Working with Governments to Deliver Clean Water to the World
We tend to neglect water infrastructure until a crisis occurs, so inefficiencies and threats to public safety build up over time. The Global Water Partnership and the OECD estimated economic losses from water management issues at a staggering $474 billion a year. By repairing water infrastructure, confronting local scarcity, and preparing for climate change, we can create sustainable economic growth and new jobs.
Our consulting solutions identify and mitigate risks associated with municipal and government water projects. Our expert consultants work with your organization to develop a sustainable strategy for resource deployment.
MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS
We use the latest methods to identify inefficiencies in water management systems.
SAFETY INSPECTIONS
Our inspectors ensure the delivery of clean water to areas with growing demand.
Contact us to learn more about our water consultancy practice.
In the short-run, an increasing number of local governments face water scarcity issues. For example, California suffered from a severe drought between 2014-2017. Much of the American Southwest will have to deal with a broader crisis if the water level of Lake Mead continues to fall.
Another hot spot for local water scarcity is Central Asia, where the Aral Sea has already suffered terrible damage. The keys to dealing with local shortages are better planning and systems that can adapt to temporary fluctuations. Developing more robust water systems will also help us to prepare for climate change.
Developing countries may be able to tap into the multi-billion-dollar Green Climate Fund to build water infrastructure. Climate change is a new challenge for all local governments, and EHI’s consultants can help to develop appropriate funding methods. In the developed world, green asset-backed securities may offer a way to fund ambitious long-term projects.
As demand pushes water prices higher, political pressure could mount on energy producers to curtail their use of potable water. Some of the water restrictions introduced in California during the drought remain in place. Green parties made substantial gains in recent EU elections, demonstrating increasing public support for environmental protection. Water projects that make economic sense today can also provide protection from political changes tomorrow.
Excluding transportation costs, using freshwater costs about 50 cents per barrel of water. On the other hand, reusing water costs just 27 cents. The simplest filtration technologies remove only large particles, oil, and gas bubbles. Filtration is considerably less expensive than desalination, and filtered water can still be reused for industrial purposes in many cases.
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Contact us to discuss your water infrastructure project today.
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Addressing the Water Infrastructure Gap
There is a sizable water infrastructure investment gap in both the United States and around the world. In the U.S. alone, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimated this gap to be about $80 billion per year. The economic consequences of this underinvestment in water infrastructure are considerable. By investing $80 billion more, it would be possible to raise total annual economic activity by around $220 billion.
