The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has published The Future of Water: A Startling Look Ahead, taking a serious look at how the world will soon value water, use water, and access water. Author Steve Maxwell uses his experience in the water industry to present likely scenarios for the broad trends that will affect future water challenges worldwide: population, economics, energy, climate, and pollution. He tells how the actions of individuals, investors, water utilities, industries, and nations can actually change the future of water.
Topics covered in The Future of Water include:
The future of water utilities. Treatment costs will continue to increase with ever-stricter regulations. Water rates will rise to generate cash for better treatment technologies and escalating pipe-replacement programs. Small utilities may consolidate for cost-savings.
The future of water business. Companies are lining up to deliver innovative solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, storage, treatment, and distribution. Most experts place the size of the commercial water market at $500 to $600 billion per year worldwide, and growing.
The future of water use at home. Lawns will be much smaller and may use grass that can live on common seawater. Clothes washers may use a cup of water per load, or none. Dishwashers may use bursts of steam-infused air and UV light to clean and sanitize dishes.
The future of agricultural water use. The aquifers that supply irrigation water are gradually drying up. As it becomes scarcer, water will inevitably cost more. As farmers become more innovative, packaging may soon say, “Irrigated with natural rainfall, no fossil waters used.”
The future of industrial water use. Water will become a far more critical input or decision factor in all manufacturing and industry, with labor, capital, and energy costs. Industrial cities in the rainy northeast may see revitalization as water-intensive industries move there.
The future sources of water. The ocean represents an unlimited source of water for seacoast cities that can afford desalination.
The Future of Water is available in AWWA’s online bookstore at www.awwa.org, and through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
