Not a day goes by, without yet another report on the growing risks posed by the increasing scarcity of water. Today’s report is from the Pacific Institute: Water Scarcity & Climate Change: Growing Risks for Businesses & Investors and CERES.
Taking agriculture/food, the sector of interest to me, the applicable risks fall as follow:
Physical Risks Reputational Risks Regulatory Risks
Growers are going to need all the help they can get to adapt to more and more unpredictable water supply and weather patterns. Not one but a combination of strategies will be required to mitigate risk. Prediction models, risk management tools, sensing networks, smart irrigation scheduling systems, efficient water pricing and delivery, accurate water tracking, incentives for the installation of smart water management infrastructure, all will have a part to play. And it will take the collaboration of federal, state, business, and private land owners to make it happen.
If you want to assess your company’s exposure to water risk, you can start here.
La Marguerite 
While policy makers and advisers are busy planning for inevitable reduction in available fresh water, individuals may begin small steps toward some water independence.
The economic restrictions are sure to drive people to a degree of self sufficiency, turning thirsty lawns into savvy gardens will render water neutrality to the suburbs.
Vegetable growers will look toward erecting vertical towers within urban centers where the water will be collected and recycled within the structures; vast amounts of vegetable matter can be grown in situ for local markets.
Water may be collected with rain barrels and used on private gardens as well as city buildings on a larger scale. planting trees will reduce albedo, which will shade and cool residential areas. Laws must be monitored by citizens eager to keep a certain degree of autonomy, already such restrictions exist in Italy and elsewhere, forbidding rain collection where water prices are prohibitively expensive.
The single most useful change which can be effectuated by individuals is the curtailing of large mammal meats in the current diet. It takes much less water to grow vegetables than to grow a single pound of beef or pork. The grain and hay required for the animal protein conversion could be redirected to human consumption, avoiding, pollution of streams and aquifers.
Schools could adopt water projects, limiting waste of water as students grow into adult awareness, insuring better habits and encouraging scientific knowledge.
Thank you Nadine.
To add to all your points, individuals and businesses also need to be provided with tools that will make it easier for them to track and curtail their water consumption. Same with energy. The goal being to lower barriers to behavior changes.
Water is life essential, you’re right. Water can be organized for residential use as black water, grey water, rain water or water from air. We’ve so many ways to go green with water.
http://www.sikantisearth.com/earth/
Look up in the sky, its the space station, that recycles every ounce of water. Collection systems are great and I have them installed at my house. Gray water systems need a boost. If astronauts can recycle their own urine you would think it would be much easier down here in gravity land.
What a great site that you have here! I have a blog myself which inspires people. I would like to exchange links with you. You can contact me through email or by a comment on my site. Let me know if this possible. Keep up the good work! Jason
There are a ton of eco-friendly companies that can help us with the impending water crisis – there’s one in Maryland called Aquabarrel – they have a unit that creates water from the air around us using hardly any energy at all and at a cost per gallon that is better than just on par with what you would get from Poland Springs or another larger distributor.
Check them out here!
Robb Hughes
Head of Sales and Marketing
Green Meetup
You can find all sorts of eco-friendly products on our site, check us out if you’ve got a free moment
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