Ground Gains: Unlocking Additional Water Supplies

By Jess Bown and Chris Cleveland

Groundwater supplies can be plenty, but are plenty contaminated — giving rise to new technology.

Water scarcity in the United States is a long-standing issue in the American West. Aggressive conservation programs have helped, but are frequently not enough by themselves to solve the continued pressure brought on by increasing populations, limited additional surface water supplies, and increasing regulations. With few additional surface water options, communities often look to prevalent groundwater supplies that have previously been avoided due to water-quality issues and limited, expensive treatment options. Water scarcity is not just a western issue anymore, and new solutions are needed to address this issue across the country.