We in the western developed world maintain a grand delusion when it comes to our water supply. “We live in the greatest civilization in the world, water comes right out of the tap every time I open it.” But it’s becoming increasingly clear, especially in the Southwestern US, that all is not well on the water front.

Development has been outstripping the replenishment capabilities of our aquifers for many, many years, and the payback won’t be pretty. And it’s right on the horizon. Even the current building of new desalination plants, like the one in Carlsbad, CA, can’t promise an endless supply of clean water AT THE PRICE WE’VE ALL BEEN USED TO. Not forever.

While most think about this in terms of their family’s health and access to water at the home, it certainly affects business, too. Almost all major business processes require tremendous volumes of water. As scarcity becomes a real threat, business leaders need to ask themselves:

• Will your business be able to get enough water to operate?
• How might water allocations restrict your supply chain?
• What effects will the lack of water security have on your markets?
• Will your customers have enough water to enable them to use your products or services?
• Can you justify your water consumption with regard to other users?
• Can you boost your revenues by providing solutions?

Other Messages for Business Leaders on the subject of Water Here

It’s important that you look ahead at the real nature of water source quality and quantity in your areas of operation, and figure out NOW what you can do to become part of the solution moving forward. The World Water Development Report provides some good insight. It’s a monster read, so I’ll save you some trouble if you’re looking for some more easily digestible chunks. Go straight to Chapter 8 (starts on page 152 of the PDF) for info on how water use is affecting the environment and water availability, or skip to page 156 and read about sustainable management of groundwater. Just the map overlays will amaze you, and give you an idea what a fairyland we’ve been living in here in the southwest all these years. Time to cowboy up!

Tags: green business, saving energy, saving water, sustainable business