Water Quality, Quantity and Security
Our Strategic Initiatives (SI) help unify, communicate and advocate for the work we do.
Initiative Themes

Water is the life blood of California's economy and the underpinning of its diverse ecosystems. As such, water supply and quality are critical issues facing the state's agricultural, urban, and environmental settings now and in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the initiative works in the key areas of:
- Safe & secure drinking water
- Safe & secure surface water
- Safe & sustainable groundwater
- Holistic water management
Grand Challenges
The Water SI supports a broad spectrum of expertise and uses a systems approach to identify and address emerging issues including:
- Conservation and enhancement strategies to bolster water resources and meet increasing agricultural, urban, and ecosystem water demands
- Sustainable farm, urban, and natural resource management practices to protect soil and water quality from salinity, sediment, pathogens, excess nutrients, trace elements, and other contaminants
- Quantifying the impacts of climate change on California’s precious water resources and consequent impacts on agriculture, urban, and ecosystems, while seeking ways to make these sectors more resilient to climate related risks
Impact
See UC Delivers for examples of impact in the Water SI.
UC ANR members can share the impact of their work - it's easy. Click here to find out how.
Funding
See funding opportunities listed with UC ANR Contracts & Grants
See Opportunity & Matching grants (small grants to help with urgent time-sensitive needs)
Water Topics
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Growing the right tree in the right place with the right amount of water
Finding a tree that produces the right amount of tasty fruit or nuts under the unique growing conditions of a given orchard takes a lot of science...
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Improving drinking water safety, access, and consumption in the U.S.
Tap water stands at the intersection of multiple issue areas including water resources, the environmental impacts of beverage choices, and...
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An artist and educator captures deeply personal stories of life without clean water
Kristine Diekman is an artist, educator, and Professor of media at the California State University San Marcos School of Arts. Her digital media...