Eight strategies already working across America. None is a silver bullet — together they close the supply gap and build resilience for the next drought.
Turning seawater and brackish groundwater into fresh supply — essential for coastal and arid states with limited surface water.
Can add 5–15% to coastal city supply portfolios.
Treating wastewater to drinking-water standards — 'toilet to tap' done right — is the fastest, cheapest new source.
Can recover 60–80% of urban wastewater as new supply.
Capturing rainfall that would otherwise flood streets and run to the ocean, then banking it underground.
LA County aims to capture 300,000+ acre-feet/year by 2040.
The cheapest gallon of water is the one you never use. Conservation buys time for every other solution.
Can cut urban per-capita use 30–50%.
Injecting treated water underground during wet years, withdrawing it during drought — a natural reservoir.
Can store millions of acre-feet without building dams.
Agriculture uses ~80% of consumed water in the West. Precision irrigation frees enormous supply.
A 10% ag efficiency gain = more than all urban use.
Seeding winter clouds with silver iodide to boost snowpack in mountain watersheds.
A low-cost marginal boost to existing reservoirs.
Healthy forests, meadows, and wetlands act as sponges — storing water and releasing it slowly.
Improves both water quality and yield over decades.
