Full Article: Water Scarcity: Meeting Demand

Recently, the USEPA estimated the 20-year needs for water infrastructure investment at $277 billion for drinking water systems and $388 billion for wastewater systems. Challenges faced by the water industry include everything from higher water demand and inadequate water resource supplies, to aging infrastructure and climate change. In order to illustrate the critical need for better water management, an appreciation of the challenges is required. While the specific supply issues vary from state to state, one thing is certain: water on tap is not a given, but rather the result of careful planning and conservation. The goal of meeting demand is certainly attainable and is a daily preoccupation of the water industry