Archive
University Institute Launched in Texas to Explore Water Issues
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has recently launched the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability and Policy. The institute brings together faculty across UTSA to collaborate in the areas of water quality, water quantity, flood control and water policy. The research will focus on the effects of climate change on water resources in the local San Antonio area, the South Texas region, and the I-10 Corridor. Eventually, the research and studies will expand to include national and international water issues and solutions. “An institute based on water research is absolutely needed, based on the part of Texas where […]
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 […]
The Fight for Clean Water Amidst COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed the world in many ways, one of which is to make everyone across the globe more aware of the importance of hand washing in combating germ transfer. Health care professionals encourage us to sing songs, count to twenty and a myriad of other ideas to ensure that we wash for an appropriate length of time. However, there is a key ingredient in the equation that is missing for a large number of people worldwide: clean water. In a recent article posted on The Conversation (website), David Feldman, Professor Urban Planning & Public Policy and Political Science, Director […]