Solutions for Addressing Water Insecurity

Global Warming, Rising Salinity, and the Threat to SWRO Desalination Global warming amplifies seawater evaporation via solar radiation and rising air temperatures. The result? Higher salinity, TDS, and organics (due to photosynthetic growth, enhanced nutrients and concentration)—a quiet crisis threatening Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants, lifelines for arid regions. The Challenge As salinity rises: • Energy demands soar to push denser water through membranes. • Membrane fouling worsens, driving up costs and reducing efficiency. • SWRO plants risk economic unsustainability where they are needed most. The Solution We need: • Advanced membranes for high-TDS seawater. • Water governance that plans for shifting ocean chemistry. • Global climate action to address the root cause. SWRO plants must adapt to the seawater of tomorrow—or risk failure. Let’s innovate and plan now to secure water for billions in a warming world. Are we prepared for what’s ahead? Let’s discuss. #desalination #climatechange #waterscarcity #watergovernance

💧 New Analysis: Corporate Water Strategies—A Defining Factor for Resilience. Water is no longer an afterthought—it’s a business imperative. As climate risks mount, regulatory scrutiny tightens, and investors and customers seek accountability, companies are acting to manage water risks.  Fresh insights from Bluefield Research reveal a stark reality: While some firms are leading the charge in water efficiency and reuse, others are falling dangerously behind. Key Takeaways: // Efficiency & Reuse Deliver Results | Estée Lauder slashed water use by 90% at manufacturing sites, while The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are embracing circular water strategies to cut costs and risk. // Regulatory Pressure Intensifies | Over 50,000 EU-based companies must now disclose water usage—food & beverage firms are leading the way. // High-Use Sectors Lag | Mining and power industries, among the heaviest water users, remain the least transparent—40% fail to disclose water targets. // Technology Adoption Accelerates | AI-driven leak detection (Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS)) and rainwater harvesting (Estée Lauder) are reshaping corporate water strategies. // Mixed Approaches Raise Questions | Investments in water reuse and watershed restoration grow, yet off-site water projects face criticism for failing to address localized water stress. 💡 The bottom line? Water risk isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a direct operational and financial threat to corporations. Companies that integrate water resilience into their strategies will gain competitive advantages. The rest? They risk falling behind. Will businesses act fast enough to mitigate future water risks? See how leading companies stack up in our latest analysis of targets and project activity, globally. https://lnkd.in/eJxTCbSn #WaterRisk #Sustainability #CorporateStrategy #ESG #WaterEfficiency #ClimateResilience #BluefieldResearch Amber Walsh #thinkwater

🚨 New Paper Alert! 🚨 Water scarcity is a growing global challenge, expected to worsen under future warming scenarios. Tackling this issue requires solutions that both reduce consumption and enhance water availability. One promising strategy? Wastewater reuse. In our latest study, led by Myla Kahn (MS student in Environmental Engineering at Stanford University) and Matteo Sangiorgio (Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Milano), we assess the potential of wastewater reuse to alleviate water scarcity using a water balance model and climate projections. 🔹 Key findings: 🌍 Globally, wastewater reuse could reduce the water scarcity by 9.1% under baseline conditions and 8.3% under 3°C warming. 🇮🇳 In India, where the world's largest water scarcity exists, full wastewater reuse could shrink the gap by 6.6%. As climate change intensifies water stress, investing in wastewater treatment and reuse can enhance water security, reduce pollution, and support circular economies. Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted investments to scale up wastewater reuse, especially in water-scarce regions. 🔗 Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/gxiJh2KA #WaterScarcity #ClimateChange #WastewaterReuse #Sustainability #WaterSecurity #Research #Stanford