Fact: Water – fresh, clean water - is an essential requirement for life, a high standard of living and a sustainable, modern economy. Finding the right balance to the dilemma of water as an economic commodity versus water as a human right will be one of the great social, economic and political challenges which will dominate geopolitics this century, because water has no substitute.

The Milwaukee Region is uniquely positioned to take the lead in this incredibly important industry. Over 120 water-related companies locate operations here, including five of the 11 largest water firms in the world.  By aligning and linking these companies with academic institutions and extensive research facilities and providing resources, support and connections to talent and outside markets, the Water Council is dedicated to creating a new regional economic engine with global potential.

The Milwaukee 7 Water Council was officially formed in 2007 after convening a Water Summit at the Pilot House atop Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. Recognizing both the future needs for worldwide water solutions and the Milwaukee Region's existing cluster of research facilities and water-related companies, the Milwaukee 7 Water Council sprang into action and declared its mission:

To make the Milwaukee Region the world's water hub for research, economic development and education.

A second Water Summit was held in July of 2008 and featured UN Global Compact Senior Advisor Fred Dubee as keynote speaker. A two-day summit convened in Delavan, Wisconsin in September 2008 that brought together 44 representatives from business, academia and government.  Together, they laid out the next level of strategic vision and action plans to make it happen.

Today, the Milwaukee 7 Water Council is an incorporated, non-profit, membership-driven organization dedicated to the pursuit of making Milwaukee the World Water Hub. Under Chair Rich Meeusen of Badger Meter and Vice Chair Paul Jones of A.O. Smith, the Water Council is fast becoming a leading economic development catalyst for the Milwaukee Region.

For more details, visit the Milwaukee 7 Water Council website.