Imagine that you are a resident of Ashfordton, a community whose characteristics are described below. You have come together with your neighbors for a special meeting to devise a plan for managing its water resources more sustainably by 2050. What are your sustainable suggestions?
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Ideas
Pros and cons
Votes
Install low-flow faucets in all homes
by Claire Harvey
Reduces amount of water used
by Claire Harvey
Con: Not everyone could be on board to install new equipment in their homes
by Claire Harvey
Low-flow faucets are designed to maintain a consistent flow of water, which can help improve wate...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
By reducing water usage, low-flow faucets can help reduce water bills, especially in areas where ...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
the water cools down faster
by Monica McNair
steady water pressure
by Monica McNair
Cost for installation
by Mariah Fentress
increased competition and prediation pressure.
by Harry Robinson
Saves money
by Harry Robinson
Helps to conserve water supply and changes the expectation of water pressure
by Demelza Cunningham
Would reduce the amount of water used.
by LaRhonda James
The cost of switching over might be to costly for everyone.
by LaRhonda James
7
Vote
Joshua Reynolds, David Facundo, Demelza Cunningham and 4 more
Having homes install Rain Barrels
by David Facundo
Can have several benefits to towards sustainable water management such as saving water for other ...more
Con: Costly
by Claire Harvey
Pro: Collection of natural resource with little energy required
by Claire Harvey
Rain barrels have limited storage capacity, which may not be sufficient to meet all of a househol...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
They require regular maintenance to ensure that they are functioning properly and to prevent issu...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Some municipalities may have regulations that limit or prohibit the use of rain barrels, which ca...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
water can be used for agriculture, wash cars and water the lawn.
6
Vote
Mariah Fentress, Joshua Reynolds, mayra cruz and 3 more
rainwater harvesting systems
by Monica McNair
The collection and storage of rainwater for drinking, cooking, etc. they range from rain barrels ...more
use to water crops
by Monica McNair
use of storm water
by Monica McNair
reduce runoff and negative impact of flooding.
by Harry Robinson
Helps with water conservation, and reduce demand on public water supply.
by Harry Robinson
Unreliable rainfall
by Harry Robinson
Cost to start harvesting system can be expensive.
by Harry Robinson
Water not clean enough for drinking
by Mariah Fentress
cuts the use of water for use in the home
by LaRhonda James
would require a purifying system to use for drinking which would lead to more money.
by LaRhonda James
4
Vote
mayra Cruz, Sabrina Freeman, LaRhonda James and 1 more
Adding water meters inside each home in Town. This plan works out great because it's easily installedinto every single home in our city. This system will help each of our citizens be mindful of the quantity of water consumed in their homes. We would encourage water conservation right now by addin...more
by LaRhonda James
Adding Water Meters to each home
Con: Costly
by Claire Harvey
Con: Not everyone could want to get a meter installed
by Claire Harvey
Pro: Would help people realize how much water they are using and become more aware
by Claire Harvey
Pro: Allows water companies to collect data and use that to help find other ways to reduce water use
by Claire Harvey
can help households and municipal authorities manage water resources more effectively.
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Water meters can provide valuable data on water usage patterns, which can help municipal authorit...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Water meters can ensure that households are paying for the water they use, rather than paying a f...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Awareness and education will help consumers modify habits and identify best use of water resource...more
by Demelza Cunningham
3
Vote
David Facundo
Demelza Cunningham
Joshua Reynolds
Teach better water conserving techniques
by Joshua Reynolds
Implementing techniques like waiting for a dish washer too be full, taking shorter showers, savin...more
If all society understands the importance of water conservation, we would be more likely practice...more
by Joshua Reynolds
Its not a direct fix to conserving water.
by Joshua Reynolds
Cheap Solution
by joshua Reynolds
collecting rain in barrels is a good because it can be used for gardens.
by joshua Reynolds
Pro
Fast solution that everyone could do.
by LaRhonda James
Con
It would require all the community to take part in this for it to work, and many people woul...more
by LaRhonda James
help to create awareness of water waste.
3
Vote
Mariah Fentress
mayra
Monica McNair
reusing the "greywater"
by Monica McNair
Instead of draining the water from washing your dishes or hand washing your clothes, you can reus...more
can be applied to the soil and root crops
by Monica McNair
can be used to flush toilets and you can turn the water off to the toilet and use this instead
by Monica McNair
reducing the need of freshwater
by Harry Robinson
Greywater may contain potential dangerous bacteria.
by Harry Robinson
it is never potable
by Harry Robinson
Greywater contains potentially harmful pathogens, chemicals, and other contaminants that can pose...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Reusing greywater can help reduce the amount of freshwater used for non-potable purposes, such as...more
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
It can help reduce water bills, as well as reduce the cost of treating and discharging wastewater.
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Could reduce the amount of water we use to water plants and wash vehicles etc.
by LaRhonda James
could contain bacteria if not filtered for use.
by LaRhonda James
3
Vote
Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
CLAIRE HARVEY
LaRhonda James
Use of Aquafers
by Harry Robinson
helps remove substances from water.
by Harry Robinson
deterioration of water quality
by Harry Robinson
risk of leaking
by Monica McNair
helps keep the rivers flowing
by Monica McNair
can be vulnerable to contamination
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
can lead to depletion and reduce their ability to store and supply water in the future.
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
Aquifers offer a reliable and consistent source of water for various purposes
by Sabrina Freeman
Aquifers, when effectively maintained, provide a long-term sustainable water source
by Sabrina Freeman
Low treatment costs involved compared to surface water sources
by Sabrina Freeman
Less susceptible to drought compared to surface water
by Sabrina Freeman
Reduced water loss due to evaporation and leakages associated with surface water.
by Sabrina Freeman
Source of fresh water this does not require desalination
by Sabrina Freeman
Aquifers may be overused and even depleted if not properly managed
by Sabrina Freeman
Aquifer waters may be poisoned by agricultural, septic, and industrial runoff, posing health dang...more
by Sabrina Freeman
Treatment and pumping of aquifer waters are energy intensive resulting in high energy consumption
by Sabrina Freeman
Overuse of aquifers may result in sinking or sagging of land surfaces.
by Sabrina Freeman
The initial cost of constructing and maintaining aquifer-based water supply systems is huge.
by Sabrina Freeman
Water availability from aquifers may be limited, particularly during dry seasons.
by Sabrina Freeman
3
Vote
Harry Robinson
Isaiah Cummings
Sabrina Freeman
Develop a cost-free "Home Water Efficiency" program to have home assessed for leaking faucets, toilets, and inefficient appliances. Bring in companies to help fix these issues in the home and give the residents a financial incentive/credit on their water bill for the updates.
by Demelza Cunningham
Cost free assessments and home-fixes will encourage home owners to take advantage of the benefit ...more
by Demelza Cunningham
Providing a financial kick-back will encourage home-owners to be more conscious of daily water us...more
by Demelza Cunningham
Changing overall behaviors will help instill long-term water conservative habits.
by Demelza Cunningham
Will help save water by fixing faulty appliances and provide financial incentives for using program
by David Facundo
Can be costly for homes that have several appliances that will need to be replaced
by David Facundo
1
Vote
Monica McNair
Starting water conversation programs, for the community. We can create water conservation programs that promote water-saving behaviors such as fixing leaks, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and reducing lawn watering. We can also provide incentives for businesses and residents who conser...more
by Isaiah Cummings
Water conservation helps the environment a lot. Water conservation reduces the amount of water th...more
by Isaiah Cummings
This would improve the quality of water by a lot. By reducing the amount of water that needs to b...more
by Isaiah Cummings
Water conservation programs have the potential to foster water-saving behaviors among members of ...more
by Mohammed Shalabi
Water conservation reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, helping the environment. It a...more
by Mohammed Shalabi
Starting and implementing water conservation programs can take time, effort, and money.
by Mohammed Shalabi
Community members may resist water conservation or not see its importance.
by Mohammed Shalabi
Incentives for water conservation may not work for all businesses and residents.
by Mohammed Shalabi
Would reduce the amount of water needed
by LaRhonda James
May take to much time to get this done.
by LaRhonda James
1
Vote
Demelza Cunningham
Develop a Community-Based Forest Management System
by Demelza Cunningham
Brings local communities together to help cultivate a source of income from use of the forest.
by Demelza Cunningham
Managing the use of the forest and keeping is sustainable for the long-term
by Demelza Cunningham
Helps keep the forest in tact so as not to disrupt the precipitation patterns.
by Demelza Cunningham
Maintaining the forest helps to keep the global water cycle in place because it draws water from ...more
by Demelza Cunningham
Brings habitat
by LaRhonda James
Cost and time my be a issue to start.
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
soft path for water approach
by Mayra Cruz
A soft path for water focus on improving efficiency of current water distribution systems and he...more
community member will feel part of this project and would take responsibility of their water cons...more
by Mayra
Water quality can differ dependent on what the water will be used for
by Mariah Fentress
Will not be easy to follow.
by Harry Robinson
potential for greater water savings than conventional management.
by Harry Robinson
0
Vote
Developing A rainwater harvesting system
by Sabrina Freeman
The community can install rainwater harvesting systems in both public buildings and homes to enab...more
Expensive to install needed equipment and costly to maintain over time.
by Demelza Cunningham
conserve rainwater for other uses
by David Facundo
Pricy inital building costs
by David Facundo
1
Vote
David Facundo
Upgrading the water infrastructure can help reduce water losses and improve the efficiency of water distribution. This can include repairing leaks, replacing aging pipes, and investing in smart water management technologies.
by Aniya Pinkney-Tsedi
In water-scarce areas, upgrading water infrastructure can reduce water losses and increase water ...more
by Mohammed Shalabi
Smart water management technologies can boost water distribution efficiency and lower costs.
by Mohammed Shalabi
In old or damaged areas, upgrading water infrastructure can be expensive and time-consuming.
by Mohammed Shalabi
Upgrades may temporarily disrupt water services and inconvenience customers, which may result in ...more
by Mohammed Shalabi
Small repairs are inexpensive and help to preserve water supply
by Demelza Cunningham
To expensive
by LaRhonda James
could lower cost to consumers if they could repair aging pipes
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Replace all faucets, toilets, etc. with the most efficient versions.
by Joshua Reynolds
could be expensive for individuals to transition to water conserving appliances and devices.
by joshua reynolds
Allows people to conserve water at an individual level
by Joshua Reynolds
Requires the production of new equipment, thus creating a bigger carbon footprint.
by Joshua Reynolds
Over time, the usage of water would be much lower.
by Joshua Reynolds
To expensive for everyone to switch over to new faucets and toilets.
by LaRhonda James
Could help the use of water flow and usage with new efficient things in your home.
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Install low-flow water conserving toilets.
by Keshia Coffman
saves 77% more water than conventional toilets.
by Keshia Coffman
Saves on water usage
by LaRhonda James
Cost to buy a new toilet or add this toilet to your home or business.
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Treated wastewater reuse
by Claire Harvey
Reusing water from waste plants that is treated so it is safe.
Pro: Reuses waste water that otherwise would be discarded
by Claire Harvey
Con: Could be expensive to start up
by Claire Harvey
Maintenance costs
by Monica McNair
Putrid odor
by Monica McNair
Reduce public health risk
by Monica McNair
Produce Energy
by Monica McNair
0
Vote
Storm water mamangment
by Mariah Fentress
Carries storm water straight to the ocean.
by Mariah Fentress
Causes flooding
by Harry Robinson
Costly to clean up
by Harry Robinson
reduces runoff
by Harry Robinson
0
Vote
Wetland restoration
by Mohammed Shalabi
Restoring or creating wetlands can naturally filter and clean water and provide wildlife habitat....more
They attract wildlife.
by Monica McNair
Disease-breeding grounds for mosquitoes
by Monica McNair
Invasive species can possibly alter the overall compositions of the ground.
by Demelza Cunningham
Promote biodiversity
by David Facundo
Requires large amount of space to create
by David Facundo
Bring back habitats.
by LaRhonda James
It would take years to do and it would have to be continued for years to come
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Protecting water sources. We can protect our water sources from contamination by enforcing regulations, such as requiring industries to treat wastewater before releasing it into our waterways. We can also promote sustainable agriculture practices that reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
by Isaiah Cummings
Conflicting goals in some cases, protecting a water source may conflict with other economic or de...more
by Isaiah Cummings
Access is limited in rare cases, protecting a water source may limit public access to the area. F...more
by Isaiah Cummings
Ensuring a reliable supply of clean water is very important. Protecting a water source helps to e...more
by Isaiah Cummings
This would promote public health. When a water source is protected, it reduces the risk of contam...more
by Isaiah Cummings
It takes a lot of time and effort to get regulations passed in support of protecting water sources.
by Demelza Cunningham
Protect biodiversity and wildlife
by David Facundo
Can be challenging to mandate industries to comply
by David Facundo
0
Vote
Rain garden
by LaRhonda James
A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway...more
Con: Not everyone will have a garden or space to collect water
by Claire Harvey
Pro: Collects a natural resource with no energy required
by Claire Harvey
issues with drainage
by Monica McNair
groundwater recharge
by Monica McNair
0
Vote
Install rainwater collection tanks.
by Keshia Coffman
You can collect rainwater and filter it for drinking water, or other water usage.
can use water for toilets, yard, or plants without a filtration system.
by Keshia Coffman
Not everyone owns their own home which can make the decision to install difficult, or challenging.
by Keshia Coffman
Could use the rain water for watering plants
by LaRhonda James
would need a filter system to filter for use
by LaRhonda James
tanks can take too much space
0
Vote
Add solar stills to mountains or buildings
by Mariah Fentress
no cost to use the suns energy to distill water
by Mariah Fentress
Rate of distillation is slow
by Mariah Fentress
Costly to make the initial installation of needed equipment.
by Demelza Cunningham
Reduce the need for energy form a electric company
by LaRhonda James
cost would be a issue
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Creating a communal green infrastructure.
by Sabrina Freeman
To manage storm runoff and improve water quality, the green infrastructure plan should include na...more
Significatly reduce flooding
by David Facundo
Will be challenging to get other companies to follow the green infastructure plan.
by David Facundo
0
Vote
Green infrastructure
by Mohammed Shalabi
Green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements manage stormwater and reduce runoff. Green inf...more
Significatly reduce runoff water
by David Facundo
Will be expensive to build green roofs and permeable pavements.
by David Facundo
0
Vote
Use rain water from homes and gutters and send it to reservoirs
by Harry Robinson
reduce soil erosion
by Harry Robinson
regular maintenance is required.
by Harry Robinson
extra maintenance
by Monica McNair
helps with soil erosion
by LaRhonda James
added maintenance to home and can cause damage to home.
by LaRhonda James
0
Vote
Developing systems to capture and treat wastewater for reuse can help alleviate pressure on freshwater sources. This can include using treated wastewater for irrigation or industrial purposes.
