Tapping underused resources will ensure water security in US says Johnson’s Foundation report

Diversifying water supplies by tapping underused resources, such as rainwater, can be a way to ensure long-term water security, according to a report published by the Johnson’s Foundation at Wingspread.

The report ‘Navigating to New Shores: Seizing the Future for Sustainable and Resilient US Freshwater Resources’ says that water utilities should aggressively integrate indirect and direct non-potable and potable water reuse into their supply portfolios.

The report says: "Diminished water supply is the greatest threat to the economic security and social stability of major portions of this country."

The report highlights the works of Johnson’s Foundation through its Charting New Waters (CNW) initiative and brings together recommendations of 600 diverse expert participants.

The report suggests water treatment carried out to meet different quality levels for residential, commercial and industrial usage.

The report adds: "We also need to shift away from the traditional paradigm of treating all water to the highest public health standards.

"Using technology that treats water to different quality levels and enables its delivery for safe and appropriate residential, commercial and industrial uses, we can match the right quality water to the right use."

Integration of water management methods, energy and food production, institutionalisation of the value of water, creation of integrated water utilities and transition to more technologically equipped wastewater systems are further recommendations made by the report.

The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread’s Environment Program director Dr Lynn Broaddus said: "CNW has been a deep examination of how the management of our water resources can be reimagined and reinvented to address our water challenges and generate positive environmental, economic and social benefits."

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Image: Tapping underused resources can be a way to ensure long-term water supply. Photo: courtesy of Edal Anton Lefterov / Wikipedia.