Safe and reliable fresh water is critical to human health, quality of life, and protection of the environment. The importance of protecting and improving water quality while using existing water supplies as efficiently as possible has never been greater. Societies around the globe are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to address these issues. Part of the challenge is technical/scientific, but much of the challenge involves policy, economics, and communications. Focusing on policy, economics, and communications, the Center for Integrated Water Research can help develop analytical methods and perspectives that will enable regions to achieve their water supply and treatment goals.