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Water Quality and Efficiency

Immediate water conservation action is needed across sectors. We have pioneered simple, near-term solutions that incentivize long-term behavior change to enhance water use efficiency and water quality at individual, community, and municipal levels.

Our Approach

Climate change and urban growth are straining freshwater supplies across the American West. Stormwater—while also a source of new water supply—is contributing to pollution in many watersheds. With rising compliance costs and competition for municipal budgets, communities need cost-effective, multi-benefit solutions to improve water quality and stretch existing water resources. We work in partnership with municipalities, regulators, and private sector actors to design and implement performance-based programs that maximize the impact of available budgets and unlock new funding and partnerships.

Incentive and Rebate Program Design

We design incentive and rebate programs that change consumer behavior through nature-based solutions. This approach solves water resource issues more quickly than capital improvement projects and can be more cost effective. We apply user-centered design thinking principles to rapidly prototype programs, gather user feedback, and adapt based on performance. Through use of financial, social, and regulatory incentives, we align individual actions with community goals and maximize investments by stacking rebates for multi-benefit projects.

 

Multi-Benefit Incentives in San Diego

Performance-Driven Implementation and Reporting

We help water supply and stormwater agencies facing tough compliance targets transition from planning to implementation by developing and operationalizing performance measures that meaningfully link stakeholder actions to environmental outcomes. By creating systems for effective, streamlined reporting and decision-making, and tracking only the most important metrics, we help our clients build momentum, achieve benefits, and demonstrate clear progress to regulators, elected officials, and the public.

Using Water Quality Improvement Plan Data to Monitor Resilience

Alternative Procurement and Compliance Programs

Facing growing competition for municipal funds, increasing compliance needs, and limited on-site opportunities, municipal water managers require creative funding strategies. We design alternative procurement and compliance programs that leverage private-sector expertise and innovation to solve municipal water challenges and enable cost-effective project delivery, including offset and crediting programs, Pay for Performance contracts, and Community-Based Public-Private Partnerships. Our alternative compliance programs are reference points nationally for how communities and developers can work together to achieve water resource management goals or regional permit compliance.

Community-Based Public-Private Partnerships

Our Impact

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We can co-create lasting change.

We help our partners improve the performance of conservation and development programs.

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