The Approaching Water Crisis

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Access to clean water should be basic human right and it is for the majority of the population in many first-world-countries. However, this many not be the case for long.

The idea of all sources of water running out in the US is pretty difficult to imagine, however, that is not the only way Americans could lose water rights. As draughts, wildfires and climate change continue creating serious depletions to current drinkable water another issue arises, affordability of water. Outside of ecological factors, water prices are set to increase due to failing water infrastructures. Shortly following WWII the United Stated implemented a vast series of water pipelines that carry a majority of clean drinking water. Almost 70 years later, those infrastructures are in serious need of repair.

Currently 14 million households are unable to afford clean water but due to infrastructure repairs and serious water depletion that number is quickly going to increase. A study completed at Michigan State University suggests that water prices will increase 41 percent by 2022 which means up to one third of American household will be unable to afford water. This will no longer be an issue that affects only the lowest income households. Every US Citizen will be in danger of loosing their water rights. Learn if your household is at a high risk of loosing water rights here.

The only feasible plan to prevent this sharp increase in cost is to restructure water rates based on income. According to Sarah Frostenson at Vox "restructuring water rates involves determining the number of gallons a customer can use each month for a pre-negotiated fee. If a customer uses more than the set amount, they pay a penalty or overage free. Recent research shows that when utilities restructure rates, it can help offset the rising costs of water service."

As an individual it may seem like a daunting task to find ways to prevent this imminent water rate increase that could lead to personal water loss. However, there are many small things everyone can do to save the limited water resources we still have. According to the Portland Water Bureau the average Portland citizen uses 50 gallons of water a day. The average shower faucet produces 2.1 gallons of water every minute, if a single person took five minute showers instead of ten minute showers they could cut down their daily water usage by 20 percent. If every single Portland citizen was to reduce their showers by 2 minutes every other day, the saved water would fill 100 10 foot deep football sized pools. It is completely within our abilities to save thousands of gallons of water every year by cutting back water usage in our own homes.

Visit these sites to see just how simple it is to save our water and do your part in preventing increased water prices.

Vanishing Cities
Portland Water Bureau
EarthEasy

Sources:
Vox: America Has a Water Crisis No One is Talking About
Portland Water Bureau
Michigan Sate University: A Burgeoning Crisis

By Allison Nordin

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