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Energy Down the Drain: The Hidden Costs of California’s Water Supply

Energy is used at all stages of water supply, from groundwater pumping for agriculture to the treatment of water for municipal consumption.

Freshwater Resources: Managing the Risks Facing the Private Sector

Many businesses around the world, from beverage companies to garment manufacturers, are failing to prepare for the serious economic and political risks posed by increasing water scarcity, water contamination, water supply disputes, and a host of other water-related challenges.

Agricultural Water to Air Model

This model aims to give water managers a better understanding of the relationship between water management decisions, energy consumption, and air quality. Designed for agricultural districts, the model provides a flexible, consistent framework for quantifying the energy and air quality dimensions of water management decisions. View the full-resolution user manual here.

Urban Water to Air Model

This model aims to give water managers a better understanding of the relationship between water management decisions, energy consumption, and air quality. Designed for urban water districts, the model provides a flexible, consistent framework for quantifying the energy and air quality dimensions of water management decisions. View the full-resolution user manual here.

The External Value Environmental Management System Voluntary Guidance: Gaining Value by Addressing Stakeholder Needs

Plan, do, check, act -- that's the heart of an Environmental Management System (EMS), which is a systematic approach to managing an organization's environment impacts.

Public or Private Water Management?

‘‘Public versus private’’ is not the bright line that separates efficient from inefficient management. Like Alexander the Great, who ‘‘untied’’ the Gordian Knot with one slice from a sharp knife, we believe that the real solution to water problems worldwide has been overshadowed by the ideological debate between advocates and opponents of privatization.

Global Freshwater Resources: Soft-Path Solutions for the 21st Century

Twentieth century water policies relied on the construction of massive infrastructure in the form of dams, aqueducts, pipelines, and complex centralized treatment plants to meet human demands.

West Oakland Residents Choking on Toxic Diesel Exhaust

Residents of West Oakland are exposed to far more than their fair share of toxic diesel pollution.

Waste Not, Want Not: The Potential for Urban Water Conservation in California

The largest, least expensive, and most environmentally sound source of water to meet California's future needs is the water currently being wasted in every sector of our economy.

Climate Change and California Water Resources: A Survey and Summary of the Literature

A new revision of a report on climate change and California water resources is now available.

Water Efficiency Testimony

Testimony of Dr. Peter H. Gleick

Testimony on Water Efficiency: Is Water the ‘Oil” of the 21st Century?

There are two ways to think about the title of this hearing: Is Water the Oil of the 21st Century?

On the Need for a National Water Commission for the 21st Century

Testimony of Dr. Peter H. Gleick Before the Legislative Hearing of the  Subcommittee on Water and Power  Of the Committee on Resources  United States Congress.

National Water Commission Letter

Valuing Water for Better Governance: How To Promote Dialogue To Balance Social, Environmental, And Economic Values?

Solving the freshwater crisis requires significantly more investment and spending in the water sector, but getting more money requires broad agreement among stakeholders.

Pacific Institute Releases 15-Year Anniversary Report

The report details the work of our various programs, covers their successes and results, and offers history and background about some of the most pressing challenges we face: climate change, threats to our water resources, terrorism and conflict, the perils of globalization, and the importance of environmental justice.

Fact Sheet on the Proposed Imperial Valley-San Diego Water Transfer

On December 9, 2002 the Imperial Valley Irrigation district voted not to transfer water to San Diego as outlined in the Hertzberg negotiated settlement. This means that the proposed Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) will not go forward. If this deal falls through, California's Metropolitan Water District (MWD) will get 800,000 acre-feet less water next year.

Environmental Security: A Case Study of Climate Change

From increases in infectious diseases and uncertainty in food markets to more frequent and intense natural disasters, increased CO2 emissions have the potential to destabilize economies and spark global conflict.

Review: The Skeptical Environmentalist

A recent book challenges some of the fundamental understandings of the environmental science community and argues that instead of deteriorating, the world’s most critical environmental conditions are improving. The Skeptical Environmentalist, by Danish statistician Bjørn Lomborg...

Dirty Water: Estimated Deaths from Water Related Diseases 2000-2020

Inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation systems is a critical human health issue that impacts billions of people around the globe.

Water Management: Soft Water Paths

The soft path seeks to improve the overall productivity of water use and deliver water services matched to the needs of end users, rather than seeking sources of new supply.

The World’s Water, Volume 3

The third volume in the The World’s Water book series, The World’s Water: 2002-2003 explores and proposes solutions to a variety of critical water issues including the global water crisis, global warming and water, the privatization and globalization of water, and and water-related conflicts.

Fire and Water: An Examination of the Technologies, Institutions, and Social Issues in Arms Control and Transboundary Water-Resources Agreements

This report explores how technologies developed to control the spread of weapons can be used to improve agreements over shared natural resources.

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water

In an increasingly globalized economy, the privatization of water as an economic good has sparked complex debate.

Neighborhood Knowledge for Change: The West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

The Environmental Indicators Project is the culmination of two years of research, analysis, and collaboration between the grassroots advocacy group