Ten Companies Commit $32M to the Colorado River, Targeting $100M in Two Years
September 21, 2026 – Ten companies have committed to investing $32 million in the Colorado River Basin Collaborative (CRBC) through the Water Resilience Coalition and The Climate Pledge, with an ambition of reaching $100 million in two years and becoming the largest corporate water conservation investment in a single U.S. watershed. The collaborative is co-championed by Amazon, Grundfos and The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The Colorado River Basin is facing mounting pressure. Reservoir levels are near historic lows, and the water supply that nearly 40 million people depend on is shrinking. The Colorado River supports 16 million jobs and underpins $1.4 trillion in annual economic activity — from Tribal Nations and family farms to manufacturing and global supply chains. ¹
The funding will support projects across the basin focused on advancing long-term solutions that improve water security, strengthen watershed health, support agricultural resilience, and deliver measurable benefits for communities and ecosystems.
Participating organizations include Aldi, Amazon, Ecolab, EdgeConneX, Grundfos, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Vantage, and Xylem.
“Through The Climate Pledge, we’ve seen what happens when companies tackle a problem together: progress accelerates. We’re bringing that same model to the Colorado River because water and climate are deeply connected. What sets this apart is also quick action—starting now through 2028, the coalition will deploy funding into projects that are already vetted and ready to go,” said Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon.
“Grundfos is proud to be a co-champion of this initiative, helping turn awareness into action across the Colorado River Basin,” said Ulrik Gernow, Chief Operating Officer at Grundfos. “As a water technology provider, we know that we can improve water reuse, reduce water loss, strengthen resilience, and optimize infrastructure, and by helping communities and industries we can reduce water stress. These investments demonstrate what is possible when organizations unite around a shared ambition to water security. Together, we can accelerate the investment, innovation, and collaboration needed to keep the Colorado River, and the economies and communities that depend on it, running for generations to come.”
“The Coca-Cola Foundation is proud to support water resilience projects that help communities strengthen and protect the resources they rely on every day. From the Colorado River Basin to watersheds around the world, collaborative efforts can play an important role in improving water security, supporting ecosystem health and building resilience for the future,” said Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation.
“I’m excited about what this collaboration can achieve for the Colorado River. Bringing these companies together around a shared goal creates an opportunity to align resources, accelerate action, and deliver meaningful, lasting impact across the basin.” said Matt Kistler, CEO of the Water Resilience Coalition.
The corporate investment in projects across the basin are being coordinated by the Water Resilience Coalition, a private sector-led organization advancing collaborative action in water-stressed basins around the world. The Climate Pledge — a commitment by more than 700 companies across 60+ sectors to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 — is channeling its signatory network toward water because the two challenges are closely linked: as the climate shifts, pressure on water resources like the Colorado River grows with it. The Colorado River Basin is one of several priority regions where companies, governments, local communities, and civil society organizations are working together to improve water resilience and security.
¹ Professor Tim James, Dr. Anthony Evans, Eva Madly, and Cary Kelly, L William Seidman Research Institute, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University FINAL REPORT December 18, 2014