This document discusses the sustainability of the global water supply. It notes that the world's population tripled in the 20th century while water usage grew six times. By mid-century, an additional 3 billion people will need water, most in already water-stressed countries. Ensuring a sustainable water supply will require improving conservation efforts, embracing alternative water sources like reuse and desalination, and designing systems with conservation and full water costs in mind. Without changes to prioritize sustainable water practices, a global water crisis may be unavoidable.
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Jeff Fulgham, Banyan Water - Sustainable Landscape Conference, San Diego March 2013
1. Is our water future
sustainable?
Jeff Fulgham
Banyan Water
38. US water demand
Billion Acre Feet per year
49%
34%
12%
5%
Agriculture
192B AF/yr
Municipal
54B AF/yr
Industry
25B AF/yr
Thermoelectric
225B AF/yr
Source: USGS 2005 estimated use of water in the US
US Total
460B AF/yr
50. Top environmental challenge: water risk
50
Environmental issues by rank*
1. Water pollution
2. Fresh water shortages
3. Depletion of natural resources
4. Air pollution
5. Loss of animal/plant species
6. Climate change/global warming
7. Automobile emissions
Planning for, and abating, risks associated with water is
our number one priority Dan Bena, PepsiCo
What scares me is that we are not considering long-term
water risks Elizabeth Stokes, AkzoNobel
Water is our biggest cost and risk factor in developing
new gas projects Sandra Stash, Talisman
Nestl辿's competitive advantage is our ability to evaluate
water risk and assure it does not become a business risk
Peter Brabeck, Nestl辿
* Circle of Blue/GlobeScan survey of 15,000 adults in 15 focused countries
61. 61
"Drought in TX is boosting water
prices and competition between
agricultural and energy interests
over the commodity.
- Business Week
TX cities are scouring the region
for their next water supply."
- Scripps
62. 62
Technology available today could
Reduce commercial irrigation usage by 65%
Conserve 6.4 km3 or 1.7 trillion gallons
Free up 10% of total municipal supply in US
Save >$7B in water expense
63. Conservation pays
63
MULTIFAMILY
75% reduction
47 MM gal/yr
$400k/yr net savings
20 mo. payback
COMMERCIAL
71% reduction
12 MM gal/yr
$70k/yr net savings
17 mo. payback
PARKS
41% reduction
156 MM gal/yr
$170k/yr net savings
Zero capital invest.
SPORTS
56% reduction
13 MM gal/yr
$40k/yr net savings
Zero capital invest.
67. #6: Pay for value receivedRenewablewaterresourcespercapita
Total water + wastewater cost per m3
High scarcity, low cost where is
the motivation to conserve?