As some areas of the country seek out new sources of water, other areas are trying to protect what they have.
Lynn Broaddus and Robert Puentes report in The Avenue on the new world of water—where some drought stricken areas are striking deals to acquire other people's water and other areas are circling the wagons to preserve what they have. Waukesha, Wisconsin is seeking to pump water from Lake Michigan to its residents through a $200 million, 20-mile pipeline that requires approval (as part of a seven year-old agreement) from eight states bordering the Great Lakes. "The idea behind the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact is to prevent thirsty states in the West from tapping into the lakes."
The report goes on to questions the necessity of such a large infrastructure investment when trends show a general decline in water usage around the country and new technologies making water reuse and recovery easier. "For example, San Francisco now requires new buildings over a certain size to treat and re-use wastewater on-site, a move that will catalyze innovation and increase the availability of these technologies in other parts of the country. This scaling down of water technology gives customers new affordable options and providers beyond water utilities, not unlike what rooftop solar is doing to the energy utility business."
FULL STORY: Wisconsin water woes part of larger story
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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