It is easy to assume the public is focused on water in ways it has not considered in the past.
California is experiencing a multi-year drought that has the farming communities pitted against a thirsty population; and that’s just southern California. The northern part of the state is always at odds with its southern counterpart over the water that flows through the Colorado River.
Compare that scenario to New York, Kansas and Texas where flash floods have produced water levels at record highs drowning states in so much H20 the USDA will spend $84 million in disaster relief in those states plus ten more.
Are we prepared?
Water use is growing faster than the population and is not predicted to ease, as water is essential for food growth, industry and even alternative energy production such as hydraulic fracturing- commonly known as fracking- that is enabling the boom of natural gas.
Just getting water to consumers is a major obstacle as many pipes are up to 100 years old, causing water main breaks across the county. The U.S. will need to spend $680B to rehabilitate domestic water delivery systems and wastewater infrastructure.
Is the federal government a player?
Nineteen federal agencies spend $3billion annually in water resource management, quality and safety, energy generation, efficiency, conservation, desalinization and watershed protection.
Is it enough?
The Environmental Protection Agency has a new Water Finance Center designed to work with government, utilities and the private sector to attract federal grants and public-private partnerships to address water needs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Opportunity Investment Initiative has been organized to identify opportunities in water projects, reduce barriers and attract funding.
The President’s March Executive Order to plan for sustainability
The White House is looking at federal agency water use reduction, as well as green and high technology solutions to improve water conservation management using next generation water meters, storm and wastewater management, landscape management and other products and services.
The continued challenge
As the world responds to global climate change and faces a growing population, increased stewardship of natural resources will continue to challenge environmentalists and world leaders. How will technology and innovators help meet that challenge?