ABOUT
One Water solutions
through innovation
and research
Water is the lifeforce of our planet—the most essential resource for all life and the defining sustainability challenge of the 21st century. Yet, as demand skyrockets, our limited resources are under immense strain. Aging systems struggle to keep up while population growth and urbanization reshape the health and livability of our communities. The future of our water systems hangs in the balance, with critical decisions being made amid deep uncertainty.
Now, more than ever, bold innovation and forward-thinking solutions are essential to securing a resilient and sustainable future.
Our mission is to advance sustainable water management by delivering world-class research, innovative technologies, and practical solutions that address critical water and environmental challenges.
The vision of the One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) is to be a global leader in shaping resilient and efficient water systems, fostering sustainable communities, and ensuring the health of our planet’s most vital resource for future generations.
Colorado State University strives to be among the world’s premier academic programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering, excelling in teaching, research, and professional service.
OWSI promotes collaboration between the University and outside partners including public, private, and non-government organizations. We manage several centers of innovation with specific efforts underway to address a variety of water and environmental sustainability challenges.
Top 25%
of all Civil Engineering graduate programs in the nation (U.S. News and World Report Rankings, 2025)
#41
Environmental Engineering graduate program in the nation (U.S. News and World Report Rankings, 2024)
11
Undergraduate & Graduate Students
31
Faculty & Research Associates
$28M
Federal, State, Private, and NGO Funding
$4.1M
Annual Research and Service Expenditures
The One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) is housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University. Our team provides a unique perspective and wide range of expertise by bringing together water, energy, and agricultural research experts, engineers, program managers, and software developers. We are proud of our team’s varied demographics, and the excellence our strong diversity lends to our research.
OWSI is headquartered at the CSU Fort Collins campus, 65 miles north of Denver at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with the Cache la Poudre River flowing through the city. Fort Collins has a population of approximately 170,000 and is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the entire country.
In 2023, OWSI began operations at the CSU Spur Hydro building in Denver, enhancing our global impact through convergent science initiatives, expanded partnership development, and innovative solutions in water resources, agriculture, and urban development. Here, we are establishing the Water Technology Accelerator Platform (Water TAP) and launching a variety of sophisticated technical and software solutions.
Interested in learning more about our research and technology? Ask an OWSI expert how we can help your community and we will get in touch as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our team is located across three CSU campuses but we are headquartered at the Fort Collins campus in the Engineering Building.
Mailing Address:
CSU One Water Solutions Institute
1372 Campus Delivery, Engr. Room 205
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1372
Email: owsi@colostate.edu
Phone: 1+970-491-3016