U.S. Water Partnership Launches H2infO

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 6, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Today, the U.S. Water Partnership launched H2infO – a new web platform that offers the global community easy on-line access to a growing library of U.S.-generated water data and knowledge.  H2infO currently hosts over 3,000 resources from leading U.S.-based institutions, with exponentially more resources to be centrally accessible as this interactive tool expands.  The launch event took place today at the U.S. State Department and was hosted by Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. 

About the web portal:  H2infO increases global access to U.S.-generated water information resources, filling a gap in knowledge management identified by the international water community.  Available H2infO resources range from training manuals and water scarcity maps to case studies and project reports.  H2infO is now live at www.H2infO.us. “H2infO is designed to bring U.S. experiences and resources to the international community by offering tools and information to assist in solving specific water challenges,” said Ambassador Hattie Babbitt, Chair of the U.S. Water Partnership Steering Committee. H2infO was made possible through the support of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Water Partnership’s nearly one hundred members. 

In her opening remarks, Under Secretary Novelli highlighted the benefits of sharing water information:  “I believe in the power of the Internet to help us share knowledge and resources for those in developing countries struggling to solve water problems.  This portal draws on the many challenges and successes that Americans have faced and conquered – making these resources available to tackle today’s challenges.”

H2infO is the first installment of the U.S. Water Partnership’s commitment to the President’s Climate Data Initiative.  The White House Council on Environmental Quality recognized H2infO as the platform to help create a “virtual community of practice to share data, experiences, lessons and practices.”

At yesterday’s event, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Xylem Inc. provided interactive exhibits that created hands-on demonstrations of their water technologies and data application. Attendees explored how H2infO makes information more accessible on laptops and smartphones.  

In addition to Under Secretary Novelli, the event featured remarks from Ambassador Judith Garber, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Thomas Kelly, Acting Vice President for Policy and Evaluation, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Ambassador Hattie Babbitt, Chair, U.S. Water Partnership Steering Committee; Timothy Prewitt, CEO, iDE; Christian Holmes, Global Water Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia. This D.C. launch followed a successful introduction of H2infO to technical water experts at World Water Week on September 2, 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden.

H2infO was developed by the U.S. Water Partnership, a public-private alliance formed to unite and mobilize U.S. expertise, resources and ingenuity to address water challenges where needs are greatest. 

About the U.S. Water Partnership
Announced in March 2012, the U.S. Water Partnership unites and mobilizes U.S. expertise, resources and ingenuity to address water challenges around the globe, particularly in the developing world.  A joint effort of both public and private sectors in the U.S., the partnership is supported by almost one hundred government agencies, academic organizations, water coalitions, NGOs and private sector entities.  The US Water Partnerships is being incubated by the Global Environment & Technology Foundation.  For more information, please visit:  http://uswaterpartnership.org/.

Contact:

Chuck Chaitovitz, U.S. Water Partnership
Chuck.Chuck@getf.org
(703) 379-2713