Water Use and Abuse: Innovations in Conservation

2009 (Presenter Amy Vickers, President of Amy Vicketers & Associates, Inc., Amherst, Massachusetts ) - Are we entering a new era of water scarcity or are we confronting an old error of water waste? In the United States, the biggest water conflict we may be facing is the one between our water wants and our water needs. Our culture has a dubious relationship with water, from lawns and leaks to bottled water and creeks. Despite growing public awareness of looming water shortages, drought declarations, and major strides in water efficiency technology in recent years, by several measures water demand is increasing, particularly among people living in single family homes. Further, excessive groundwater withdrawals, including those by commercial bottled water companies, may be significant factors that are contributing to signs of water depletion, particularly in New England. Rejecting “sustainability talk” as a doomed approach to preserving the status quo, Amy Vickers will reframe today’s water challenges and present cutting-edge whole system conservation approaches that not only save water and boost water quality, but also strengthen communities and local economies, improve public health, and lead us to a more balanced connection with nature. Lastly, Ms. Vickers will discuss H.B. 778, a bill recently introduced into the Massachusetts legislature that calls for a moratorium on new and expanded commercial bottled water extractions. This lecture was recorded at "Water Scarcity and Conflict," the Elizabeth Babbott Conant Interdisciplinary Conference on the Environment at Connecticut College on April 3 and 4, 2009. https://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/majors-and-minors/goodwin-niering-center-for-the-environment/conferences/water-scarcity--conflict/