jeff fulgham, banyan water - sustainable landscape conference, san diego march 2013
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Is our water future sustainable?
Jeff Fulgham Banyan Water
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3
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Water crisis??
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40 billion
5.3 billion
1.1 billion
Source: Blue Planet Run, Smolan, Erwitt
1.8 million
Water risk: US approaching a crisis?
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Nubia_Group
In the 20th century the world’s population
tripled
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The use of water grew 6X
By mid-century there will be an additional
3 billion people
Most will be born in countries already
experiencing water shortages
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Nubia_Group
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Assuring sustainable quantity Improving water quality
Reducing energy consumption
Global water challenges
Can we change the outcome?
Assuring sustainable quantity Improving water quality
Reducing energy consumption
Global water challenges
Can we change the outcome?
Quantity
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
2010
4,500
km3/yr
Global water withdrawals
2020
5,800
Gap
Global Demand >>> Supply
Available supply
… but water is a local issue
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Where is the water going?
US water demand Billion Acre Feet per year
49%
34%
12% 5%
Agriculture 192B AF/yr
Municipal 54B AF/yr
Industry 25B AF/yr
Thermoelectric 225B AF/yr
Source: USGS 2005 estimated use of water in the US
US Total 460B AF/yr
Assuring sustainable quantity Improving water quality
Reducing energy consumption
Global water challenges
Can we change the outcome?
Quality
TDS TSS
Hg
Se
As P N
Assuring sustainable quantity Improving water quality
Reducing energy consumption
Global water challenges
Can we change the outcome?
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Energy
Unconventional Gas Oil Sands Mining Power production
Energy production is thirsty!
2009
2030
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Alternate energy sources … carbon-water tradeoff?
Top environmental challenge: water risk
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Environmental issues by rank* 1. Water pollution 2. Fresh water shortages 3. Depletion of natural resources 4. Air pollution 5. Loss of animal/plant species 6. Climate change/global warming 7. Automobile emissions
“Planning for, and abating, risks associated with water is our number one priority” – Dan Bena, PepsiCo
“What scares me is that we are not considering long-term water risks” – Elizabeth Stokes, AkzoNobel
“Water is our biggest cost and risk factor in developing new gas projects” – Sandra Stash, Talisman
“Nestlé's competitive advantage is our ability to evaluate water risk and assure it does not become a business risk” – Peter Brabeck, Nestlé
* Circle of Blue/GlobeScan survey of 15,000 adults in 15 focused countries
Water risk factors
Regulatory risks
Water rights
Tariffs
Discharge options
Stringent regulations
Alternate use
Waste disposal
Permitting Emerging pollutants
Physical/Operational risks
Availability
Quality
Demand
Access/ Allocations
Efficiency
Knowledge gaps
Outage impacts
Shift from air to water
Reputational/Social risks
Brand impact
Media sensitivity
Supply chain
Compliance violations
Employee impact
Long-term fate
Financial risks
Direct costs
Indirect costs
Energy costs
Water pricing
Bond rating
Waste treatment
“Next best” alternative
Incentives
What can we do?
#1: Right source, right use
Water Quality Demand
Seawater Well Brackish Wastewater Surface
Food Industry Life
Source Water Quality
Alternate source water
Municipal Reuse Distributed WWTP Sewer Mining
#2: Conserve first
Conservation? Creation?
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"Drought in TX is boosting water prices and competition between agricultural and energy interests over the commodity. - Business Week
”TX cities are scouring the region for their next water supply." - Scripps
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Technology available today could … • Reduce commercial irrigation usage by 65% • Conserve 6.4 km3 or 1.7 trillion gallons • Free up 10% of total municipal supply in US • Save >$7B in water expense
Conservation pays …
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MULTIFAMILY
75% reduction
47 MM gal/yr
$400k/yr net savings
20 mo. payback
COMMERCIAL
71% reduction
12 MM gal/yr
$70k/yr net savings
17 mo. payback
PARKS
41% reduction
156 MM gal/yr
$170k/yr net savings
Zero capital invest.
SPORTS
56% reduction
13 MM gal/yr
$40k/yr net savings
Zero capital invest.
#3: Align incentives for conservation
#4: Fix our leaky pipes
#5: Implement smarter technologies
#6: Pay for value received R
enew
able
wate
r re
sourc
es p
er
capita
Total water + wastewater cost per m3
High scarcity, low cost … where is
the motivation to conserve?
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#7: Embrace alternate sources
Rai
nw
ater
Reu
se
Des
alin
atio
n
#8: Design for conservation
#9 Water stewardship
• Conserve
• Make water a priority
• Leverage experts
• Understand the true costs
#10: Don’t wait for a crisis
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
~Thomas Fuller
Twitter: @H2OSustain