Sustainable Water Resources Management through Potable Water Augmentation

Abstract

This paper discusses the need and methods associated with sustainable water resources management through potable water augmentation. Current climatic and anthropogenic conditions necessitate increased sustainability in water resources management. Access to drinking water is scarce in many parts of the world already. In other areas, potable water is inefficiently and wastefully supplied and utilized. Associated costs for traditional potable water and wastewater services can be used in determining the feasibility for potential supplementation methods. However, a truly comprehensive cost-benefit analysis would include the valuation of intangible socioeconomic factors and natural capital and would remove subsidies from the equation. Rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and beneficial wastewater reuse can be excellent tools for reducing potable demand and wastewater flows, while ultimately moving further away from a linear-use model of water consumption to a more cyclical-use model.