Federal Engagement in Water Resource Technology Development: Current Programs and the Future

The Federal Government has made investments, through multiple organizations, in developing technology to improve the efficiency, conservation, preservation and expansion of water supplies. The emphasis on this aspect of water resources management has expanded and contracted over time. For a very limited period in the 1960s and 1970s, there was some degree of coordination of Federal research investments, but the organizations that fostered that coordination have evaporated. As we look to the future, the questions of whether we really need new Federal investments in water resources technology and, if so, what those investments should be, remain as viable and important questions. Furthermore, given the increasing public policy focus on energy as an issue of national security, it is essential to include within the public dialogue recognition of the interdependence of water and energy production. Current energy policy, in an attempt to move towards domestic energy resources, favors resources that require increasing amounts of water for production, such as corn. Simultaneously, thermo-electric power production is predicted to increase over time. This power production requires a certain amount of water to function and, therefore, one can predict that, without increased efficiencies, demand for water will also increase. As policy moves towards alternative energy sources, the affect of the production of these sources on water supply, demand, and quality should be observed. Conversely, water uses and supplies often require energy (e.g., desalination plants), so, as our energy resources become scarcer, we must recognize the affect that our water usage has on our energy supply. Obviously, the first issue is whether there is a need for better protected or expanded water supplies and, if so, are there specific sectors of water demand that need greater attention. If there is a need, then the next question is whether or not developing technology should be one of the important mechanisms for achieving this goal. If so, then, we must determine what part of technology development should be underwritten by Federal investment. Finally, we would need to determine some path forward that acknowledges the existing programs and investments by multiple Federal agencies and allows some form of concerted effort to proceed. This paper is written to provide a snapshot into the current dialog on this topic, offer an additional perspective to the dialogue by including discussions regarding energy and water interdependency, and, finally, to provide an outline for the debate. Across our nation, we use water in two categorically different ways. First, we use water that is withdrawn or extracted and used outside the natural system or hydrosphere. Second, we use water that remains in the natural system. Both provide critical benefits. To sustain the United States' current population of over 300 million people, we withdraw around 345 billion gallons of water a day. This equals 30 percent of all the runoff in the United States. Of these withdrawals, approximately 30 percent is consumed. So approximately 10 percent of all surface runoff (our renewable supply) is consumed currently (Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality 2007). We use the remainder of the water to provide dilution of municipal, industrial and agricultural discharges; environmental water needs; river based transportation; energy production and support other needs. It is difficult to measure the fraction of the non-diversion capacity currently used. The biota and physical structures of ecosystems provide a wide variety of marketable goods – fish and lumber being two familiar examples. Moreover, society is increasingly recognizing the myriad life support functions, the observable manifestations of ecosystem processes that ecosystems provide and without which human civilizations could not thrive…These include water purification, recharging of groundwater, nutrient recycling, decomposition of wastes, regulation of climate, and maintenance of biodiversity. Despite the importance of ecosystem functions and services, they are often overlooked or taken for granted and their value implicitly set at zero in decisions concerning conservation or restoration.” However, one indicator might be the degree of water quality degradation measured by the U.S. Geological Survey's water quality assessment program. A recent nationwide study of 178 streams found that low levels of pesticides were detected in all streams studied and a little over 83 percent of sample locations along streams in urban settings had concentrations that could impact aquatic life forms (Gilliom et al. 2006). Other indicators of water use would likely show similar results. Without comprehensive information, it is hard to be conclusive, but results like those above indicate that we now use all our available water in either direct or indirect ways. Over the last 25 years, our per-capita water use has decreased, allowing a degree of stability in total water withdrawals. For example, California, due to its burgeoning population and extensive state resources, has assessed and actively pursued conservation at local and state levels. As a consequence, urban use has remained essentially the same as they have added over 3.5 million (around 10 percent) more residents in the last 10 years (California Department of Water Resources 2005). The decoupling of increased water use with increased population is due primarily to greater efficiency in water use or conservation. How long this race between increased population and decreased per-capita use can continue is unclear. One view point is that there remains a very large possible flexibility to increase conservation. Since 1975, per capita water use in the United States has fallen at an annual rate of 1.4 percent. Even absolute water withdrawals peaked about 1980. Industry, alert to technology as well as costs, exemplifies the progress, although it consumes a small fraction of total water. Total U.S. industrial water withdrawals plateaued about 1970, and have since dropped by one-third … Also interesting is that industrial withdrawals per unit of GNP have dropped steadily since 1940. Then, 14 gallons of water flowed into each dollar of output. Now the flow is less than three gallons per dollar…Technology, law, and economics have all favored frugal water use.…Despite the gains, the United States is far from the most efficient practices. Water withdrawals for all users in the OECD countries range tenfold, with the United States and Canada the highest. Allowing for national differences in the major uses (irrigation, electrical cooling, industry, and public water supply), large opportunities for reductions remain At the same time, pressure on water supplies is mounting. Many southwestern cities have reduced per-capita domestic water use to 120-140 gallons per day and find it very costly and difficult to further reduce water consumption below these levels. At the same time, population in the U.S. is anticipated to grow by another 25 percent to around 390 million by the year 2050 (Cheeseman Day 2007). It is highly unlikely that the entire increase in water demand due to population increase will be offset by efficiencies. Withdrawals for the two largest non-domestic users of water, irrigation and thermoelectric power production, are about equal at 40 percent each (Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality 2007). Dramatic changes in energy policy encouraging ethanol production including the President's call for 35 billion gallons of ethanol per year by 2017 (2007 State of the Union Address) and increased demand for electricity at least proportional to population growth will likely increase both these demands. A recent National Academies review that in the production of for ethanol will be offset by in production of other At the same the amount of and on will increase. the use of water not but our dilution use will 2007). For power production, the water use per has decreased by since and an research has to further reduce this 2007). However, with these encouraging total electricity demand is anticipated to increase by percent by of in energy efficiency 2007). The is a increase in water withdrawals for one or both of the two uses of water. 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