Columbia Water Center: A Decade of Cutting Edge Research
To mark its anniversary, the Columbia Water Center has released a new report highlighting its achievements over the past decade. Read an excerpt, then download the full report.
America's Water Initiative Archives - State of the Planet
National Climate Assessment: Will U.S. Water Problems Worsen?
Upmanu Lall is director of the Columbia Water Center, and the lead author of the new U.S. National Climate Assessment’s chapter on water resources. The report paints a dire picture of the nation’s climate future. We spoke with Lall about the outlook for water supplies, quality and infrastructure.
First Impressions at Columbia’s Earth Institute
It has been a fantastic first few weeks at the Earth Institute in my role as the new director. Reflecting on this early time here, I’d like to highlight something that I found particularly special about the Earth Institute: activities that go beyond Columbia and engage with the real world.
Cape Town Water Crisis Highlights a Worldwide Problem
Upmanu Lall, director of the Columbia Water Center, explains South Africa’s water shortage and why places in the U.S. could be at risk, too.
Columbia Water Center Year in Review
The Columbia Water Center (CWC) is a leader in applying the science of water and climate to solve real world problems. With current events in mind, we worked with our partners to make progress on several key projects.
Rural America’s Drinking Water Crisis: No Help From Trump Budget
O’Brien is just one of thousands of small communities in the United States that struggle to find the resources to ensure that the water coming out of the tap is safe to drink. The budget proposal by the Trump administration will only make matters worse.
America’s Dam Crisis: Was Oroville Just a Drop in the Bucket?
Columbia Water Center experts argue that dam infrastructure issues must be connected to a broader conversation about America’s water resources.
Michelle Ho: In a Land of Plenty, Big Water Problems
Michelle Ho grew up in Australia, the driest inhabited continent, with an appreciation for the value of having a clean glass of water to drink. Now, she conducts research for the Columbia Water Center on America’s water systems.
An Ancient Tool Holds Promise for Modern Water Problems
The potential effectiveness of harvesting rainwater to bolster water supply and reduce potentially polluting runoff varies greatly from place to place, even within a particular city or neighborhood. Now researchers at the Columbia Water Center have developed a tool to assess the potential of rainwater harvesting throughout the United States.
Water Quality Concerns Extend Well Beyond Flint
Researchers at the Columbia Water Center have been analyzing trends in drinking water quality violations. A critical lesson is that water quality violations extend well beyond the problem of lead in Flint’s drinking water.