Water Costs on the Rise Across the U.S.
In a recent study conducted by Circle of Blue, a worldwide water information and collaboration center, it was made apparent that water and sewer rates are surging across the United States at an alarming rate. Overall, both water and sewer rates have increased by more than 30 percent in just the past decade while some cities, such as Baltimore, have more than doubled in that same time. The trend of snowballing rate increases stems from the aging conveyance infrastructure underneath each city. Water utility providers are coming to the realization that the rebuilding or improvements needed for their infrastructure will […]
Water Management in Urban Centers
Water management is a challenge facing the world, whether it is from too much water or too little. Prolonged drought and population growth continue to be key areas of concern for water utilities, especially in urban centers. According to the UN, urban areas currently comprise approximately 55% of the world’s population and estimates that percentage will grow to 68% by 2050. Water uncertainty threatens many of the most populous cities throughout the world as they struggle to mitigate the combined factors of climate change, population growth and water loss. The unrelenting population growth of cities signifies demands on water infrastructure […]
The Critical Role of Data in Digital Water Systems
As social distancing and stay-at-home orders continue to be enforced across the country, U.S. water industry leaders are looking to accelerate innovation in strategy, operations, and capital planning by harnessing digital assets and data analytics. In Black & Veatch’s newly released Strategic Directions: Water Report, it documents the efforts that leaders have put forth to adopt and implement technology that is geared towards pushing better decision-making, optimizing and prioritizing system investments, and driving cost-efficiencies. All to help deliver sustainability and resilience to the industry as new and traditional hurdles impact service providers around the country. The recurring concerns about aging […]
Tucson: A Model for Water Reclamation
In June of last year, Tucson demonstrated its prowess in conservation as it was able to return water to a section of the Santa Cruz River that had been arid for over 70 years. In a city that faces a myriad of water challenges, including climate and increasing population size, it has successfully navigated those challenges. Victory can be attributed to the public and private water organizations of the area who have made water conservation a top priority. Perhaps the strongest indicator of that success is that with a greater than 20 percent population increase, “Tucsonans are now using the […]
The Return of the California Water Wars
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform how we live, there has been one aspect in California that appears immune to change: the federal and state water wars. The United States’ Bureau of Reclamation is poised for another showdown against the state’s Department of Water Resources over who controls the vital water supply. Last year, the Bureau of Reclamation issued new operating criteria for the Central Valley Project in the form of an 871-page “biological assessment”. Within this document were details on how the water was to be maximized for water supply and delivery while also maintaining adequate protections for […]