climate change and industrial use are all elements that place increasing pressure on our existing fresh-water sources. Areas of the United States such as California, the southwest, and the southeast have experienced drought, water shortages and water rationing. As cities draw on water sources, rivers run low or even dry downstream, salt water creeps into fresh water coastal aquifers, states fight over water rights and ecosystems are put at risk. We cannot survive as a species without potable water. Water supply security is more important than energy security and it will undoubtedly become a prominent world-wide issue in the coming years.

Planned IPR involves taking traditionally treated wastewater and subjecting it to further purification through microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet oxidation. While opponents of IPR technology take advantage of our natural visceral disgust to "toilet to tap" images, supporters argue that this is misleading. Planned IPR simply accelerates what happens in nature. The resulting clean water is, in fact, cleaner that what comes out of our taps everyday and is sent to spend six or more months in a local water source (e.g. underground aquifer or a lake). Throughout the process, the water is rigorously monitored with systems in place for power failures or other incidents that may compromise the water quality.

While implementing planned IPR is certainly more expensive than not investing in the technology, water districts have found that the economic and security benefits outweigh the initial costs. Water districts find that by implementing planned IPR, they are committing to a reliable local water source, they are saving money (and energy) by not importing water from other locales and they are saving money by minimizing the amount of wastewater they do have to dispose of. Additionally, the resulting water may be injected into the ground to form a barrier to ocean water contamination of fresh water sources.

As water supplies become increasingly taxed, it is important for businesses and households to become educated about water as a resource in the 21st century and beyond. Measuring one's water footprint and reducing water usage is becoming as crucial as measuring and reducing one's carbon footprint. Matching the quality of water used to the purpose is also important; water used to flush toilets or irrigate golf courses does not necessarily have to be the same quality as drinking water. As early as 1958, the UN "enunciated a policy . . . that 'no higher quality water, unless there is a surplus of it, should be used for a purpose that can tolerate a lower grade'" (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2004, p. 2). While it is difficult to imagine water restrictions in water-rich areas of the world; as the population becomes increasingly savvy about water issues, businesses will be called on to demonstrate their commitment to good corporate citizenship through wise water use and conservation. Investing in and supporting new technologies such as planned IPR, will become essential particularly as much of the infrastructure supporting our water utilities requires updating.