EDUCATION
Find your
solutions to solve
real-world problems
What kind of
Problem-Solver Will you Be?
Water is at the heart of our planet’s most pressing challenges—climate change, urbanization, and aging infrastructure are pushing our systems to the limit. The need for bold, forward-thinking solutions has never been greater!
At the One Water Solutions Institute, we don’t just educate – we empower. Our students gain hands-on experience, cutting-edge training, and real-world problem-solving skills to tackle complex water resource challenges head-on.
If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact, join our CSU community. Become a champion of sustainable water solutions and help shape a more resilient future for communities worldwide.
Real-world problems require real-world solutions. There’s no question that we need to advance science, but there’s also a significant need for training the next generation of engineers so they can actually solve problems.
One Water Strategies
What is "One Water"?
One Water is a collaborative planning and implementation approach that fosters integrated and equitable management of water resources for long-term resilience and reliability, meeting both community and ecosystem needs.
A One Water Community holistically manages all water systems to meet the needs of all people and the environment, today and in the future.
Communities throughout the world are transitioning toward the One Water approach to improve efficiency and reduce costs while addressing climate change adaptation, resilience to extreme events, and social equity and environmental justice. The One Water paradigm addresses both integration of physical systems across traditional disciplines and integration of agencies across traditional sectors. It promotes coordination among various departments or functions of cities and auxiliary agencies in charge of planning, water supply, wastewater management, storm and flood waters, water quality, and watersheds.
One Water Implementation Coaching
We developed a One Water Communities Self Assessment Framework and Rating System with key metrics and benchmarks to assess the progression toward One Water by considering benefits, co-benefits, and competing trade-offs. The framework includes commensurate indicators and a 1-to-5 rating system to measure progress toward implementation of One Water goals, strategies, and implementation actions.
We offer tailored services designed to help utilities and municipalities create and implement One Water programs. We aim to help organizations identify effective strategies and viable technological, policy, institutional, and financial pathways toward One Water.
Let’s work together to build resilient water systems that serve the needs of today and future generations!
Stormwater Management
Our stormwater education and training activities are conducted by a variety of experienced professionals that work with non-profit organizations, private industry and consulting firms, and government agencies to bridge the gap between academia and practice.
We conduct an array of online trainings, certification courses and in-person workshops to advance our scientific understanding of water resources management, technologies, practices, and policies.
Engineering Programs
Advance your career in water resources planning, management, and policy with this graduate certificate addressing an array of water issues in the western United States and around the world.
This program emphasizes an understanding of the hydrologic cycle and the physical processes that drive it, how humans adapt water resources to their needs, techniques for sustainable management, the evolution of laws and policies governing water use, and basic spatial and temporal analysis of water data.
Explore Our
Webtools & Resources
Food-Energy-Water Systems Certificate
Gain a transdisciplinary understanding of the science at the nexus of food-energy-water systems (FEWS), including a working knowledge of socio-economic constraints and policy issues across sectors.
- Offered on-campus only
- 9 credit hours
Admission Requirements:
Candidates should have completed a B.S. in any department from an accredited institution.
This certificate encourages interdisciplinary learning and courses required are accessible to students in all disciplines, especially Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Soil and Crop Sciences, Sociology, and Political Science.
International applicants must submit English proficiency test scores meeting University minimums.