How Cities Can Save On Water Costs

"Major cities should focus efforts and funds on conserving forests that naturally purify their drinking water, saving them from spending billions of dollars on water treatment facilities...[Many major cities] including New York, Tokyo, Barcelona and Melbourne, get much of their water via protected forests...Melbourne -- dubbed "Smellbourne" in the 18th century because of its poor water quality -- took measures to protect the mountainous forest catchments to its north and east. Today these supply 90 percent of the drinking water in Melbourne, now recognized as having the highest quality water of any Australian city. "