Water

Garcetti Tree People

L.A.'s Water Supply Increasingly Relying on Management of Stormwater

In October 2014, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acted to make the city more resilient from drought and climate change. In 2016, we get an update from leaders Gary Hildebrand and Marty Adams on L.A.'s stormwater capture systems.

May 27, 2016 - The Planning Report

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

Environmentalist Alarmed Over California-Focused Federal Water Legislation

An op-ed argues that instead of building a more resilient and sustainable water supply infrastructure, two water bills before congress would rollback exiting environmental protections.

April 29, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles Reaps the Benefits of Restoring the Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles has made major progress in restoring the Santa Monica Bay. Now, The Bay Foundation's Tom Ford sees opportunities for L.A. to capitalize on its natural resources.

April 28, 2016 - The Planning Report

Urban Explorers

The Great Debate: Which Infrastructure System Most Needs Repair?

The New York Times created a "Room for Debate" feature offering four points of view on the subject of infrastructure repair.

December 3, 2015 - The New York Times

Drought

The Evolving Market for Water in an Era of Droughts and Efficiencies

As some areas of the country seek out new sources of water, other areas are trying to protect what they have.

October 21, 2015 - Brookings: The Avenue

Sierra Nevada Melted

Sierra Nevada Snowpack at 500-Year Low

Unusually scarce precipitation last winter has left little snow on the mountains, endangering a key California water reserve.

October 3, 2015 - KPCC

Water Dripping

How the Internet of Things Can Help Solve Water Woes

New tools and technologies of the so-called Internet of Things are helping cities get a better handle on water scarcity and overabundance.

September 28, 2015 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Gross Resevoir

Should City Planners Worry About Water Supply?

It’s a big question being tackled by land use planners and water providers in Colorado, where the traditional disconnect between water realities and land use decisions precludes a sustainable balance between water supply and urban growth.

July 1, 2015 - Dean Saitta

drinking fountain

Report Finds Weak Spots in the Los Angeles Water Grid

A "water atlas" compiled by UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation reveals the patchwork that is Los Angeles' water supply system. Neighborhoods reliant on small providers and groundwater sources may be vulnerable.

May 30, 2015 - CityLab

Water Dripping

What Droughts Say About Planners and Water Officials

When water policy and land use planning operate in separate spheres, it's more difficult to design for efficient resource use. Better communication is needed in the drought-stricken southwest.

May 13, 2015 - Next City

Lawns and Suburban Homes

Libertarian-Friendly Drought Control

Arid states can both reduce water use and avoid intrusive government by eliminating zoning regulations that mandate or encourage water-wasting lawns.

April 9, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

North view

Urban Farming Gains a Foothold in Houston

Operated by a pair of brothers, Finca Tres Robles is one of several Houston farms coaxing fresh produce from unused urban land. Increasingly, urban farmers compete with developers for space.

March 29, 2015 - OffCite

Las Vegas Water Grab a 'Poster Child' for Urban vs. Rural Resource Conflict

In what has been described as a "poster child" for future water showdowns in the west, local interests in Las Vegas are attempting a water grab from ranch land 275 miles north of the city.

March 10, 2015 - Bloomberg News

Six Employees Indicted in West Virginia Water Contamination Debacle

Six chemical company employees have been charged, under the Clean Water Act, for an incident earlier this year that left 300,000 West Virginia residents without safe drinking water for more than a week.

December 18, 2014 - Associated Press

The End of the Era of Cheap Water

In many places around the country, the price of water is increasing, quickly. While the reasons for the increase vary depending on the location, common to the issue is the ability of planning to either help or hinder the problem.

December 9, 2014 - Governing

Colorado Planning for a Water Supply Shortfall of 163 Billion Gallons by 2050

Colorado officials predict a 163-billion-gallon shortfall in its water supply by 2050, and the Continental Divide stands in the way of easy solutions to the challenge.

November 10, 2014 - The Denver Post

recycled greywater

U.S. Water Use Hits 45-Year Low

Recent data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the country is using less water even as its population grows.

November 6, 2014 - United States Geological Survey

America's Crumbling Water Infrastructure

The country's aging water infrastructure is growing more wasteful and expensive to fix with every year. What will it take to re-engineer our drinking water supplies?

November 3, 2014 - NPR

How to Solve the Looming Water Crisis

David Sedlak, author of "Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World's Most Vital Resource," explains how the deepening obsolescence of our water infrastructure is reaching crisis status.

October 12, 2014 - Vox

California Pauses $24 Billion Plan for Bay Delta Tunnels

The controversial Bay Delta Conservation Plan, in the works for seven years, has been placed on hold again. According to officials with the state Department of Resources, the delay comes in response to comments on the project's draft EIR.

August 28, 2014 - Sacramento Bee

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.