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New Guide on Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solutions for Watersheds

March 4, 2021, Oakland, California -- A new guide published by the Pacific Institute and partners provides guidance on how to account for the benefits of nature-based solutions. Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solution for Watersheds: Guide helps readers identify and account for the stacked combined water, carbon, and biodiversity benefits provided by these solutions, as well as additional socio-economic benefits accrued.

Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solutions for Watersheds: Guide

Nature-based solutions use or mimic natural processes to meet societal and environmental needs. They can be used to restore, manage, or protect water resources while also increasing biodiversity and providing additional social and economic benefits. Yet there is no standardized method to identify, estimate, and monitor the benefits that nature-based solutions can provide, making it hard to build the case for investments in these solutions.

Speaking of Water: Michael Cohen on the Salton Sea

Businesses Can (and Should) Help the World “Build Back Better” in the Era of COVID-19

What does it mean to “build back better” as the global economy seeks to recover from the shock of COVID-19? The international environmental community has proposed a “green” global recovery that prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions as governments work to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

After Years of Delays, California Tries to Tamp Down Salton Sea Dust

The Texas Nexus: What the Absence of a US Water Strategy Looks Like

State Water Project Takes Aim at Restoring Salton Sea, Alleviating Health Risks

Gap Analysis for Funding Solutions for Human Right to Water and At-Risk Drinking Water Systems

In 2012, California’s Human Right to Water was passed, calling for safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water for all citizens. Then in 2016, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted a Human Right to Water Resolution, making the Human Right to Water a primary consideration and priority across its programs.

California’s Water Futures Market: Explained 

A recently launched water futures market in California drew global attention, from Wall Street to the United Nations. While news of the market has brought both skepticism and speculation, much of the coverage has failed to address the fundamental question: what actually is a water futures market?

How is Climate Change Already Impacting the Bay Area?

West Oakland Climate Hotspot: Rising Seas Threaten East Bay Coastline

California Now Has a Futures Market for Water. Some Farmers are Skeptical

Stormwater Could Become an Important Water Source – If We Stopped Ignoring It

California Now Has a Future Market for Water. Some Farmers Are Skeptical

Could the Florida Water-Supply Hacking Happen in New York City?

How Businesses Can Help Build a Water-Resilient Society that Can Bounce Back from Major Societal Disruptions

February 2, 2021, Oakland, California -- Today the Pacific Institute released a brief outlining the role of the business sector in a robust COVID-19 response. Rebuilding and Resilience: Phases 2 and 3 is the second and final installment of the Pacific Institute’s Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Business Framework for Water and COVID-19 series of briefs.

Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Business Framework for Water and COVID-19: Rebuilding and Resilience

The business community has a key role to play in responding to COVID-19, rebuilding the economy, and preventing and mitigating future shock events — both broadly speaking and specifically regarding water and handwashing. This second in the Pacific Institute’s Business Framework for Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic issue brief series continues to explore the role of businesses in a robust COVID-19 response, outlining how businesses can contribute to a “blue” economic recovery and help make society more resilient to future shocks.

January 2021 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis.

Water Management Put Into Practice by Business Leaders (CEO Water Mandate – Water Action Hub)

The Global Compact Local Networks from the Latin America region joined to highlight the importance of the CEO Water Mandate and the Water Action Hub.

What Role Should Onsite Water Reuse Play in Silicon Valley Water?

Water systems in most large urban areas like California’s Silicon Valley are linear and highly centralized. Water is cleaned at a central treatment plant, distributed to homes and businesses through a vast and decades-old system of pipes, used once, and then returned through another set of pipes to a wastewater treatment plant, before being discharged into a nearby waterway like the San Francisco Bay.

New Report Explores Benefits and Challenges of Onsite Water Systems

January 28, 2021, Oakland, California -- A new report from the Pacific Institute examines the opportunity for onsite water systems in California’s Silicon Valley to improve water resilience. The Role of Onsite Water Systems in Advancing Water Resilience in Silicon Valley finds that onsite and centralized systems can work effectively together when onsite systems are deliberately sited and integrated into the broader water network.

The Role of Onsite Water Systems in Advancing Water Resilience in Silicon Valley

California’s Silicon Valley faces a host of water challenges. The region’s water and wastewater infrastructure are aging, and in some cases are nearing the end of useful life. Continued growth and development are putting additional strains on the region, and climate change is adding to that burden through sea level rise, more intense storms, and more severe droughts. These challenges present risks but also an opportunity to rethink the design, configuration, and operation of water and wastewater systems.

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Continued Toll on Drinking Water Systems and Their Customers

Water systems across the country are facing budget shortfalls as a result of the pandemic and need assistance. For small water systems (systems serving 10,000 people or fewer) total budget shortfalls are estimated to be $4 to 6 billion, primarily caused by decreased demand, delayed payments, and additional costs for protective equipment and sick time.

Bay Area Reservoirs Get Much-Needed Rain to Boost Low Winter Rainfall Totals

Water Bill Debt Soars During Pandemic, Prompting Fears of Future Shutoffs