores how we can better protect public health while understanding the full picture of air quality challenges in the region.

Grateful to Sarah Bardeen and the PPIC team for the collaboration and for spotlighting this work.

Read the full blog here: https://pacinst.org/new-salton-sea-research-suggests-a-surprising-path-forward/

03/26/2026

Pacific Institute Chief Research and Program Officer Heather Cooley will be featured at the Bioneers Conference in Berkley, California this week. The conference convenes leaders who are shaping solutions to address the most critical issues of our time.

Her event, "Fighting for the Human Right to Water in the U.S." will bring together water justice activists from across the country who will share on-the-ground stories, policy insights, and emerging models for change and explore what it will take to finally realize the human right to water for all.

Learn more:

The UN formally recognizes the human right to water and sanitation, but in the U.S. today more than two million people still live without running water or safe plumbing, and tens of millions more face chronic water quality violations, supply disruptions or unaffordable bills. These challenges cut ac...