Now is the Time to Invest in Unconventional Water Resources

As the world grapples with a number of environmental matters, it has become widely known that the global water demand is expected to surge in the years to come. From now through to 2050, water usage is expected to increase 20-30% above the current level. Much of this has to do with the growing demand for water in the industrial and domestic sectors.

It is time to consider some specific realities – that have, or will – need to be thought about when discussing increased water usage.

First, there is the rising global population. By 2030 alone, it is expected that 8.5 billion people will inhabit the earth. Currently, out of the 8.1 billion who occupy the planet, 4 billion people already experience severe water scarcity. What’s more, sizable fragments of the world’s population presently have difficulty accessing clean and safe drinking water.

Then there are places like California and Europe, both of whom have experienced severe environmental issues of late, thanks to the changing climate. In 2022, California (America’s most populous state with 39 million residents) was the driest it had been in 128 years. Meanwhile two-thirds of Europe recently fell under a drought warning, the worst such event in 500 years.

Even though U.S. President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is allocating >$50 billion to repair the nation’s essential water infrastructure, more is needed. In the U.S., aging infrastructure is a growing concern and requires investments of $6.7 trillion by 2030 and $22.6 trillion by 2050.

From a regulatory perspective, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to add more regulations as it relates to PFAS, microplastics and contaminants of emerging concerns.

These same initiatives and issues are present across the G7 and especially in developing nations.

Before a full-blown global crisis emerges, it is time to invest in unconventional water resources (i.e. water re-use and desalination). While traditional water resources like naturally available groundwater, rivers, and lakes – as well as rainwater – still have their benefits, they are too highly regulated/politicized.

Unconventional water resources is the space in which Main Street can take action by allocating their attention and investment dollars.