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 systems beyond their capabilities. Additionally, cities are not able to keep up with the maintenance and upgrades necessary to accommodate the population increases. Water loss is also a significant challenge, incurred by both the utilities and the customers. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that leaking pipes associated with infrastructure account for 6 billion gallons of lost treated water, daily, in the US. On the customer side of the issue, over one trillion gallons of water are wasted each year due to minor leaks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency: “One leaky faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year.”[1]
To address the issue of long-term sustainability, organizations world-wide are focusing attention on best practices. Organizations such as Leading Utilities of the World, the Stockholm Water Institute, and The United Nations University’s Institute for the Study of Advanced Sustainability are each addressing different aspects of the global issue. Many are creating networks of utilities in the water and wastewater space that have successfully implemented innovative ideas that can be used as a model and replicated elsewhere.
One key aspect of any plan’s success includes technology. Through the use of robotics, meters and sensors, water utilities can prioritize areas of greatest impact. These tools also make it easy to share information which is essential in large urban centers where there are numerous stakeholders. Another key aspect of any plan’s success involves the public, integrating programs that educate all consumers about water conservation and encourage behavioral changes toward increased efficiency.
The issues of long-term water management for urban areas is an international issue and can only be effectively addressed when all parts of the globe see the issue as such and collaborate to conserve the precious life-sustaining resource that water is.
[1] Rowland, Kate. “Accelerating Urban Water Resilience through Innovation and Technology.” WaterWorld, 15 June 2020, www.waterworld.com/water-utility-management/article/14177750/accelerating-urban-water-resilience-through-innovation-and-technology.
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