About

Welcome to the Alabama Water Institute (AWI), where we are advancing science, technology, and policy to create a more secure and sustainable water future.

Alabama is the “River State,” home to more than 132,000 miles of rivers and streams and some of the highest aquatic biodiversity in North America. Water shapes every facet of life here, from public health and ecosystems to industry and infrastructure.

The University of Alabama is emerging as a national hub for water expertise, anchored by AWI and buoyed by its co-location with two key federal partners: the NOAA National Water Center and the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility.

At AWI, we unite interdisciplinary teams to tackle the most pressing water challenges — floods, droughts, water quality, competing demands, etc. Our work is organized through three flagship research entities:

• The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) – accelerating innovation in water prediction and decision support.
• The Global Water Security Center (GWSC) – delivering water intelligence to inform national and international security.
• The CONSERVE Research Group – applying science and technology to safeguard freshwater resources, enhance ecosystem function, and support water stewardship across landscapes.

Through collaborative research, education, and user-driven innovation, AWI is working to ensure that communities are better informed, better equipped, and better prepared to manage water in a changing world.

Thanks for visiting. We invite you to connect with us and be part of our growing impact.

Roll Tide,

Matt Womble
Executive Director, Alabama Water Institute