OUR VISION
Universal access to safe, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater management nationwide
OUR APPROACH
We all need clean water, but many communities struggle with aging infrastructure, costly rates, poor water quality, and distrust of their water. Our research, including the recent launch of the Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, helps government agencies advance access to safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water, especially in underserved communities.
CURRENT PROJECT
How have the LA Fires affected water systems in LA County? An Early Overview
In January 2025, LA County experienced multiple fast-moving fires that began as wildland events but quickly spread into residential areas, destroying homes and critical infrastructure. This report provides an early assessment of the Palisades and Eaton fires’ impacts on local water systems, focusing on damage to infrastructure, service disruptions, and the unique vulnerabilities of the affected communities.
EXPERTS
Gregory Pierce, Research and Co-Executive Director; Director, Human Right to Water Solutions Lab
Edith de Guzman, Policy Specialist
Grace Harrison, Project Manager
Ariana Hernandez, Project Manager
NEWS
UCLA Luskin Summit 2025: A Vision for Equitable Recovery After the LA Fires
The UCLA Luskin Summit 2025 brought experts together to explore pathways to equitable and resilient rebuilding in the wake of the LA Fires.
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation’s Gregory Pierce to lead a new water supply + wildfire research and policy coordination network
Funded by UCLA’s Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative and UCANR, the network aims to strengthen preparedness and recovery at the water-fire nexus.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Water now safe to drink in all areas after L.A. fires, state says (Business and America)
Water now safe to drink in all areas after L.A. fires, state says (Los Angeles Times)
Trump’s ‘tiny’ fish, a ‘giant faucet’ and ‘beautiful water flow’ (The Washington Post)
