WATER SCARCITY RESOURCES

• How Energy Choices Influence Water Quality

  Using earth-friendly energy and conserving water supports the fight against climate change and preserves our freshwater reserves.

• Now Is The Time To Embrace Water Reuse And Recycling

  What do the semiconductor, food and beverage, petrochemical, and power generation industries have in common? They all rely on water to produce — an increasingly scarce resource.
• Pressing The Public: "Would You Drink Recycled Water?"

  Though treatment processes can guarantee that water has been completely purified — to the point where it is just as safe as regular tap water — people still feel it could cause them harm. We have to remember, however, that people's beliefs can change.
• Humans Are Depleting Groundwater Worldwide, But There Are Ways To Replenish It

  Groundwater is a renewable resource, but it can take decades or even centuries for some aquifers to recover after they are depleted. Current understanding of this challenge is based mainly on where and how frequently people record measurements of water levels in wells. In a newly published study, our team of data scientists, water specialists, and policy experts compiled the first global-scale dataset of these levels.
• Study Evaluates The Cost Benefits Of Recharge Net Metering For Groundwater Sustainability

  In drought-plagued states, scientists and water authorities have been searching for ways to stretch out or replenish water sources. One such method is through managed aquifer recharge (MAR), which involves injecting water directly into aquifer wells, typically from stormwater runoff. MAR projects are a cost-effective way to avoid groundwater overdraws, but often require the participation of private landowners. To solve this, researchers have developed a program called recharge net metering (ReNeM).

• These Cities Are Testing Small-Scale Treatment Systems And Wastewater Recycling

  A lot can go wrong in a large urban water system. Pumps malfunction. Valves break. Pipes leak. Even when the system is functioning properly, water can sit in pipes for long periods of time. Water shortages are also a growing problem in a warming world, as communities across the Southwestern U.S. and in many developing nations are discovering. That's why cities have started experimenting with small-scale alternatives — including wastewater recycling and localized water treatment strategies known as decentralized or distributed systems.

• Tackling The Challenges Of Desalination For Water Crisis Solutions

  Desalination plants across the globe are turning seawater into fresh drinking water. Yet this solution is not as simple or flawless as it sounds. The process has its own set of hurdles, such as high costs and environmental impacts. So what makes us keep chasing after desalination despite the challenges?
• The Rio Grande Isn't Just A Border — It's A River In Crisis

  In the U.S., people often think of the Rio Grande mainly as a political border that features in negotiations over immigration, narcotics smuggling, and trade. But there's another crisis on the river that receives far less attention. The river is in decline, suffering from overuse, drought, and contentious water rights negotiations.

• What Is Seawater Intrusion? A Hydrogeologist Explains The Shifting Balance Between Fresh And Salt Water At The Coast

  Fresh water is essential for drinking, irrigation, and healthy ecosystems. When seawater moves inland, the salt it contains can wreak havoc on farmlands, ecosystems, lives, and livelihoods.
• What Drought-Ridden States Can Learn From Israel’s Pioneering Water Strategy

  Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., with an economy that offers many opportunities for workers and businesses. But it faces a daunting challenge: a water crisis that could seriously constrain its economic growth and vitality.