The Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange (WISE) is a collaborative, cross-sector program advancing responsible corporate water stewardship and innovation across the Great Lakes megaregion.
Administered by the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) and supported by The Water Council (TWC), our businesses, utilities, academic institutions, and NGOs working together to protect freshwater resources and strengthen long-term regional competitiveness.
The Great Lakes region is North America’s economic engine and guardian to one of the planet’s largest freshwater systems. It generates more than US$6 trillion in economic output and holds 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. Its future depends on smart, thoughtful water management that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Great Lakes WISE was created to ensure this life-sustaining natural water resource is used wisely—protecting it for future generations and sustaining the long-term economic success of the region.
As the Great Lakes system is globally unique, so are the water related challenges and opportunities facing every sector in the region. Great Lakes WISE is intentionally designed as a peer-to-peer network to accelerate sustainability solutions within enterprise operations and collectively action projects that address corporate water performance with practical, scalable solutions.
Through structured dialogue and collaboration, WISE participants explore and advance best practices across key focus areas, including:
By aligning diverse perspectives, WISE helps organizations move from commitment to action, driving measurable sustainability outcomes across sectors.
The Great Lakes region is North America’s economic engine and guardian to one of the planet’s largest freshwater systems. It generates more than US$6 trillion in economic output and holds 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. Its future depends on smart, thoughtful water management that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility.
WISE functions as both a learning platform and an action network, supporting participants through:
The program champions a multi-sector, multi-stakeholder approach to:
To address these challenges, Great Lakes WISE published a Regional Gap Analysis in February 2025, identifying priority risks and opportunities related to water resource management. This analysis serves as a strategic foundation for:
Great Lakes WISE seeks a diverse network of participants across all industries that rely on water, directly or through their value chains.
Eligible participants include:
Organizations headquartered or operating within the binational Great Lakes economic region and committed to responsible water stewardship are encouraged to participate.
Stay informed on water innovation, policy developments, and stewardship efforts shaping the Great Lakes region.
Charitable contributions to the CGLR Foundation in the US and the CGLR Canada Foundation are crucial for helping us integrate environmental considerations into our regional public policy decisions, business strategies, and investment choices.
Supporting CGLR and joining our programs and outreach efforts will help bring sector leaders and stakeholders together to grow the region’s US-Canada economic partnership, transition to a sustainable future, and strengthen our competitiveness in today’s fast pace global marketplace.
