AWWA JAW55247

In the past 100 years, our predecessors and our colleagues have changed the way that North Americans think about their water. As we look 100 years into the future, we're the ones who have to change the way we think about our water. Our mission--safe and sufficient supply of drinking water for our customers at a reasonable cost--is almost sure to remain the same, but we will accomplish that mission in the face of extraordinary forces. The most undeniable force is the finite amount of drinkable water that must serve more and more people every year. In the past century, the population of the world tripled, and water use increased tenfold. As you know, out of all the water on the planet, only about 1% is available for human use. That single truth--that there's a finite amount of water to share among more and more people--is integral to the forces that will shape our future. Other forces discussed in this article include: new technology; new methods of organization; and, new partners.