Water

In 2022, Cobalt’s National Baseline Study showed that residents across the country give drinking water a score of 71 on a 100-point scale.

That’s not a great score.

Regional breakdowns reveal that the Western region of the United States reported a score of 75, closely followed by the Northeast at 73. The Midwest and Southern regions reported ratings of 70 and 69, respectively.

The quality of existing water supplies should be of concern to all. Cobalt Community Research believes that preserving what quality water we have is important, as well as enhancing additional sources. Below are some helpful sustainable practices local leaders can consider for water conservation:

Water harvesting: Collecting rainwater and using it for non-potable purposes like watering plants or flushing toilets minimizes the burden on municipal water supplies (Hassan et al., 2019).
Fixing leakages: Addressing leaks in water supply systems can significantly decrease water losses, conserving large volumes of water annually (Berglund et al., 2017).
Water-efficient appliances and fixtures: The adoption of water-efficient household appliances, such as low-flow toilets and high-efficiency washing machines, can considerably reduce domestic water consumption (Bertone et al., 2016).
Collection programs for recycling harmful solvents: Collaborating with local businesses and industries to set up collection programs to recycle solvents to prevent their disposal in water bodies, minimizing contamination.
Sustainable land management: Implementing practices like afforestation, soil conservation, and sustainable land-use planning helps improve water retention and reduces runoff, benefiting both surface and groundwater resources (Adhikari et al., 2018).
Implement permeable pavement: Identify areas such as parking lots, sidewalks, and plazas where permeable surfaces can be installed. Replace impervious surfaces with porous materials like permeable concrete or pavers to promote water infiltration.

Preserving water is imperative for the sustenance of life and maintaining ecological integrity. Adopting sustainable water conservation practices is a responsibility and a wise investment in securing our future. By collectively committing to water preservation, we can ensure that this precious resource remains available to meet the needs of present and future generations. Start by adopting water-saving habits in your daily life and encourage your community and local authorities to implement sustainable water management practices. Advocate for policy changes that promote water conservation and support scientific research to develop innovative solutions for water preservation. Together, we can protect our water resources and ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

References:

Adhikari, P., Boithias, L., Corona, R., & Ghimire, S. (2018). Effects of Watershed Management Practices on Hydrological Responses in a Mountainous Forested Watershed. Journal of Hydrology, 566, 142-157.

Berglund, T., Di, H., Cameron, K. C., & McLaren, R. G. (2017). Mitigating Nitrate Leaching to Groundwater in Intensive Agriculture: Today's Actions for Tomorrow's Future. Ambio, 46(2), 143-154.

Bertone, E., Cerutti, A. K., Franchini, M., & Zanotti, M. (2016). Residential Water End Uses in an Italian Municipality: A Consumer Survey. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 16(6), 1515-1524.

Cobalt Community Research 2022 Annual Benchmarking Study.

Hassan, M. N., Rahman, M. Z., Hossain, M. F., Khan, M. A. R., & Ali, M. Y. (2019). Rainwater Harvesting for Sustainable Groundwater Management: A Case Study from Bangladesh. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 9, 100234.

For more information on how Cobalt can help you adapt and thrive in the changing demographic, economic and social environment, visit the Cobalt website or reach out to us by email. Let us know if you need anything at all for benchmarking or research data; we are here for you.

Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, mobile geofencing data, surveys, and dynamic population segmentation. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help.