The regional economy is expanding, but growth is beginning to collide with stark realities about natural resources that are already strained.
Even where abundantly available, the costs of clean water are rising faster than the CPI. Where it’s scarce, there’s double trouble. Ultimately, securing enough clean and affordable water will require state laws mandating realistic long-term pricing.
Texas property owners can use nearly as much water under their land as they want. That’s unlikely to change even as the state approaches a crisis.
The Yorba Linda, Calif., water district has the country’s largest PFAS treatment facility of its kind. The drinking water it delivers to customers is free of these unwanted “forever chemicals.”
There are a number of steps that state and local leaders could take to narrow the funding gap by tens of billions, making the most of the money that is available to keep the faucets flowing.
El Paso has one of the largest water desalination plants in the world. Its efforts will inform Texas’ efforts to use desalination to address its water shortage.
Legislators have made water a priority this session, with the state falling short of ever-increasing demand. Ideas for addressing the problem range from conservation to desalination.
When it opens in 2028, the advanced filtration plant will supply 10 million gallons a day, the first in the country to convert wastewater directly into drinking water.
Seven states rely on water from the Colorado River. They’ve split into two camps and have made “zero progress” ahead of current apportionment rules expiring in 2026.
New federal rules require localities to get rid of all their lead water pipes in the next 10 years. Officials say they need help – and money.
The new boundary officially returns the pump station on one of the nation’s largest manmade lakes fully back into the Lone Star State.
As city leaders try to reduce carbon emissions and conserve water amid a 20-year drought, a proposed tax break for a new, water-intensive data center is drawing scrutiny.
The majority of U.S. agricultural exports rely on the Mississippi River to reach the international market.
One key issue for working-class and low-income Black voters in Detroit is the cost of water. As of 2023, 27 percent of Detroit households are at risk of having their water shut off due to unpaid water bills, with $700 being the average amount owed.
While environmentalists say the new rules don’t do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells.
Future in Context
Statewide cybersecurity initiatives, like whole-of-state programs, are offering essential support to smaller communities and agencies. Backed by federal funding, they aim to bridge resource gaps and strengthen defenses against cyber threats.
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