The regional economy is expanding, but growth is beginning to collide with stark realities about natural resources that are already strained.
A recent study found that reused water is not only safe but it’s actually cleaner than conventionally sourced water, but proponents are still fighting an uphill battle against the “yuck” factor.
As a way to better allocate resources to the drought-ridden area, cities across Arizona are collaborating on water treatment plants and sharing data, knowing that there is not one single solution to assure water security for the region.
Each year, 15 billion gallons of untreated sewage and rainwater flood the city's waterways during storms. The water department has been under order by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the system.
The state’s depleted aquifers received 3.8 million acre-feet of water, more water than 11 million California households will use annually. But reaching sustainability will still take more water and stronger conservation efforts.
Most of our infrastructure has been designed to withstand rainfall projections that are hopelessly obsolete. Every part of the country at risk of flooding needs urgent and significant upgrades.
Nearly one million residents get their drinking water from municipal wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals. For the 1.4 million that depend on private wells, individual well owners must take on the onus of testing their water.
The federal infrastructure dollars are available, but it’s unclear whether small-town water systems that need the money most will get help.
Gov. Gavin Newsom asked state residents in July 2021 to reduce water usage by 15 percent during the height of the state’s driest years on record. But statewide water savings only reached 7 percent, fewer than 9 gallons per person per day.
The federal government claims that the state’s Department of Public Health has demonstrated patterns of inaction and neglect surrounding health risks of raw sewage in Lowndes County, a majority-Black county.
Millions of households still get their drinking water from lead service lines. Federal money is available to replace the pipes, but in allocating the funds, it’s important for states to prioritize marginalized communities.
After a very wet winter, less than 6 percent of the state is in moderate drought while one-third of the state is still abnormally dry. Climate experts predict the state’s future will be full of weather extremes.
Congress has authorized billions, but there’s a problem: New infrastructure planning frequently relies on historical flood patterns for its benchmarks rather than forecasts of changing risks as the climate warms.
Many of the systems are operating with outdated software, poor passwords and aging infrastructure that leave the state’s water systems at-risk to hackers, terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Orange County, sixth largest in the country by population, is home to the world’s largest wastewater recycling facility. Here's the water district’s path to a 100 percent recycling rate.
The program was among the more than 100 bills that Wes Moore signed into law, including approval for the $63.1 billion Maryland budget, fixes to the 529 college savings program and agencies for racetracks and water systems.
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