Gov. Jerry Brown’s ambitious $17 billion plan, to divert water from the Sacramento River to serve the state’s central and southern population has encountered a potentially fatal setback. Earlier this month the board of Westlands Water District, the largest irrigation district in the country, voted to remove itself from the project, citing potential costs to individual farmers. Commonly referred to as California WaterFix, the plan calls for two, 30-mile long tunnels that would transport raw water from the Sacramento River to state canals, where it would be treated and used to serve more than 25 million Californians, from the Bay […]

On September 30th, Sustainable Water will head to Chicago to take part in the 90th annual WEFTEC Conference. One of the most well-known and respected technical conferences in the world, WEFTEC is at the forefront for the latest developments, technologies, and services in the water sector. Our team is exited to exchange knowledge, spark innovation, and connect with peers from across the industry and around the globe. This year, WEFTC is highlighting the critical role of developing a skilled and stable workforce to ensure clean and reliable water. During this time, Sustainable Water’s President and CEO Jonathan Lanciani will attend his inaugural board […]

As of this month, more than 80 percent of Portugal is officially classified as enduring a “severe” or “extreme” drought. Water has historically been scarce in this part of southern Europe, but the Portuguese Environment Secretary, Carlos Martin told the Associated Press that this drought is different, “it has gotten worse with climate change.”[1] The worst drought to hit the country in more than 20 years has resulted in the Pego De Altar, one of the most important reservoirs, to be at only 11 percent capacity. With little hope for drought busting rains, the Portuguese Government is quickly approaching difficult […]

The Upper Floridan Aquifer is the primary artery that supplies more than 10 million people in four states with fresh water and spurs nearly $7.5 billion in agricultural commerce each year. As concerns grow over the ability for the aquifer to keep up with demands for water, four universities are collaborating to study the economic sustainability of agriculture and forestry that rely on this supply. The $5 million study is expected to take place over a five-year period and will be led by the University of Florida, with help from scientists from the University of Georgia, Auburn University, and Albany […]

Historically, wastewater ponds and reservoirs in California have been used by water utilities for one purpose: storing water and treating wastewater. This is about to change. With a statewide push towards sustainable energy sources, California utilities are turning to their own aquatic real estate to build floating solar panels to reduce operating costs and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Sonoma County Water Authority, one of the first utilities to embrace floating solar panels, had already built solar arrays on rooftops and parking lots. With no more room for expansion, the agency turned to their existing wastewater ponds. “We were looking then […]