Recommended Water Websites

Recommended Water Websites

Many water organizations have websites that are dedicated to teaching people about the many water issues faced by our country and our planet. Educators, students, parents and other learners can use those websites to increase their understanding of water issues and complete their work.

Water organizations are as varied and numerous as water issues are. The issues reflected in their websites cover things like water footprints, water quality, land use, source water, water conservation and efficiency and much more. Below is a curated collection of websites from a wide variety of water organizations. Check it out and let us know if we missed your organization.

  • Water Footprint Network
    A global network that drives innovation and inspires change to share fresh water fairly to sustain thriving communities and nature’s diversity. The site contains tools, research and data.
  • Change the Course
    This campaign brings together the public, corporations and conservation organizations to raise awareness about freshwater, reduce water footprints and restore flows and health to vital freshwater ecosystems.
  • Waterkeeper Alliance
    This alliance of more than 300 organizations and affiliates strengthens and grows a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water.
  • River Network
    A national organization that empowers and unites people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain all life.
  • National Geographic – The Hidden Water We Use
    An interactive infographic that helps you find out how much water it takes to grow the food you eat and the things you buy and use, and why it’s important not to waste water.
  • The Nature Conservancy
    The leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
  • Water Use it Wisely: Links and Resources
    An exhaustive list of water conservation and efficiency resources, designed to help you reduce your direct water use.
  • Water Use it Wisely 100 Ways to Conserve
    A listing of over 100 ways to save water that you can download, print or share on social media.
  • Where Your Water Goes
    A chart from Denver Water that will help you find out how much water the fixtures and appliances around your house use.
  • EPA Start Saving
    A listing of simple steps and informational tools that will help you calculate your water savings, and you can take a pledge to save.
  • Alliance for Water Efficiency
    A North American advocate for water efficient products, programs, information and assistance on water conservation efforts.
  • Water Environment Federation: The Value of Water
    A website filled with tools and resources that support efforts to educate and inform consumers, public officials, decision-makers and stakeholders about the value and importance of water.
  • USGS: Next Generation Water Observing System
    A portal that provides high-fidelity, real-time data on water quantity, quality, and use to support modern water prediction and decision-support systems that are necessary for informing water operations on a daily basis and decision-making during water emergencies.
  • HydroViz: Energy-Water Nexus
    This module introduces students to the Energy-Water Nexus and analyzes stresses on water systems under different scenarios of current and future energy demands.
  • Feeding Ourselves Thirsty
    In this report, Ceres ranks over 40 of the largest food companies on their response to water risks and how their performance has shifted since the first round of benchmarking.
  • American Water Works Association: How Water Works
    This downloadable series illustrates the processes, equipment and technology of water supply and wastewater treatment systems.
  • American Water Works Association: Drink Tap
    This AWWA website is filled with information that can help you stay informed about your water.
  • American Water Works Association: Drip Calculator
    Among the useful tools and information on the DrinkTap site, AWWA has a drip calculator that can help determine how much water is being wasted from a dripping faucet.
  • El Centro Comunitario por el Agua
    A catalyst for community-driven water solutions through organizing, education, and advocacy in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
  • Dropcountr’s Water Resources for Spanish Speakers
    This is helpful list of links to water footprint and conservation information for Spanish speakers.
  • LA Times: Food Plate
    This graphical representation of a plate of food illustrates how much direct and virtual water it took to produce the food.
  • Water Leaves a ‘Footprint’ in Our Food; Here’s How it Works 
    Knowing how much water it takes to grow and produce food is crucial in times of drought. This LA Times article explains why.
  • Your Contribution to the California Drought
    California farmers produce more than a third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts and they consume a lot of water in the process.
  • Water Stewardship Toolbox
    This site helps you find the latest tools, guidance, case studies and data sets that are most relevant to your water work or interests.
  • Sonoma Water Education Forum
    This program utilizes a multifaceted approach to help students learn the value of water as an important natural resource. The programs are free and aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
  • The Water Question
    The Las Vegas Review-Journal takes a long hard look at the strained relationship between Nevada and Colorado River water in this 10-part series.
  • One Water for America State Policymakers’ Toolkit
    This toolkit was developed by the US Water Alliance, the Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association to help advance innovative solutions to the complex and challenging problems in water.
  • Know Your New York Water
    This website provides information about the quality of New York’s public drinking water and our rivers, lakes and streams.
  • What’s Your Water Footprint? Taking Steps to Save
    This website from the Rowland Water District helps you find out why you need to use less water and where you can take steps to save.
  • H2O: The Molecule that Made Use: What’s Your Water Footprint
    This website from PBS and WGBH helps you understand that the water you use is more than what you see flowing from the tap—much more.
  • H2O: The Molecule that Made Us
    TNC presents this landmark, three-part series from PBS and WGBH that tells the human story through our relationship to water.
  • NYC H2O Hub
    A series of lessons geared for grades 2-12 that explore and incorporate the history, geography, and ecology of New York City’s water system (which is truly a marvel to behold!).
  • Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
    This satellite project collected data about Earth’s gravity field, yielding crucial information about the distribution and flow of mass (i.e. water, among other substances) within Earth and its surroundings.
  • California Department of Water Resources
    Material to help Californians of all ages learn about water, including where it comes from, how we use it, and how to conserve it.
  • River Runner
    A visualization that lets you tap to drop a raindrop anywhere in the contiguous United States and see where it ends up.
  • WWF: Rivers of Food: How Healthy Rivers are Central to Feeding the World
    This interactive site outlines four key ways rivers support global food production, including: freshwater fisheries; deltas; irrigation; and flood recession agriculture.
  • Texas Water Foundation: Texas Runs on Water
    This site offer up some nonpartisan, research-driven policy analysis designed to get every Texan - no matter their politics, party or preference - involved in Lonestar water issues.
  • River Network: The Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual
    This tool identifies the many ways that every person can track, influence, and change the way the Clean Water Act is implemented at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • UN Global Climate Compact: Water Action Hub
    This site is a global online collaboration and knowledge sharing platform for water sustainability and climate resilience. It helps companies and other organizations address water risk, advance sustainable water management, and build resilience.
  • NASA/JPL: How Do We Know Climate Change Is Real?
    This site presents unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming and that human activity is the principal cause.
  • Water’s Net Zero Plus: A Call to Action for Climate Mitigation
    This report details the US water sector’s vision for 2050, as well as seven elements of cultural transformation needed for an equitable and decarbonized water future.
  • Practical Engineering: How Sewers Work (feat. Fake Poop)
    This video explains how sanitary sewers function and are constructed.

Check out our list of games and quizzes geared toward kids that focus on water issues.