Publications

Exploring the Business Case for Corporate Action on Sanitation

As society seeks to meet demands for goods and services for a growing population, it is important to improve understanding of the fundamental science of the hydrological cycle, its links with related global processes, and the role it plays in ecological and societal well-being.

The Multiple Benefits of Water Conservation and Efficiency for California Agriculture – Need to Know

California farmers have made progress in updating and modernizing irrigation practices, but great untapped potential remains to use water more efficiently.

Op-Ed: Viewpoints: California Can Expand its Water Supply and Reduce Demand

California has reached “peak water.” We’ve far exceeded the limits of our renewable and sustainable supply. The current severe drought has highlighted these limits and shown us the stark reality of a water system in need of new thinking, new strategies and new answers.

The Untapped Potential of California’s Water Supply: Efficiency, Reuse, and Stormwater – Issue Brief

Increased pressures on California’s water supply, including from population growth and intense periods of drought exacerbated by climate change, are leading to the overuse of surface water and groundwater.

A Sustainable Water Future for California – Fact Sheet

California has a large and growing gap between the amount of water available and the amount that people use.

Shared Water Challenges and Interests: The Case for Private Sector Engagement in Water Policy and Management

Some NGOs and academics argue that business water management strategies can subvert the public interest in favor of corporate profit.

Water Reuse Potential in California – Issue Brief

Water reuse provides a reliable, local water supply that reduces vulnerability to extreme conditions.

Urban Water Conservation and Efficiency Potential in California – Issue Brief

California’s water supply is taxed by challenges such as drought, unsustainable groundwater use, and tensions over limited resources for a growing population.

Stormwater Capture Potential in Urban and Suburban California – Issue Brief

Drought in California poses a serious threat to water resources in communities across the state. The continued effects of climate change will likely exacerbate periods of drought, rendering California’s current urban and suburban water supplies unreliable and insufficient.

Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency Potential in California – Issue Brief

California’s agricultural production is the largest in the United States, and uses about 80 percent of the state’s developed water supply.

Forgotten Voices: A Youth Vision for Oakland

This foto-novela, available in both English and Spanish, came out of the Youth Empowerment Zone Project of the Pacific Institute and Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ).

Bridging Concern with Action: Are US Companies Prepared for Looming Water Challenges?

In an attempt to gain insight into corporate perceptions of risks associated with water issues and plans to address these challenges, in 2013 and 2014 the Pacific Institute and VOX Global surveyed over 50 companies across industry sectors, the majority Fortune 500 and publicly traded.

What to Do About California’s Drought

Peter Gleick Testifies on Urban Water Use Efficiency for State Water Resources Control Board

Peter Gleick testified on February 26, 2014 on strategies for addressing the California drought to the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to

The World’s Water, Volume 8

The eighth volume in this highly regarded series, The World’s Water, Volume 8 features chapters on hydraulic fracturing (fracking), water footprints, sustainable water jobs, and desalination financing, among other timely issues. Water briefs provide concise updates on topics including the Dead Sea and the role of water in the Syrian conflict.