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The World After Coronavirus: The Future of Water

Prof. Adil Najam, the Inaugural Dean of the Pardee School of Global Studies and former Director of the Pardee Center speaks with Peter Gleick, Co-founder and President Emeritus of the Pacific Institute, about the future of water after COVID-19.

How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Affecting Water Demand

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed massive health and economic burdens on communities around the world, and no sector of society is going untouched, including the vitally important water sector.

New Issue Briefs Explore Utility Shutoffs in the U.S. by Race and Income, COVID-19 Effects on Water Demand, and More

July 2, 2020, Oakland, California – U.S. communities of color face higher risks of utility shutoffs, in addition to disproportionately lacking access to clean drinking water and sanitation and facing greater impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Issue Brief from the Pacific Institute.

Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts on Municipal Water Demand

The sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 has imposed massive health and economic burdens on communities around the world, and affected every sector of society, including the water sector. Unexpected events – from social disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic to more extreme droughts and floods due to climate change - highlight the need for water utilities to bolster their resilience so they can continue to provide critical water and wastewater services in a more variable and uncertain future.

Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Equity Dimensions of Utility Disconnections in the U.S.

Water is essential to public health. While the vast majority of American households served by water utilities receive a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water, there remain homes where water and wastewater services have been shut off or disconnected due to non-payment.

Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ensuring Access to Water as Shutoff Moratoriums Lift

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic sparked a nationwide discussion around the practice of water utilities disconnecting service to households that are unable or fail to pay their bills, as this places affected households and their communities at greater risk of transmitting COVID-19.

New Guidebook for Incorporating Co-Benefits into Water Management Decisions

June 29, 2020, Oakland, California – The Pacific Institute just released a guidebook for water managers to incorporate valuable co-benefits into water management decisions, providing an opportunity to increase funding through collaborative partnerships and co-funding opportunities, build partnerships, garner public support, and more. An accompanying case study shows the guidance in action in Austin, Texas.

Incorporating Multiple Benefits into Water Projects: A Guide for Water Managers

Adapting to climate change, coupled with the need to address aging infrastructure, population growth, and degraded ecosystems, requires significant investment in natural and built water systems. These investments present a significant opportunity to support not only water, but to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Scaling Green Stormwater Infrastructure Through Multiple Benefits in Austin, Texas: Distributed Rainwater Capture on Residential Properties in the Waller Creek Watershed

The City of Austin, Texas is facing an increasingly uncertain water future, from decreasing water supplies and more intense droughts to periodic flooding and water quality impairments. Austin is addressing these challenges head on, from investments in water efficiency and water reuse to rainwater harvesting and stormwater management.

New Report Shows California Water Use Only Increased by 20% Since 1967

June 22, 2020, Oakland, California – A new report from the Pacific Institute shows that water use in California has only increased by 20 percent since 1967, despite the state’s population doubling and the economy increasing by a factor of five. Improvements in urban and agricultural efficiency, as well as a shift to higher value crops and less water-intensive commercial and industrial activities, have led to this dramatic “decoupling” of water use and growth.

Urban and Agricultural Water Use in California, 1960 -2015

Water is the lifeblood of California, providing for the household needs of 40 million people and supporting one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, various commercial and industrial activities, and the health and viability of the state’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

June 2020 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.

Fact Sheet: Utilities and Building Managers Must Take Steps to Protect Public Health Before Reopening Buildings

June 5, 2020, Oakland, California -- After a long period of shutdown, stagnant water can pose risks to health if not carefully managed. These risks include growth of bacteria including Legionella (the cause of Legionnaires’ disease) and the leaching of lead and other metals from pipes and plumbing.

Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reopening Buildings After Shutdowns: Reducing Water-Related Health Risks

Under normal conditions, the flow of tap water through building water systems prevents the buildup of bacteria and metals in pipes, and hot water tanks. But after a period of shutdown, like during the coronavirus pandemic, stagnant water may breed bacteria...

Pacific Institute Speaks Out on Racial Injustice

June 5, 2020, Oakland, California -- The murders of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, Tennessee, and the killing of Ahmaud Arbery outside Brunswick, Georgia, are the latest horrific reminders of the systemic racism in the United States.

SF’s Shuttered Office Buildings Could Face New Health Threat: Unsafe Water

The COVID Crisis is Slashing California’s State Budget. What Does it Mean for Water Management?

It goes without saying that California today, in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, looks very different from the California of January 2020. Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revisions to the 2020-2021 state budget reflect this drastic change in circumstance, announcing a $54.3 billion budget deficit and proposing $18 billion in cuts to State funds expenditures.

COVID-19 and the Importance of WASH for Businesses

This webinar brought together companies and WASH4Work partners to share their experiences in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2020 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.

Op-Ed: No COVID-19 Models Are Perfect, But Some Are Useful

The global coronavirus pandemic has brought renewed interest and focus on scientific models as we try to get a handle on what the future will bring, how many people will fall sick and die, what the economic impacts will be, and what actions politicians should take.

Water in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (“HEROES ACT”): May 2020

The newly proposed House of Representative’s emergency supplemental appropriations bill was just released. Among the $3 trillion dollars it allocates are several provisions related to water and wastewater agencies, residential water use, and agriculture.

Want to Help Fight COVID-19? List Your Organization’s Work on the Water Action Hub

People around the world are told to wash their hands to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19, but what if you don’t have a sink or tap in your home?

Impacts of Water Usage During Coronavirus Pandemic

The Impact of Using Low-Saline Oilfield Produced Water for Irrigation on Water and Soil Quality in California

In California, drought and a reduction in natural water availability in recent decades have led to a search for alternative water sources for agriculture. One controversial potential source is oilfield produced water, a byproduct of oil extraction.

Pacific Institute President Jason Morrison to Join UN Global Compact Leaders Summit

On June 15th and 16th, 2020, Pacific Institute President Jason Morrison will attend the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit. Taking place virtually, the high-level summit will allow participants and Global Compact Local Networks to participate in their own time zones. This year's summit marks 20 years of bringing businesses around the world together to advance sustainability.