Sustainable Water Supply: What do you know beyond the faucet?
Do you know what a cistern is? The Romans did, and most of our grandparents would probably nod their heads. In this article, we will discover why water cisterns might begin to be more common in Real Estate Listings and how water knowledge will benefit you and your clients. For most, sustainable water means turning the faucet on, but there is more to consider. This piece is about municipal water supplies and not private wells.
· Where does it come from?
· What does it cost?
· How good is the water quality?
· Where does it go when it disappears down the drain?
· Should I be concerned about regional water supplies?
· Back up supplies with cisterns
Watersheds and Groundwater
A Watershed is your local region's surface water that channels rainfall, and snow melt, into streams and rivers to collect in lakes and other reservoirs, then eventually into the ocean. Easier to collect but more susceptible to pollution. This is the more common source in the United States.
Groundwater is from underground aquifers and pumped to the surface. More expensive to acquire but the quality of water is better.
Conjunctive use, of both water sources if available, provides a municipality with greater sustainability in a drought. No region has an infinite supply and conservation measures should always be applied.
Costs
We have taken water for granted, and whether it is for personal use, drinking supply, fire control, agriculture, or maintaining nature and the environment, we must have a sustainable source. As with any supply and demand situation, the first bell-weather is that the municipalities' charges increase. Across the United States, this varies greatly surprisingly with West Virginia having the highest tariff in 2022, more than double the national average.
There are several factors for water costs. Facilities overhead for water treatment /supply in a limited population, difficult terrain, having to source water at a distance, and maintaining services at environmental standards. It is important to note that in each state every community presents its own unique set of circumstances that affect tariffs.
What can you do? Fix leaks, use water-efficient appliances, waste less water while showering or brushing teeth, and have a xeriscape-designed landscape.
Here is a site to give state-by-state water tariffs: https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/water-prices-by-state/
Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards and regulations for contaminants in public drinking water, including disease-causing germs and chemicals. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA)focuses on all waters considered as having potential for drinking use.
Water Act and the EPA set standards for water quality and oversees states and localities. These all have a minimum set of standards, but not all water coming out of a faucet or bottle is healthy, and all have unique values. Here are links for your own research; this article is focused on Sustainable Water Regionally.
· https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html That Tap Water Is Legal But May Be Unhealthy
· https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/tap-drinking-water-health-safety-pfas Is Tap Water Safe?
· https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/08/best-and-worst-tap-water-states-j-d-power-study.html These U.S. States have the….
Where does water go?
Once water disappears down the drain, it gets treated as wastewater so it can be safely released back into the environment to rivers and streams or reused as grey water (irrigation water or similar).
How concerned should I be about my regional supply?
World conditions for sustainable water are dire in many locations. It is important to see how they manage to conserve this valued resource. Drought.gov states “32.1% of the lower 48 are in drought conditions this fall 2023” https://www.drought.gov/current-conditions. There are currently 6 states that are listed as running out of water first and they are:
1. California
2. Nevada
3. Colorado
4. New Mexico
5. Utah
6. Arizona
Here is an interesting link: https://quenchwater.com/blog/6-states-with-water-shortages/
Note
Moving local water supplies out of a region to the point of depletion or the potential of is a huge concern and here are three links that should point out the value of regional water. Local resources need to be monitored for local use for future sustainability. Below are some examples.
Saudi Cow Hay: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/16/fondomonte-arizona-drought-saudi-farm-water/
Colorado River Drained
Greasing local palms (politics)
Cisterns and beyond.
There is not an endless supply and as populations continue to increase water consumption, it would be fool- hardy believe faucets could continually provide clean water to use completely at our discretion.
Cisterns are large man-made water collection devices, typically underground, that provide a backup water supply during a drought.
Here are some more reasons why they provide an added layer of security.
· For locations with dramatic swings between wet and dry seasons, they help provide a sustainable water supply year-round.
· In rural areas drinking water can also be brought in by water tanker service and fill the cistern as needed. No different than getting a propane delivery.
· Provide continuous water pressure when there are fluctuations in electrical and pumping.
· Provide water for firefighting when there are no hydrants nearby.
· Make a rural location that is without a natural water source buildable.
Conclusion
The design of our communities must include recharge areas to help maintain sustainable water supplies. These can be no more than simple green spaces that catch regional water run-off to naturally filtrate and return into the local ground water. Excessive hardscapes of parking lots, roadways, and rooftops dump valuable rainwater and snow melt down drains and deliver now polluted water into rivers, streams, and lakes. Whether it is oil, cigarette butts, or trash, it enters the surface water supply.
There is no free ride when it comes to water, and the cost can only increase. Look for more on water conservation methods whether it is a xeriscape landscape design or the latest options for home appliances.
With In Green Living, Joni Keefe shares nature-based design choices for urban greenspaces, Interior Design, and outdoor rooms.. Her interests also follow sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly building products, and the latest in sustainable housing. She is a published writer with design work featured in national publications.