Water Supply and Scarcity

According to the United Nations, water scarcity is defined as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users impinges on the supply or quality of water. Water scarcity is a relative concept and can occur at any level of supply or demand. Scarcity may be socially-constructed or the consequence of altered supply patterns stemming from climate change. Resources available in this sub-theme include U.S. drought monitoring data, workshops for rural water supply systems, among other resources that support water supply and scarcity.

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Water Supply and Scarcity Resources

Water Optimizer

Published: 
January 1, 2013
Developed by UNL faculty and DWFI faculty fellows, the Water Optimizer is a suite of programs to predict the profit maximizing cropping strategy and corresponding amount of applied irrigation when water supplies are limited.Read more

Testing the Yield of Wells

Published: 
January 1, 1982
U.S. Agency for International Development
Testing the yield of a well is important to determine its capacity and to obtain information to help aid in selecting a permanent pump. This technical note describes how to test the entire yield of a well. Read the entire technical note before beginning the testing process.Read more

ISIS Flood Risk Management Tool

CH2M HILL
ISIS, developed by CH2M HILL, provides users with a flexible and cost-effective range of tools to help understand and manage the challenges associated with flood risk. Read more

African Drought Monitor

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The African Drought Monitor has been installed in Niamey, Niger (Feb 1 2012.) at AGRHYMET. NASA plans on adding weather and seasonal hydrological forecasting over the next 6 months and SMOS-based soil moisture through collaboration with CESBIO and crop water requirements and actual ET over the next...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Water Prism, Volume 2: Prototype Applications

Published: 
January 1, 2013
Electric Power Research Institute
Water Prism is a decision support system (DSS) that evaluates alternative management plans to obtain water resource sustainability at the regional, watershed, or local levels. It considers surface, ground, and impoundment waters and all water-using sectors (industrial, agricultural, municipal,...Read more

Urban Water Blueprint: Mapping Conservation Solutions to the Global Water Challenge

Published: 
November 18, 2014
The Nature Conservancy
The Urban Water Blueprint report and accompanying interactive website provide a resource for decision-makers in evaluating water quantity and quality risk across the world's largest cities, the steps some cities have taken to overcome water stress, and the cost-benefits of incorporating...Read more
Regional focus: 
Global

The Water Cycle for Kids and Students

Published: 
March 17, 2014
U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Department of the Interior
The Water Cycle for Kids and Students is an interactive tool developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of the Interior to educated learners of all ages about the water cycle. This diagram is available in three versions: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. It is also...Read more

Community-Based Water Resiliency Tool (CBWR)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Community-Based Water Resiliency (CBWR) Tool (version 2.0) is an easy way to find out how prepared your community is to handle emergencies that impact your water systems and learn about tools and resources that can be used to build resilience.Read more
Regional focus: 
Global

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit provides scientific tools, information, and expertise to help people manage their climate-related risks and opportunities, and improve their resilience to extreme events. The site is designed to serve interested citizens, communities, businesses, resource...Read more

Digital Coast Data Access Viewer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draw an area of interest on a map to search for LIDAR, imagery, land cover, and benthic data available for that location through the NOAA Office for Coastal Management. Choose a dataset of interest, and then make selections in an easy-to-use checkout interface to download your desired data. The...Read more

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