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Ensuring the availability of clean, abundant fresh water for human use is among the most pressing issues facing the United States and the world. The Oct. 10, 2005, Nature web editorial Global Water Crisis states "More than one billion people in the world lack access to clean water, and things are getting worse. Over the next two decades, the average supply of water per person will drop by a third, possibly condemning millions of people to an avoidable premature death."
In the United States, water has broad impact on our economy, health, food, and energy. While it might seem that the U.S. is blessed with abundant fresh water, there is competing demand for it, leaving little for growth. Recent environmental catastrophes show how fragile municipal water supplies are.
The challenges facing water production for human use in the U.S. do not fall into a neat box. Rather they are a complex and inter-related set of regional problems requiring targeted solutions from an integrated technology base. Aquifers throughout the U.S. are suffering from declining water levels, salt water intrusion in coastal areas, and inadequately replenished fresh groundwater. Many are being overdrawn and will experience severe supply problems in the next 20 years. Major rivers and watersheds are also being overdrawn and are becoming saltier downstream.
This is an opportune time to address the systemic problem, since much of the U.S. water infrastructure needs to be upgraded over the next 15 years at a cost (using current technologies) of at least $1 trillion dollars. As staggering as this is, it is most likely only a fraction of the true cost needed to create new water supplies. There is little doubt that maintaining the strong U.S. position of economic and geopolitical leadership demands visionary new approaches to management and conservation of water resources that are augmented by new technologies capable of dramatically reducing the cost of supplying clean fresh water.
Threats to America's Water Supply
The water supply of the United States, as well as the entire world, is currently facing a number of different threats. They in turn threaten the health and economic well-being of the citizens. These threats to the water supply include:
- increased demand by energy production
- agricultural run-offs, such as:
- nitrates
- phosphates
- pesticides
- herbicides
- hormones
- leaching of radioactive materials and heavy metal
- depletion of aquifers
- contamination of aquifers by:
- salt water
- pollution intrusion
- industrial, organic, and biological toxins
These challenges are a complex and inter-related set of regional problems requiring targeted solutions from an integrated technology base.
Facts about the National Water Crisis
- In the coming decades, population growth is expected to be greatest where demand on existing water resources is at or near capacity and where aging infrastructure is already strained.
- Aquifers are suffering from declining water levels, saltwater intrusion, and inadequately replenished fresh groundwater.
- In some areas, demand for potable water exceeds available resources.
- Fresh water supplies are being compromised by the ever-increasing demands of energy production, agriculture, and industry. In turn, these essential activities are threatened by decreasing water supplies.
- Globalization is eroding the U.S. lead in supplying water technologies and international competitors are making significant inroads into the U.S. marketplace.
- The traditionally low cost of water (and low profitability for the private sector) coupled with the perceived risks of investing in new and unproven technologies are preventing the commercialization of world-leading research and innovative technologies.
- In the coming decades, population growth is expected to be greatest where demand on existing water resources is at or near capacity and where aging infrastructure is already strained.
- Aquifers are suffering from declining water levels, saltwater intrusion, and inadequately replenished fresh groundwater.
- In some areas, demand for potable water exceeds available resources.
- Fresh water supplies are being compromised by the ever-increasing demands of energy production, agriculture, and industry. In turn, these essential activities are threatened by decreasing water supplies.
- Globalization is eroding the U.S. lead in supplying water technologies and international competitors are making significant inroads into the U.S. marketplace.
- The traditionally low cost of water (and low profitability for the private sector) coupled with the perceived risks of investing in new and unproven technologies are preventing the commercialization of world-leading research and innovative technologies.
Facts about the Global Water Crisis
- More than one billion people worldwide lack access to clean water.
- In developing countries, more than two million people a year die from water-related problems.
- Major river systems throughout the world will experience periodic water shortages because of declining snowpack storage and the loss of glaciers that feed rivers year round.
- Aquifers are suffering from declining water levels, saltwater intrusion, and inadequately replenished fresh groundwater.
- In some areas, demand for potable water exceeds available resources.
