The ADS Foundation and The Nature Conservancy's Brightstorm Program Announce Collaboration to Advance Innovation in Stormwater Solutions
The ADS Foundation today announced a strategic collaboration with Brightstorm, a program of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to protect freshwater systems and accelerate the development of Smart Watershed Network Management (SWNM) solutions across the United States. The ADS Foundation is funded primarily by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite wastewater industries and one of the largest plastic recyclers in North America.
Together, the ADS Foundation and Brightstorm will combine ADS' industry-leading stormwater products with Brightstorm's data-driven approach to stormwater management to help communities better manage runoff, improve water quality, and build resilience against flooding.
"We believe that every drop of water we capture, convey, store, treat, and reuse makes communities stronger," said Brian King, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at ADS. "By combining our expertise in water management with Brightstorm's groundbreaking research, we're taking a decisive step toward a more resilient and sustainable approach to managing the world's most precious resource, water."
Brightstorm works with public agencies, researchers, and private stakeholders to test innovative stormwater solutions. By advancing modeling, machine learning, and active control technologies, Brightstorm is making infrastructure smarter and more adaptive—protecting water quality, reducing flood risk, and sustaining the ecosystems communities depend on. For years, the ADS Foundation has supported The Nature Conservancy on projects that protect freshwater ecosystems, demonstrating the company's leadership in conservation and sustainability. This renewed collaboration builds upon that history, pairing ADS' advanced stormwater products with Brightstorm's data analytics, modeling tools, and on-the-ground conservation expertise. As the climate changes, the two organizations are deepening their work together to steward freshwater systems that provide so much to neighborhoods nationwide.
"We share a belief that innovation and collaboration can unlock lasting change," said Craig Holland, Senior Director of Investments at The Nature Conservancy and Managing Director of Brightstorm. "Through this joint effort, we can bridge technology, science, and real-world implementation to safeguard freshwater systems for generations to come."
A key focus of the collaboration will be expanding Brightstorm's Smart Watershed Network Management (SWNM) system, a next-generation framework that uses artificial intelligence, real-time weather forecasting, and smart sensor networks to manage stormwater dynamically across entire watersheds.
Together, the ADS Foundation and Brightstorm are redefining how we manage, protect, and value water, transforming innovation into lasting impact.
About the ADS Foundation
The ADS Foundation seeks to improve quality of life by building resilient and sustainable communities that inspire social equity in recycling, education, mental health, housing, and water. Established by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in 2020, the ADS Foundation is committed to partnering with organizations that improve availably and access in these five areas. To learn more about the ADS Foundation, go to www.adspipe.com/corp/impact/ads-foundation.
About Advanced Drainage Systems
Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative stormwater and onsite wastewater solutions that manage the world's most precious resource: water. ADS and its subsidiary, Infiltrator Water Technologies, provide superior stormwater drainage and onsite wastewater products used in a wide variety of markets and applications including commercial, residential, infrastructure and agriculture, while delivering unparalleled customer service. ADS manages the industry's largest company-owned fleet, an expansive sales team, and a vast manufacturing network of approximately 64 manufacturing plants and 35 distribution centers. The company is one of the largest plastic recycling companies in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year. Founded in 1966, ADS' water management solutions are designed to last for decades. To learn more, visit the Company's website at www.adspipe.com.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org
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Media Contacts:
ADS Foundation Contact
Margaret Finley
ADS Foundation Board Member
Phone: (614) 570-6304
[email protected]
Advanced Drainage Systems Contact
Heather Schreiber
ADS Director of Marketing
Phone: (614) 216-3757
[email protected]
The Nature Conservancy Contact
Amalia Grobbel
Browning Environmental Communications
Phone: (240) 274-9600
[email protected]