Item: One Water
Author: Kirk Westphal

How we support your One Water goals

Woman presenting architectural plans on a screen to a group in a brick-walled conference room.

Circular diagram titled 'Water Integration Tool' with icons on a water ripple background.

Colorful map of James River hydraulic model with topographic lines, arrows, and water flow paths.

We face significant water resources challenges: limited fresh water sources, droughts, flooding and more. With a One Water approach, communities benefit from multi-benefit, multi-purpose solutions that lead to more sustainable and resilient water supplies, improved water quality, more efficient utility systems, healthier ecosystems and economic vitality.

Transparents assessments and long-term solutions

To date, CDM Smith has prepared over 50 One Water plans resulting in $20 billion of publicly supported infrastructure improvements.

The Water Integration Tool (WIT)

Using a systems thinking approach, our experts created and deploy the WIT to rapidly assess future needs under uncertainty and evaluate integrated alternatives across the water, wastewater and stormwater sectors.

Meangingful stakeholder engagement

For our plans, we have facilitated hundreds of workshops for increased collaboration and consensus-building.

Powerful resiliency assessments

Our methods make climate science actionable, quantifying risks from droughts, floods, sea level rise and extreme heat.

How will the western U.S. find new water sources during the Colorado River megadrought?

The Colorado River is in a megadrought and communities throughout the western United States are feeling the effects.

Featured One Water projects

Always looking forward, we prepare today for the problems we may face tomorrow, guiding our clients through uncertainty and forging a path towards a more promising future.

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Austin, Texas

Securing Austin’s water for generations to come

Facing rapid growth and worsening droughts, Austin Water partnered with CDM Smith to build a 100-year integrated plan ensuring long-term resilience and supply.

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Steel bridge over a calm river with a reflection and a distant capitol building at sunset.

Jefferson City, Missouri

A statewide water resources plan for Missouri

Missouri’s statewide water plan integrates supply, demand, funding, and adaptive management to boost drought resilience and plan for the future.

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San Jose, California

San Jose Water plans for a resilient future

The first–of-its-kind Strategic Water Resources Plan provides a long-term vision to support over a million residents and thousands of businesses in California.

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Nantucket, Massachusetts

Breaking the cycle of PFAS on Nantucket

The island community teamed with CDM Smith experts to evaluate potential sources of PFAS contamination. Nantucket is moving toward better informed PFAS reduction and control strategies in the sewer collection system, wastewater treatment plant and landfill operations.

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Our One Water practice advances advocacy among water providers, regulatory agencies and interest groups to support resilient, affordable water systems and healthy communities and ecosystems.

Kirk Westphal, PE

Kirk has led international and U.S. projects for municipal, state and federal clients, specializing in water supply, climate vulnerability and resilience, water planning and drought management.

Abstract digital network with glowing blue and green nodes and lines.

Insight

Creating supply resiliency with the Water Integration Tool

Learn more about a tool that helps utilities evaluate the full benefits of a One Water planning and policy analysis approach.

Related practices

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Climate Resilience

We can no longer rely on the past to prepare for the future. Our teams work across water, transportation, environment and infrastructure to implement right-size solutions backed by climate science.

Drinking Water

Whether your goals are to unlock new sources, enhance the quality and reliability of the supplies you have or upgrade the technologies you use, we can help you achieve water supply innovation.

Water Reuse

Water reuse is the future of water supply. CDM Smith is committed to strengthening water supply portfolios where they are most needed today and will be tomorrow.

Water Resources Infrastructure and Resiliency

Forward-thinking water resources planning, design construction and operations means making smarter investments that lower life-cycle costs and provide multiple benefits.

Ready to take the next steps?

We love collaborating with passionate individuals and organizations. If you want to talk about potential projects, reach out to our experts. If you're interested in joining our team, check our careers page for open positions or internships.

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How we support your One Water goals