CH2M HILL, a global consulting, design, construction and operations firm, is launching the website WaterMatch, a grassroots, goodwill initiative to help municipalities, industries and agriculture collaborate to conserve freshwater and promote community and economic development.
WaterMatch is a social networking site that promotes the beneficial reuse of municipal effluent for industrial and agricultural use at the local level. The website uses social networking and geospatial mapping to connect water generators with water users.
Once online, water users will use the map tool to find wastewater treatment plants and then use the social networking function to connect with the utilities operating those plants. The website is designed to help communities and companies collaboratively take action on water.
The global statistics are well known: More than a billion people lack access to improved water supply and more than two billion people are without access to sanitation.
Water scarcity in developed and developing countries are regularly in every media publication. Looking forward, population growth will increase the number of water-stressed areas around the world.
Water reuse is a proven, effective way to conserve limited water resources with numerous benefits to communities, companies and the environment.
Yet reuse rates are low. According to Global Water Intelligence, municipal effluent reuse rates for the U.S. and China are at 14%, while Mexico and Spain reach 4% and 11% respectively.
WaterMatch will provide industry and agriculture with a way to connect with municipalities to use effluent in their operations, thus linking to secure water resources so they’re not relying on freshwater supplies.
“We are launching WaterMatch to start a grassroots revolution to promote progress through partnerships and projects on the ground,” CH2M HILL Vice President Jan Dell said. “This virtual meeting place will enable local action on a global basis.”
Source: CH2M HILL
