Lessons from Scrooge for a better water legacy

I always enjoy learning from Rich Meeusen, CEO of Badger Meter, who is also the Chairman of The Water Council.  He is an encyclopedia of water history and knowledge, and I thought his reflections on a better water legacy, modeling Scrooge’s new legacy in the Christmas Carol, were worth repeating:

• Future visions like the 2030 Report on Charting our Water Future* help us see the need for a course correction.
• Right now, a child dies every 20 seconds because of the lack of clean drinking water.  None of us wants to live in a world where a child dies every 10 seconds.
• Just as Scrooge changed his behavior towards Christmas, the world can change its behavior toward water.

Truth be told, the world would benefit if all viewed water resources with the same scrutinizing eyes as Scrooge viewed each penny.   Every drop counts.  Fortunately, today’s water technologies and more efficient processes are yielding a better water legacy with water and energy savings – and profits – in agriculture, industry and municipalities.  Each and every one of us plays a role, and can make a difference each day by shutting off the water when we’re brushing our teeth or soaping in the shower.

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead toward the future, what else can we learn from Scrooge?  And, what do you want to be your water legacy?

*The 2030 Report – Charting our Water Future

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the 2030 Report, otherwise known as “Charting Our Water Future,” the well-researched report predicts a 40% gap between the supply and demand of water by the year 2030. The report was developed to take a first step in providing greater clarity on the scale, costs and tradeoffs of solutions to water scarcity. It was the result of a year-long collaboration involving IFC (a member of the World Bank Group), McKinsey & Company, The Coca-Cola Company, and more. The study relied on the input of over 300 specialists and public sector practitioners as well as the consistent guidance of a group of expert advisors.