WATER SCARCITY RESOURCES
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Every drop of water counts, but when we talk about our collective conservation efforts for the greater good, it's natural to think about high-volume users. Those users are generally on the industrial side of things — agriculture, of course; the energy industry, with its intractable relationship to water; and also the food and beverage industry. Thankfully, there are leaders in these spaces who not only understand the need for sustainable water management — they pioneer it.
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The answer to water scarcity could be right in front of us — and above and all around — if the technology of drawing water from the atmosphere can be made practical.
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Using earth-friendly energy and conserving water supports the fight against climate change and preserves our freshwater reserves.
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What do the semiconductor, food and beverage, petrochemical, and power generation industries have in common? They all rely on water to produce — an increasingly scarce resource.
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Though treatment processes can guarantee that water has been completely purified — to the point where it is just as safe as regular tap water — people still feel it could cause them harm. We have to remember, however, that people's beliefs can change.
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Groundwater is a renewable resource, but it can take decades or even centuries for some aquifers to recover after they are depleted. Current understanding of this challenge is based mainly on where and how frequently people record measurements of water levels in wells. In a newly published study, our team of data scientists, water specialists, and policy experts compiled the first global-scale dataset of these levels.
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In drought-plagued states, scientists and water authorities have been searching for ways to stretch out or replenish water sources. One such method is through managed aquifer recharge (MAR), which involves injecting water directly into aquifer wells, typically from stormwater runoff. MAR projects are a cost-effective way to avoid groundwater overdraws, but often require the participation of private landowners. To solve this, researchers have developed a program called recharge net metering (ReNeM).
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A lot can go wrong in a large urban water system. Pumps malfunction. Valves break. Pipes leak. Even when the system is functioning properly, water can sit in pipes for long periods of time. Water shortages are also a growing problem in a warming world, as communities across the Southwestern U.S. and in many developing nations are discovering. That's why cities have started experimenting with small-scale alternatives — including wastewater recycling and localized water treatment strategies known as decentralized or distributed systems.
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Desalination plants across the globe are turning seawater into fresh drinking water. Yet this solution is not as simple or flawless as it sounds. The process has its own set of hurdles, such as high costs and environmental impacts. So what makes us keep chasing after desalination despite the challenges?
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In the U.S., people often think of the Rio Grande mainly as a political border that features in negotiations over immigration, narcotics smuggling, and trade. But there's another crisis on the river that receives far less attention. The river is in decline, suffering from overuse, drought, and contentious water rights negotiations.