- Companies have committed $32 million to Colorado River Basin projects.
- The group hopes to raise $100 million over the next two years.
- Funding will support water security, agriculture and watershed health.
- Grundfos, Amazon and The Coca-Cola Foundation are leading the effort.
- Eight participating companies and organizations were identified in the announcement.
Monday, September 21, 2026 — A group of major companies and organizations has committed $32 million toward projects intended to improve water security and watershed health across the Colorado River Basin.
Grundfos
announced the commitment on September 21, 2026, as part of the Colorado River Basin Collaborative, a private-sector effort to bring more corporate funding into water projects across the basin.
The collaborative has a larger goal: raising $100 million over the next two years. If it reaches that goal, Grundfos says it would be the largest corporate water conservation investment in a single watershed in the United States.
Money Targeted at Water Projects.
According to the announcement, money contributed through the collaborative will support projects intended to improve water security, watershed health and agricultural resilience.
The projects are also expected to provide measurable environmental and community benefits.
The announcement identified Aldi, Amazon, Ecolab, EdgeConneX, Grundfos, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Vantage and Xylem as participating organizations. Grundfos, Amazon and The Coca-Cola Foundation are serving as co-champions of the initiative.
The September 21 announcement did not identify specific projects receiving the money.
Why Companies Are Putting Money Into the Basin.
The companies point to the Colorado River Basin’s enormous reach.
According to Grundfos, the basin supplies water to nearly 40 million people in the American West and Mexico. It also supports about 16 million jobs and an estimated $1.4 trillion in economic activity each year.
The announcement cites prolonged drought, climate pressures and growing water demand as reasons for increased attention to the basin.
Ulrik Gernow, chief operating officer at Grundfos, said companies can help reduce pressure on limited water supplies through water reuse, reducing water loss and improving infrastructure.
“Grundfos is proud to be a co-champion of this initiative, helping turn awareness into action across the Colorado River Basin,” Gernow said.
He said cooperation among organizations could increase investment and innovation while helping communities and industries reduce water stress.
A $100 Million Goal.
The Colorado River Basin Collaborative is being coordinated by the Water Resilience Coalition, a private-sector-led organization that works on water issues in water-stressed basins.
The Climate Pledge is also helping bring participating companies into the effort, according to the announcement.
Matt Kistler, chief executive officer of the Water Resilience Coalition, said bringing companies together can help coordinate money and speed up projects.
“The Colorado River Basin is one of the most important watersheds in North America, and its future depends on collaboration at scale,” Kistler said.
For now, the announced commitment stands at $32 million. The collaborative’s next benchmark is considerably larger, with participating organizations seeking to mobilize $100 million during the next two years.
