Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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The fundamental (and controversial) question of whether water
is a God-given right or a commodity to be bought and sold isn't
likely to be answered any time soon.
Meanwhile, water rates will continue to rise, especially when
staggering costs to replace antiquated infrastructure are factored
into the equation.
What Americans pay for water doesn't always refl ect its value or
even the real cost of delivering it.
Water is fi rmly entrenched as a wealth builder and provider in
the West, where prior appropriation is the water law.
Individuals familiar with water laws and fl ush with water capital-
ize on others' need for the resource through private and public
exchanges (for example, water banks).
Investors look to stocks in water-related companies and indus-
tries, and funds holding such stocks, because shortage combined
with demand can equal profi t potential.
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NOTES
1. Beverage Marketing Corporation, press release, “Bottled Water Confronts
Persistent Challenges . . . Report from Beverage Marketing Corporation Shows”
( July 2010), http://beveragemarketing.com/?section=pressreleases.
2. George A. Raftelis, “Water and Wastewater Finance and Pricing: A Comprehensive
Guide,” Raftelis Financial Consultants, http://raftelis.com/ratessurvey.html;
American Water Works Association and Raftelis Financial Consultants, “2010
Water and Wastewater Rate Survey (Bi-annual),” http://www.awwa.org/
Resources/Surveys.cfm?ItemNumber=39303&navItemNumber=39456.
3. U.S. House of Representatives Testimony, January 25, 2010, “Testimony
before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Natural
Resources of the U.S. House of Representatives, Testimony of Dr. Peter
H. Gleick . . . ,” Summary, http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/images/
Documents/20100125/testimony_gleick.pdf.
4. Pacific Institute, “Saving a Million Acre-Feet of Water through Conservation
and Efficiency,” press release, September, 8, 2010, http://pacinst.org/reports/
next_million_acre_feet/next_million_acre_feet_release.pdf.
5. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, July 27, 2009,
“Metropolitan's Fallowing Call Starting August 1, 2010,” http://data.pvid.org/
MWDDocs/LinkClick.pdf.
