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The Value of Water

The Value of Water. “Today people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.” Oscar Wilde. What’s the Value of Water?. Ask anyone who doesn’t have it. In the Developing World women and children walk 6 miles to obtain water. 2.6 billion people do not have adequate sanitation.

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The Value of Water

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  1. The Value of Water

  2. “Today people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.”Oscar Wilde

  3. What’s the Value of Water? • Ask anyone who doesn’t have it. • In the Developing World women and children walk 6 miles to obtain water. • 2.6 billion people do not have adequate sanitation. • 783 million people lack access to safe drinking water.

  4. Global Perspective • According to the WHO 3.4 Million People Die from Water-borne Illness Every Year. • Leading Cause of Death in the World. • According to UN Study 3,000 Children die each day as a result of consuming contaminated water. • 11% people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water unevenly distributed in Asia and Africa.

  5. Luxurious Water • 1997 in the US 3.8 Billion Gallons of Bottled Water was Sold. • In 2012 In the US 9.6 Billion Gallons of Bottled Water was Sold. • $Totaling 11.8 billion • 153% Increase in 15 Years. • In 1976 in US 2 Gallons/Per person per year. • In 2012 in US 30 Gallons Per Capita Bottled Water/year. • 1400% Increase in 36 Years. • Appx. Cost for 24 Gallons of Bottled Water a Day - $40.32 vs. CCWS tap water $.24

  6. Marketing? • The Cost For 24 Gallons of Cobb County Water, Treated, Delivered, Collected, Treated and Returned $.24 • Both are regulated. • Tap Water – USEPA • Bottled Water - USFDA • 13 GPCD – The Average Daily Water Use In the Developing World. • 100 GPCD – The Average Daily Water Use in the US.

  7. Water Around the World

  8. Water in The US

  9. It’s the Law • Clean Water Act – Ensures the protection of water ways and water bodies. • NPDES Program – Controls the discharges of treated wastewater or other industrial effluent into water. • The Safe Drinking Water Act- Ensures Water is treated to highest possible standard for public health. Regulates approximately 180 potential Contaminants. • Highly Regulated. • Easily Accessible.

  10. What’s money got to do with it? • Water Like Air Should be Free. • Water is a Basic Life Need. • Water Infrastructure Old Neglected ASCE Grade D • Estimated need between $500 billion and $1 trillion in the next decade • 4,000 dams deficient in US • 240,000 water main breaks/year • 75% of costs for wastewater upgrade just in aging pipes • Obligated to Ensure Access to All. • Obligated to Maintain a Fiscally Sound Operation. • Enterprise Funded paid for by…you and your children, grandchildren, etc.

  11. That’s Just the US • Compared to much of the world…We have means • Who should pay in the developing world? • Do we have an obligation? • Is there a benefit to us for doing this? • Do we pay a cost for the world’s deprivation?

  12. In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference. Rachel Carson

  13. Cobb’s Growth • 1980 – 300,000 People • 2010 – 688,076 People • 1980 Water Sources • Lake Allatoona • Chattahoochee River • 2007 Water Sources • Lake Allatoona • Chattahoochee River • All sources embroiled in the Tri-state Water Wars

  14. Cobb County’s Water Supply

  15. Cobb County’s Water Supply on Growth

  16. Cobb County’s Future Supply?

  17. Changing Topography

  18. Growth and Urbanization

  19. Kennesaw

  20. So What? • Impervious surface is increasing • Heat Island affect • Stream Flashing • More than 60% of pollution in our water bodies is from non-point sources • Changing stream channels • Losing riparian buffer • Damaging habitat • Negative impacts downstream?

  21. Is This Sustainable? • Short Answer – No. • What is Sustainable Water Management • No Growth? • Cut Economic Development? • Prohibitions of certain businesses? • Free for All? • How Realistic are these?

  22. Public’s Preferred Solution

  23. Redefining Water Management • Breakdown Silos – Holistic look at Water • Stormwater • Drinking Water • Wastewater • We have to look at water’s journey through development • Create Policies and standards • Look at unconventional sources • Change development patterns

  24. What Does Sustainable Water Look Like?

  25. What Sustainable Water is Not

  26. Simple Solutions? • Build more reservoirs • Conservation • Fines and penalties • Requirements and laws • Incentives and rewards • Tradeoffs and Compromise • Just sue!

  27. And the Future Holds…? • Pending Lawsuits – Resolution Uncertain? • Future Reservoirs – Uncertain. • Climate Change - Uncertain. • Changing Hydrologic Cycle. • Wars over water not oil. • Constantly Changing State and Federal regulations. • Who is going to pay?

  28. The Thing About Water • Water is Unique in it’s Reach. • Can’t Look at Water Supply and Distribution in a Vacuum. • Where Do Stewardship and Public Utilities Intersect. • For Every Water Supply and Use Decision there is a Consequence and a Cost. • What is our Global responsibility?

  29. Questions? Kathy Nguyen Sr. Project Manager Cobb County Water System Kathy.nguyen@cobbcounty.org 770-419-6244

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