The environmental group American Rivers has released a publication “designed to educate and empower advocates focused on shaping the infrastructure and resource management decisions of drinking water providers” and to “acquaint advocates with the financing practices and imperatives that define drinking water management today.” In Drinking Water Infrastructure: Who pays and how (and for what)? the organization says water efficiency should be central to the planning phase of any water supply project in order to address challenges associated with extreme weather, climate change and fiscal austerity.
The report contends: “The infrastructure of yore – mega projects to convey, store and treat water – is often too inflexible and too expensive to deliver reliable and cost-effective services.” American Rivers says it hopes to educate consumers and other advocates on the challenges facing drinking water infrastructure management and potential solutions, particularly conservation and efficiency.
The report can be downloaded at www.americanrivers.org/assets/pdfs/reports-and-publications/drinking-water-infrastructure-report.pdf.