CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Major Cities in the West Are Paying Residents to Take Out Turf to Save Water—With Two Notable Exceptions

There are over 40 million grassy acres in the continental U.S., and they take a lot of water to thrive. But in the West, where rainfall is less plentiful, many water providers have been offering rebates to residents willing to tear out turf and replace it with drought tolerant plants. The programs are working and thousands of gallons of water are being saved. So why are two major cities punting on the idea?
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ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Damned from the Start—Many U.S. Reservoirs Could Be Rendered Useless—And That Was Part of the Plan

We’ve heard about the deteriorating status of American infrastructure and most imagine crumbling bridges and potholed roads. But there’s another looming infrastructure crisis that’s getting little to no attention—and it will eventually impact everyone: America’s reservoirs are filling up with sediment. Their storage capacity peaked in the 1980s and it’s been going downhill ever since—sometimes with disastrous consequences. Listen now >

CLIMATE CHANGE
Are Water Providers Ready for Climate Change?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said a changing climate is predicted to affect drinking water treatment and distribution systems in a negative way. Disturbances like wildfires, hurricanes, and floods are being exacerbated by global warming, and those who operate treatment facilities to ensure safe water comes out of our faucets are going to need to meet the challenge. Dr. Monica Emelko likened water treatment in the future to Formula 1 racing—it will require drivers who can anticipate curves in the road ahead—and, of course, a good pit crew. Listen now >