Building Public Trust in Water with Rogue Water Lab
Executive Director – Rogue Water Lab
At Rogue Water Lab, we believe authentic engagement is the foundation of trust—and trust is essential for sustainable water solutions. Our mission is to bolster public trust in water by equipping, inspiring, and empowering the sector to better engage communities and policymakers to elevate the conversations around water.
We water professionals with the skills, strategies, and confidence to engage their communities effectively. Through immersive trainings, strategic consulting, and storytelling, we help utilities, associations, and service providers bridge the gap between technical expertise and public understanding.
Our impact extends beyond training — it’s about transformation. We work across the U.S. to build communication strategies that shift public perception, increase stakeholder engagement, and cultivate trust in water. Whether it’s a small-town utility tackling PFAS concerns or a regional water provider launching a campaign on the true value of water, Rogue Water Lab equips water professionals with the tools they need to lead with clarity, confidence, and connection.
👉 Learn more at: www.catalysth2o.org
In 2024, you hosted Catalyst: A World of Pure Imagination. Can you explain what Catalyst is, how it’s different than most conferences, and why a program like this is important?
Most water conferences focus on panels and presentations — Catalyst flips that model on its head. Catalyst is an immersive, hands-on experience where attendees don’t just listen; they engage, experiment, and step into real-world challenges in water communication.
In 2024, Catalyst tackled public trust in water through an interactive, city-wide experience. Attendees took on the roles of utility communicators, city officials, customers and neighborhood leaders, navigating through a simulated world while learning firsthand how different stakeholders perceive and respond to water challenges. By stepping into these roles, participants gained empathy, honed communication strategies, and built stronger connections with their peers.
This program is essential because traditional training often falls short in preparing water professionals for the complex human dynamics of public engagement. Catalyst isn’t about theory — it’s about action. It equips leaders with the real-world skills to foster trust, handle misinformation, and strengthen relationships between utilities and their communities.
Catalyst 2025 will take place in Milwaukee Sept. 22-24, and we are accepting applications to attend now! This year’s content theme is navigating the modern media landscape. We’ll dive into media relations, social media engagement, mis- and disinformation, and how to rise above all the noise.
🎥 Get a feel for Catalyst by watching this Highlight Reel. Interested in supporting? Check out our sponsorship packages.
Rogue Water Lab hosted the Rural Ripples Podcast. What made you decide to highlight the work of rural communities via a podcast?
Water challenges are felt uniquely in rural communities, where access to funding, technical resources, and workforce support can be more limited. Yet, these communities are often overlooked in national water conversations.
We launched the limited-edition Rural Ripples to amplify the voices of rural water leaders, learn about their unique challenges, share their innovative solutions, and connect them with a broader audience. These are the people solving problems with creativity and grit — and their stories deserved to be heard.
From a small-town general manager finding creative ways to build trust with residents to rural water association leaders advocating for funding and policy changes, each episode highlights the real-life challenges, successes, and strategies of rural water professionals working to keep their communities informed and resilient.
🎧 Listen to Rural Ripples: https://ruralripples.captivate.fm
What are you most excited about when thinking about Rogue Water Lab’s work in 2025?
2025 is all about pushing boundaries and bringing communication to the forefront of water solutions.
🌊 Catalyst Milwaukee: This year’s Catalyst will dive deep into stakeholder engagement, including media relations, elected official engagement, and social media strategy — giving water professionals hands-on experience navigating real-world challenges.
🏛 On-Campus Immersion: We’re looking for partners to launch an immersive experience on college campuses using Virtual Reality, where participants step into a future U.S. that is water insecure and see first-hand the day-to-day impact water has on their lives.
🎙More Storytelling, More Impact: Through our new Hallway Hot Takes series at conferences to potential new podcasts, video series, or digital content, we hope to double down on storytelling as a tool for change — helping water professionals tell compelling, human-centered stories that inspire action.
We’re excited for a year of bigger conversations, bolder ideas, and transformative experiences that will redefine water communication.
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