Alabama Water Institute

About Alabama Water Institute

Water is not only vital for life, but also for our daily lives as we know it—from powering industries and supporting agriculture to fueling electricity generation, facilitating transportation, maintaining public health, and providing avenues for recreation. Water is the backbone of all aspects of our society and economy. Despite its paramount importance, this vital resource also presents significant challenges and the potential for destructive consequences. In response to this intricate dynamic, The University of Alabama (UA) took a proactive step in 2017 by founding the Alabama Water Institute (AWI). Today, in collaboration with on-campus federal partners from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), UA and AWI stand as a national epicenter for groundbreaking water-related research and the development of cutting-edge water technology products. AWI oversees three influential research programs: (1) the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), (2) the Global Water Security Center, and (3) the CONSERVE Research Group. Each of these programs acts as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration among UA’s colleges and partner entities, uniting experts in engineering, computer science, biology, social science, economics, and more. Together, they address a broad spectrum of water-related challenges on local, regional, national, and global scales, generating crucial information and pioneering solutions essential for shaping a safer and more sustainable water future.