In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly formally designated March 22 as World Water Day. As we approach this 28th anniversary, two thoughts are at the top of my mind: (1) how climate change is accelerating many global water challenges, and (2) Ohio State’s many contributions to solving local, regional and global water challenges.
The stark images we saw last month of Texans desperate for water after an unexpected winter storm wreaked havoc on their energy systems illustrated the deep co-dependence between water and energy. We need water to make energy and energy to provide clean water. A threat to one system inevitably impacts the other. The UN posits that “water is the primary medium through which we will feel the effects of climate change,” and predicts that by 2050, the number of people at risk from floods will rise to 1.6 billion from its current level of 1.2 billion. And between 2.7 and 3.2 billion people could be living in potential severely water-scarce areas (up from 1.9 billion in the early to mid-2010s). These numbers are difficult to process. The scale of human impact can feel overwhelming.
Despite the scale of the global challenge, I am inspired by the commitment of so many faculty, staff and students to water issues. Ohio State has hundreds of faculty and researchers working on water issues that span the local to the global. Experts in engineering, science, history, humanities, economics, geography, policy, law, public health and medicine are bringing new knowledge and discovery to myriad water challenges. From detecting COVID-19 in wastewater and developing solutions to vexing nonpoint source pollution problems, to building new knowledge around emerging contaminants and deepening the global understanding of how sea level rise will affect communities around the world, Ohio State teems with water expertise. Buckeyes are helping communities from the Navajo Nation to Appalachia and Africa develop more sustainable water solutions. We teach students the intricacies of the global water system, how water has shaped human history and the complex legal and policy frameworks that govern access to water. These are but a few examples of Ohio State’s enduring mark on water.
In addition to research, discovery and student learning, we’ve also made some remarkable achievements in improving how the university uses water. Ohio State uses more than 1.3 billion gallons of water each year. In 2015, we set a university sustainability goal to reduce our per capita use of water by 5% every five years. Thanks to the efforts of many (but with a special shout out to Brenda VanCleave, our university water engineer) in our first five years, we blew past the goal and reduced water use by a total of 29%. We have made substantial improvements in infrastructure, leak detection and response, low-flow fixtures, smart irrigation and efficient water-use technologies. Not only have we lightened our environmental impact, but these efforts are also saving Ohio State over $1.75 million in annual water and sewer costs. A true sustainability success story — so successful, in fact, that the university this year increased its water reduction target to 10% per capita every five years, from the original 5% per capita, by 2025.
Humans can last for three weeks without food (some would say longer) but only three days without water. Water is life. On March 22, the UN is encouraging people to join a conversation about the value of water. I encourage anyone who cares about water —which really should be everyone — to take a moment and share your thoughts. Be sure to tag your social media posts with #WorldWaterDay and #Water2Me.
