Population Growth and Climate Change: WILL POSE TOUGH CHALLENGES FOR WATER UTILITIES

Abstract

Over the next quarter century, water utilities in the United States will face a number of developments that will put pressure on their resources, spur them to develop alternative supplies, and necessitate new approaches to how they conduct business. This article, the second in a series, highlights two of these trends ‐ population growth and climate change. Total water management offers an approach that can equip utilities to handle both expected developments and unpredictable events. Rather than tackle issues on a local level, total water management encourages a more expansive worldview as well as cooperation and communication among communities, regulators, and institutions.