Water
The world runs on water. Clean, reliable water supplies are vital for industry, agriculture, and energy production. Every community and ecosystem on Earth depends on water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily survival.
Yet the world’s water systems face formidable threats. More than a billion people currently live in water-scarce regions, and as many as 3.5 billion could experience water scarcity by 2025. Increasing pollution degrades freshwater and coastal aquatic ecosystems. And climate change is poised to shift precipitation patterns and speed glacial melt, altering water supplies and intensifying floods and drought.
WRI works with businesses, governments, and civil society to ensure a water-secure future. We seek to address both water quantity and quality challenges.
Our Aqueduct project uses the most up-to-date data to produce global water risk maps, allowing stakeholders to assess current and future challenges. We conduct economic and other analyses to identify the most cost-effective strategies to reduce water pollution. And we identify solutions—such as restoring ecosystem services—to alleviate stresses on the world’s water supplies.
Top Water Outcomes
What's a top outcome?
Top outcomes are WRI's biggest success stories. They occur when our analysis, solutions, or partnerships result in significant change in the world.
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2015
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2014
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2014
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2013
Featured Expert
![](https://swap.stanford.edu/was/20151211033644im_/http://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/styles/profile/public/betsy-otto-wri4.jpg?itok=jtyE4n39)
Betsy Otto
New in Water
All
Water Projects
Natural Infrastructure for Water
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Natural Infrastructure for Water
We empower governments, businesses, utilities, and communities to enhance water security by investing in “natural infrastructure,” like forests and wetlands, as part of a portfolio of smart solutions to growing water challenges.
Water Quality
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Water Quality Targeting
Providing guidance on how to better target agricultural conservation in the United States, to cost-effectively achieve measurable improvements in water quality.
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Water Quality Trading
Advancing voluntary and market-based solutions for improving water quality in a manner that maximizes economic efficiency and maintains environmental integrity.
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Eutrophication and Hypoxia
Mapping, sharing data, and growing awareness on eutrophication and hypoxia around the globe.
Coastal Ecosystems
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Coastal Capital: Economic Valuation of Coastal Ecosystems in the Caribbean
Supporting the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems by quantifying their economic value.
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Reefs at Risk
Raising awareness of threats to coral reefs and providing information and tools to manage coastal habitats more effectively.
Experts
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Charles Iceland
Aqueduct Director -
Yuan Wang
Research Assistant and Program Coordinator, Water Program, WRI China -
Cy Jones
Senior Fellow -
Leah Schleifer
Communications Specialist -
Suzanne Ozment
Associate, Natural Infrastructure for Water -
Melissa Castera
Intern, Natural Infrastructure for Water -
Sara Walker
Associate -
Naomi Slack
Grants and Finance Coordinator, Water and Food Program -
Todd Gartner
Senior Associate; Manager, Natural Infrastructure for Water -
Vittal Boggaram
Senior Manager, Water Program -
Lijin Zhong
Senior Associate, Lead - Water Program, WRI China -
Ruijuan Li
Research Assistant, Water Program/Sustainable Cities, WRI China -
Betsy Otto
Global Director, Water Program -
Brianna Moland
Natural Infrastructure Intern -
Tianyi Luo
Research Associate II, Water Program -
Ayushi Trivedi
Water, Food Security and Gender Intern -
Craig Hanson
Global Director, Food, Forests, and Water Programs -
Samantha Kuzma
Water Risk Data and Analytics Intern -
Juan-Carlos Altamirano
Economist -
Shreyan Sen
Schneider Fellow -
Yiyuan Qin
Associate I, Natural Infrastructure for Water -
James Mulligan
Associate II -
Namrata Ginoya
Project Associate, Climate Resilience -
Colin Strong
Research Analyst I -
Eliza Swedenborg
Research Analyst -
Zablon Adane
Ethiopia Helms Fellow -
Rutger Willem Hofste
Research Analyst -
Jiao Wang
Associate, Water Program, WRI China -
Helen Ding
Environmental Economist
COMMENTARY: Water Stress is Helping Drive Conflict and Migration
Water stress and drought are as old as civilization, and while human beings have devised many ways to guard against these threats, economies have evolved in ways that make us more vulnerable.