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The True Cost of Water

The True Cost of Water

The True Cost of Water

How could we adapt to continued and future drought?

Droughts are expected to become hotter and more frequent over longer extended periods. There will be an increase in consecutive dry days without rain. For example, 100-year droughts will be more common by end of the century. To address these challenges, this scenario explores aggressive water conservation targets, centralized stormwater, and water reuse infrastructure. In addition, this future prioritizes long-term water security through banking and recharge.

2015

2060

Iconic changes in this future include gradual increases in residential density combined with larger, centralized water infrastructure to capture and bank water has reduced water use region-wide. By 2060, 90% of residential, commercial, and industrial land uses capture greywater and rainwater for on-site use or future banking.

Adaptive drought timeline two