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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.

Huffington Post: The Untapped Savings in California’s Water Supply

For over 150 years, Californians have argued, litigated, yelled, and otherwise fought over water. California is a big state - we have redwood forests, desert regions, mountains, coasts, rich agricultural lands, amazing natural ecosystems.

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.

Why a Focus on Supply Cannot Solve Our Water Problem

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.

Huffington Post: Will New Climate Regulations Destroy the Economy? (Hint: No.)

There is a long history of claims that new rules to protect the environment or human health will seriously harm the United States economy.

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.

Huffington Post: Water and Conflict in Syria

Starting in 2006 and lasting through 2011, Syria suffered the worst long-term drought and the most severe set of crop failures in recorded history. In a new research paper, I've looked at the role of regional drought...

Reflections from the CEO Water Mandate’s Meetings in Peru

About a month ago, Jason Morrison, Mai-Lan Ha, Stefanie Woodward, and I flew to Lima, Peru to convene the CEO Water Mandate’s thirteenth multi-stakeholder conference.

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).

Huffington Post: Throwing Away Good Water

On April 16, security cameras recorded some teenage delinquents trespassing around the Mount Tabor Reservoir No. 5 in Portland, Oregon. One of them was seen peeing through the fence.

National Geographic ScienceBlogs: On the Back of an Envelope: That Glass of Water in a Restaurant?

And as appropriate, there is growing debate about what we, as citizens, communities, corporations, and governments should do to tackle water shortages and the bigger question of sustainable water policy.

Do Businesses in the U.S. Have an Enlightened Self-Interest in Sustainable Water Management?

Water challenges are not just an issue for companies with operations and/or suppliers in developing countries; they are confronting businesses here and now in the United States.

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

Colorado River Flows into the Delta

The Colorado River flows again! Last Sunday – the day after World Water Day - I joined more than 200 people in an impromptu celebration at Morelos Dam, welcoming the return of water...

Huffington Post: The State of Our Water: World Water Day 2014

Welcome to World Water Day 2014. As I said last year, I think every day should be World Water Day, not just March 22nd, but hey, we take what we can get.

10 Shocking Facts about the World’s Water

3.4 million people—mainly children— die as a result of preventable water-related diseases every year. 1.2 billion people—nearly 20 percent of the world’s population—live in areas of physical water scarcity. What does that mean? Water withdrawals for agriculture, industry, and domestic purposes exceed 75 percent of river flows.

With Water, California’s Bigfoot is Imported

As during most droughts, discussions of how to allocate dwindling water supplies have intensified across California. One stirring piece of the debate has pivoted around using water to produce food that is exported outside of California.

7 Things You Need to Know about California Water

In California, an estimated 19% of the state’s electricity use and 32% of all natural gas consumption are related to water. For perspective, consider that leaving the hot water running for five minutes uses as much energy as operating a 60-W light bulb for 14 hours.

National Geographic ScienceBlog: Clarifying the Discussion about California Drought and Climate Change

In the last few months, as the severe California drought has garnered attention among scientists, policymakers, and media, there has been a growing debate about the links between the drought and climate change.