AWWA JAW64306 Journal AWWA - Aquatic Ecosystem Protection and Drinking Water Utilities

Journal Article by American Water Works Association, 02/01/2007

Postel, Sandra L.

Full Description

Aquatic ecosystems provide irreplaceable benefits,including water supplies, food for people and wildlife,water purification and filtration of pollutants, flood anddrought mitigation, even recreational opportunities. Asthe economic and ecologic services provided by aquaticecosystems gain more recognition and the deleteriouseffects of mismanaging water resources become moreapparent, the global water community is taking stepstoward ecologically sustainable water management.Because their operations have significant and far-reachingconsequences for aquatic ecosystems, drinkingwater providers can play a major role in safeguardingthe health of these systems. Strategies to protectaquatic ecosystems include reducing water demandthrough conservation, managing water within thebounds of an ecological flow prescription, planning forecosystem allocation during drought, and protectingsource watersheds. With urban populations growingand water demands on the rise, utilities must act nowto ensure that the benefits provided by healthy aquaticecosystems are available to future generations. Includes 33 references, table, figure.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. 99 - No. 2 Published: 02/01/2007 Number of Pages: 12 File Size: 1 file , 490 KB