2020 Water Data Prize: Improving Water Quality Communications

EPIC created the Water Data Prize to inspire new approaches to sharing information about water quality that help all consumers make informed decisions about whether their water is safe to drink —or not. With just a two-month window of the first prize, more than 30 organizations and individuals in the water sector submitted entries to the Water Data Prize, and an esteemed panel of judges reviewed the submissions looking for simple and effective ways to communicate about health data to as many people as possible.

Explore the site to learn more about easy, low-cost ideas to improve water quality communications and build trust in your community.


Honorable Mentions


Recommendations from the 2020 Water Data Prize:

  1. Translate complex information using simple graphics

  2. Use plain language

  3. Elevate local water quality concerns

  4. Make information accessible

  5. Encourage customer engagement

  6. Innovate with emerging or established technologies

  7. Ease implementation through low cost features


Events from the 2020 WDP


2020 WDP Judges

  • Mariel Beasley

    Principal - Center for Advanced Hindsight
    Co-Founder - Common Cents Lab

  • Tiffani Ashley Bell

    Founder & Executive Director - The Human Utility

  • Margaret Bowman

    Program Director - Spring Point Partners

  • Al Cho

    Chief Strategy & Digital Officer - Xylem, Inc.

  • Stephanie Corso

    Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder - Rogue Water

  • Martin Doyle

    Professor - Duke University

  • E. Joaquin Esquivel

    Chair - State Water Resources Control Board

  • Iris Gonzalez

    Coalition Director - CEER Houston​

  • Leigh Greene

    Director - Youngstown Office of Minority Health

  • Katie Henderson

    Senior Program Manager - US Water Alliance

  • Jordan Macha

    Executive Director & Waterkeeper - Bayou City Waterkeeper

  • Nathan Ohle

    Chief Executive Officer - Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

  • Alan Roberson

    Executive Director - Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

  • Lynn Thorp

    National Campaigns Director - Clean Water Action