Democratized, distributed and digital: 2019 will be transformative for water

My predictions for 2019 - the rise of digital water. 

It’s that time of year to look forward to what may come in the world of water.

First, a macro view. I believe the greatest change for 2019 will be in how we view and value water. Progress in the past has tended to move at a snail’s pace but actually may have picked up speed in 2018. Water scarcity concerns of the type experienced by Cape Town, South Africa, and water quality matters such as those illustrated by the Flint, Michigan, crisis have drawn attention to systemic failures in how water is managed and delivered in both developed and emerging economies.

The change is becoming more noticeable as the public sector implements changes in public policy to address water risks and climate risks. Two examples to emerge from California are The Open and Transparent Water Data Act and The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (PDF) (SGMA). Initiatives such as 100 Resilient Cities provide a roadmap and tools to address these risks. 

AB-1755 would require state agencies to "create, operate and maintain a statewide integrated water data platform that, among other things, would integrate existing water and ecological data information from multiple databases and provide data on completed water transfers and exchanges." Without data and actionable information, it is difficult if not impossible to manage water in a sustainable manner. 

Click here to read the article on democratized, digital and distributed water by Will Sarni 

Media

Taxonomy

• Decentralized Wastewater
• Digital Social Platform