iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Human wastewater contamination is so bad in Alabama homes that 1 in 3 adults in one county had hookworm. Biden funded efforts to improve sanitation there. But the effort is cancelled as "DEI". www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/...

nbcnews.com

Trump shut down program to end human waste backing into Alabama homes, calling it 'illegal DEI'

A $26 million federal program to help residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, who have dealt with inadequate sewage systems for decades was stopped by an executive order.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Big BlueSky welcome to the inimitable Erin Stone of @laist.com And as an example, check out the balanced article on undergrounding considerations 🔽

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

TL; DR I commented on how even the few major cities (like Bogota) not currently reliant on far-flung imported sources (or over extracting groundwater!) now have to diversify their water supplies in light of climate change apnews.com/article/wate...

apnews.com

Colombia's capital ends drought-related water rationing. Its case is a warning to other cities

Colombia’s capital has always seemed immune to water scarcity, nestled among cloud-kissed Andean peaks and known for steady rainfall.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

What are the potential local water (equity) impacts of "Green Hydrogen" for Energy Transition efforts in LA/CA? Michael Rincon (joint @psr-la.bsky.social), @laurendunlap.bsky.social & I took a look in a @luskininnovation.bsky.social exploratory report. innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/exploring-th...

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

Exploring the water footprint of “green” hydrogen for power generation in california | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

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Water Alternatives @waalternatives.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Check out Maurits Ertsen' review of “Liquid Empire. Water and Power in the Colonial World”, by Correy Ross, at www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/bo...

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Cheers to my UCLA & @nrdc.org colleagues on this work. Recycled water is the by far the biggest "new" water source available in the West, and despite good CA run on snowpack (see Ian's other article today) and whatever may be agreed to on existing imported supplies, is urgent.

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UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation @luskininnovation.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

The Salton Sea may finally be seeing real momentum toward restoration but @gregspierce.bsky.social cautions: lithium riches alone won’t save it. Local communities must benefit or risk being left behind. Read more in @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n... #UCLA #UCLALuskin

usatoday.com

Sink or swim time for Salton Sea? Momentum builds for pricey lake restoration

California's biggest lake has languished for decades as increased salinity, a sinking waterline and a foul smell have robbed it of past glory.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

If you're at the California-Nevada Section American Water Works Association conference next week, check out the full slate of speakers we have talking about wildfire-water supply impacts. Reflecting on experiences in LA, Wrightwood, Colorado and more.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

The more things change: "The city of Live Oak [CA] hasn't raised water rates in more than 19 years. They're facing a water fund deficit of $3.5 million. Proposing to ⬆️ rates by an initial 60% through 2026, 60% more over next 2 years, and by 10% 2 years after that." www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/n...

cbsnews.com

Live Oak proposing 60% water rate hike to fund $3.5M deficit

The city of Live Oak is proposing a 60 percent water rate hike to tackle a $3.5 million water fund deficit.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Check out @pacificinstitute.bsky.social's 3rd and final report in its series on small water system equity and resilience to climate change. I was able to provide a depressing quote about how urgent this is yet we're unlikely at best to see progress the next few years. apnews.com/article/wast...

apnews.com

Report highlights how communities hardest hit by climate change can build resilient water systems

A new report identifies ways to create resilient water and wastewater systems in communities hardest hit by climate change.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Our Nature Water comment “Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfire” is out ⬇️. I started working on this w/ @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @mullinmeg.bsky.social 10 days after the fires started. We lay out 3 major implications from the fires for water supply systems

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

The FAQ aims to provide clear, accurate answers to the 19 most common questions we heard from the public, media, and policymakers about fire hydrants, firefighting, water infrastructure, and more. Available in English and Spanish, and w 2 pager-versions. innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/water/local-...

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

¿Los sistemas de agua urbana pueden apagar incendios forestales? | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Are urban water systems able to put out wildfires? A question @gregspierce.bsky.social and I got A LOT during the recent LA fires. This set of FAQs is our attempt to answer that and many other questions related to water supply infrastructure and wildfire innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/u...

Do Urban Water Supply Systems Put Out Wildfires?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DID WE WRITE THIS GUIDE?
The January 2025 wildfires devastated Los Angeles,
claiming lives, homes, jobs, and whole communities. As
the fires raged, discussions erupted across social and
mainstream media, questioning whether water supply
systems could have been more prepared to fight the fires.
This FAQ provides clear, accurate answers to the most
common questions we heard from the public, media,
and policymakers about fire hydrants, firefighting, water
infrastructure, and more. Our goal is to offer a better
understanding of how water systems work, address
common concerns, and provide useful information that
can help communities stay informed and prepared, and
advocate for change. We seek to answer these questions
in ongoing research, as they have not been well studied
and explained in clear language. Feel free to contact us
with additional questions that we can help answer. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

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UCLA Water Resources Group @uclawater.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Our director @gregspierce.bsky.social lends insight to @ericholthaus.com's story on the near term future of Colorado River management

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

If you're in the LA area on March 4, check out our @uclawater.bsky.social seminar featuring Professor Jessica Cattelino and doctoral candidate Kelsey Kim at 12 pm. "Gender and Los Angeles Residential Water: Use, Knowledge, and Justice in Water Conservation" Lunch provided. RSVP below.

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 05/02/2025

Urban #wildfires impact water, soil, and #wildlife. @uofcalifornia.bsky.social experts offer tips on testing drinking water and rehabilitating gardens. bit.ly/4hGZXo3

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UC Water Institute @ucanrwater.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Join us for the next @ucanr.bsky.social Water Webinar series talk on Feb. 24, '25 at 12PM, with @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @gregspierce.bsky.social: "Water Supply and the Los Angeles Fires: Emerging Lessons and Implications". Zoom links: tinyurl.com/anrwaterwebi... and at tinyurl.com/yuccgenm

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Seems important and promising precedent. And sort of obvious when you find that: "The tax information from 1998 through 2015 showed non-agricultural customers paid 17 times more in taxes for the infrastructure than agricultural customers. " somachlaw.com/policy-alert...

somachlaw.com

California Court of Appeal Holds that a Water District’s Surcharge to Cover Water Infrastructure Construction Costs Violates Proposition 218

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UCLA Environment @uclaioes.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

UCLA IoES Professor Travis Longcore joined #ABC7 News to discuss how North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and what’s driving the crisis. “We know how to fix it if we have the will to do it.” Full segment: ucla.in/4hDIqxp

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Dan Ross @1danross.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

“We’re possibly looking at modest to large ratepayer impacts for these systems" - @gregspierce.bsky.social in my latest for ‪@lapublicpress.bsky.social on challenges for fire-ravaged drinking water systems as they begin the long road to building back: lapublicpress.org/2025/02/wate...

lapublicpress.org

Another cost of rebuilding after LA fires? Higher water bills.

Ratepayers could end up shouldering some of the costs to repair damaged storage tanks and reservoirs.

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Monica Palta @monicapalta.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Hi Bluesky 👋🏼 I'm an Urban Water Specialist @ucanr.bsky.social @ucirvine.bsky.social. My research focuses on designing and managing urban environments to create sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between natural ecosystems and people. #WaterResources #NatureBasedSolutions #WaterJustice

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Hearing that water issues are already complicating firefighting efforts in southern Califirnia. The fire/water nexus is still an emerging issue, @gregspierce.bsky.social and I co-authored a report after an expert workshop detailing challenges and solutions innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/2021/12/07/h...

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

How Can California Protect Its Water Supply From Wildfire? | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Stakeholders from across disciplines and institutions offer recommendations to ensure safe, reliable water supply amid a growing wildfire threat.

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

One of the main issues wee outlined in our fire/water report was about water availability during fires. Despite article focus on this being an LA problem, it’s a widespread problem. Many recommendations here for addressing (hint: during a fire is too late) innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/u...

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

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Dr. Crystal A. Kolden @pyrogeog.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Conveniently, @fkearns.bsky.social put together a whole starter pack of fire experts who do media stuff! (But not me - don't call me today as I lost my voice). bsky.app/starter-pack...

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Behold my very late, niche starter pack. go.bsky.app/QKBJKYy

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

I spoke with Sarah Elizabeth Richards for a piece in Women's Health on the relative merits and oversight of tap v. bottled water in the U.S. www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a6261...

womenshealthmag.com

Should You Drink Tap Water? What Experts Say About Filters And Bottled Options

It’s past time to pay attention to what you’re sipping.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Pleasure to inform Amy DiPierro's excellent reporting on the drivers and consequences of tap water distrust and reliance on vending machines in San Diego. The story also draws on the insights and past work of other folks working at @luskininnovation.bsky.social voiceofsandiego.org/2024/12/13/s...

voiceofsandiego.org

San Diegans Can Drink Their Tap Water. Many Pay More at the Vending Machine Anyway.

San Diego County boasts roughly three water vending machines per 10,000 people — more than nearby Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

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Sustainable LA @ UCLA @uclasustainablela.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

“Southern California had a couple of wet years in a row, and that means a build-up of fuels in wildlands... The sequence of very wet followed by dry conditions sets the stage for big wildfires.” - SLAGC faculty dir. Alex Hall on the #FranklinFire in @latimes.com More: www.latimes.com/california/n...

latimes.com

A destructive fire began near Pepperdine University. Here's what to know

A ferocious wildfire fanned by strong winds burned through Malibu on Tuesday, destroying homes.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Consider applying for or circulating the single most important role in quantifying Human Right to Water progress in the state doing by far the most to track progress in the U.S. calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/...

calcareers.ca.gov

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Looking to make a difference? Join our strong and mighty workforce. We offer benefits and growth opportunities and impact the lives of millions of Californians.

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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

If you're at the American Geophysical Union ( #AGU24 ) meeting, I'll be speaking Tue, Dec 10 at 2:40pm ET on the exponential moisture-related scaling of an increasingly broad range of meteorological/Earth system extremes in a warming #climate. agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/me...

agu.confex.com

Clausius-Clapeyron as a potential framework for quantifying and attributing an increasingly broad range of extremes amid uncertainty in a warming climate

There is strong evidence that precipitation extremes increase in response to pl...

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

You should follow the Community Water Center (@cwaterc.bsky.social), which just joined here. CWC is one of the leading water justice advocacy orgs in CA and the entire U.S.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Adequate sanitation access in manufactured/mobile homes is one of the hardest U.S. Human Right to Water issues to address, whether its in AL or CA. wbhm.org/2024/alabama...

wbhm.org

AL Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Not going to happen anytime soon but a real proposal for national low-income assistance program for drinking water service affordability. realhttps://tlaib.house.gov/posts/tlaib-dingell-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-safe-affordable-water-for-all

tlaib.house.gov

Tlaib, Dingell Introduce Legislation to Ensure Safe, Affordable Water for All - Rashida Tlaib

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the Half-Century Update for Water Access and Affordability Act (H2O UP Act) to establis...

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NPR @npr.org · 23/11/2024

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

npr.org

Atmospheric rivers aren't new. Why does it feel like we're hearing about them more?

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