Productivity and Efficiency

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations. Topics addressed in this theme provide insights, lessons, and guidance on how diverse stakeholders are working to improve water management and reduce water use.

Productivity and Efficiency Resources

Energy Implications of Bottled Water

Publication date:
February 19, 2009
Pacific Institute
This article analyses the energy requirements for various stages in bottled water production, including the energy to manufacture the plastic bottles, process the water and the bottles, and transport and cool the final product.Read more

Water for Energy: Future Water Needs for Electricity in the Intermountain West

Publication date:
November 3, 2011
Pacific Institute
This analysis evaluates future water needs for different energy futures and identifies a growing risk of conflicts between electricity production and water availability in the U.S. Intermountain West. The new report also identifies strategies to ensure the long-term sustainable use of both...Read more

Assessing Water Affordability: A Pilot Study in Two Regions of California

Publication date:
August 14, 2013
Pacific Institute
The study's results show that a significant number of areas within water systems have unaffordable rates, even if the system as a whole does not, and so it may be more important to consider household income rather than median income when assessing and addressing water affordability.Read more

Desalination, With a Grain of Salt – A California Perspective

Publication date:
June 1, 2006
Pacific Institute
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the history, benefits, and risks of ocean desalination, and the barriers that hinder more widespread use of this technology, especially in the context of recent proposals for a massive increase in desalination development in California.Read more

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