The US Water Alliance is releasing its "One Water Roadmap: The Sustainable Management of Life's Most Essential Resource" as a guide for changing the way water is managed in America. Communities across country are struggling with aging water infrastructure, coastal areas are fighting rising sea levels and inland communities alternately struggle with unprecedented flooding and drought.

The roadmap outlines a new approach to tackle the nation's biggest water challenges, including embracing regional, integrated planning for water resources; diversifying water supplies and transforming wastewater into a renewable resource; creating new business models for water management; watershed-scale planning; a water safety net so water is accessible and affordable for all; sustainably managing groundwater; and more strategies. Each strategy also includes a real-world case study to highlight where utilities, community groups and businesses are making tangible progress in smarter water management.

"Creating this roadmap has been an incredible process," says US Water Alliance CEO Radhika Fox. "We've learned so much from our passionate and talented members and supporters, and we hope that this roadmap provides practical guidance to the innumerable stakeholders across the country who are facing severe water challenges. Water is the most pressing issue of our time. We have to get this right."

Kevin Shafer, board chair of the US Water Alliance and executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District says water challenges are too severe for any one entity to solve alone.

"Success will require collaboration from agricultural communities, businesses, environmental groups, foundations, and more," he says. "This roadmap makes a strong case for the one water approach, meaning diverse stakeholders need to work across areas of practice for forge solutions together."

Contributors to the roadmap include water and wastewater utilities, Fortune 500 corporations and major foundations.

The US Water Alliance is dedicated to promoting policies and programs to advance a sustainable water future for all. Established in 2008, the alliance is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that educates the nation on the true value of water, accelerates the adoption of one-water policies and programs and celebrates innovation in water management.