Water Features

The work to modernize water data infrastructure often goes on under the radar as part of the tireless regular operations of public agencies. But over the past few years, often in response to drought, several western state legislatures have devoted attention and funding to the issue. Recently, Oregon became the latest state to write new policy around water data.

The Western US is experiencing unprecedented droughts while its population continues to grow. This puts pressure on water management systems and increases the need for regional data analyses. In 2011, the Western States Water Council launched the Water Data Exchange (WaDE) to help member states share data to enable multi-state analyses and inform regional planning.

Early December 2021 was the first time in 13 years that at least half of the state of North Carolina was in Severe Drought or worse. A lot has changed in the world of drought monitoring since our last widespread severe drought, especially the data we use and how we visualize and share it. This current drought has made the power of those advancements clear.

Everyone needs water, but many Americans are struggling to pay the rising costs of water services. The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions’ Water Policy Program has developed a water affordability dashboard that allows users to assess affordability across different water utilities using flexible, self-selected parameters.

Without consistent, standardized, and easily accessible water data, the true state of water resources is not accurately represented. As a result, data users may make faulty assumptions and ill-informed decisions. Poor decisions can be catastrophic, especially as water resources become both increasingly scarce and in high demand. IoW is developing a solution.

Nearly 70 years after Steinbeck wrote East of Eden, his words still ring true. With satellite images showing receding reservoirs contoured with pale bathtub rings of dry earth, drab mountain peaks where white snowpack melted away months ago, and so much smoke, the dry years have again put a terror across California.