The goal of the WATERS Network is to create a national capability to better predict and manage the behavior of water—and its nutrients, contaminants, and sediments—everywhere in the U.S.

Water is critical to our nation's well-being, but human activities are changing our environment at unprecedented rates. Growing and wealthier populations, increasing urbanization, and climate change are tipping the balance between water supply and demand and impacting the quality of our existing water resources. We need real-world information and multidisciplinary knowledge on the coupled processes linking humans and biota to the natural and engineered water environment. Only with this knowledge can we make critical decisions needed to effectively manage our water and protect both humans and ecosystems.

The WATERS Network, a joint initiative among the environmental engineering and science, hydrologic and related Earth science, and social science research communities and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to provide opportunities to advance our scientific understanding of water as an integrated resource and develop the national capability needed to predict water quality and quantity everywhere at all times. By accomplishing this the Network seeks to address the following critical societal needs:

• New knowledge and solutions for continuing water pollution problems
• Reduction of the impact of floods and water shortages
• Engaging U.S. students and citizens to help solve these water problems

This planning initiative is run by the WATERS Network Project Office and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and CUAHSI.

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of  the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).