Community Partners Meeting September

9/12/2012

Cassandra McKinney – Director, Green Economy and Sustainable Water Center

1

EVAPORATION TRANSPIRATION

CONDENSATION PRECIPITATION

RUNOFF INFILTRATION

GROUNDWATER SURFACE WATER WETLANDS/FENS

60% of your body

70% of your brain

80% of your blood

While you can survive almost a month

without food…

You can’t survive one week without

water!

The Great Lakes

contain one-fifth of

the world's fresh

surface water.

Lake Michigan is the

third largest Great

Lake by surface area

and the sixth largest

freshwater lake in the

world.

Overuse Irrigation

Impervious Surfaces Urban Sprawl

Less than ¼ of Americans

know where their water

comes from.

How about how its

used…?

One 0.3 pound burger requires: 660 Gallons of Water

Each pound of dark chocolate is 40 percent cocoa paste, 20 percent coca butter Cocoa paste has a water footprint of 3,993.8 gallons of water for 1 pound chocolate Cocoa butter has a water footprint of 6,091.7 gallons of water for 1 pound

1 pound of Chocolate requires: 3,170 Gallons of Water

2.2 pounds of Refined Sugar requires: 396 Gallons of Water

If everyone in the world drank a cup of coffee each morning, it would “cost” about 32 trillion gallons of

water a year

1 cup of coffee requires:

37 gallons of water

1 gallon of coffee requires:

880 gallons of water

The standard washing machine uses 40 gallons of

water per load.

In the summer, about half of our water uses goes to

watering our lawn and garden.

A home car wash can go through 80 to 140 gallons

An open faucet or hose can pour out 530 gallons an hour

“Water is crucial for the economy. Virtually every

industry from agriculture, electric power and

industrial manufacturing to beverage, apparel,

and tourism relies on it to grow and ultimately

sustain their business.” Pacific Institute, Water Scarcity & Climate Change:

Growing Risks for Businesses and Investors

2000-2009 World Water Conflicts Drought and water

inequities spark

killings in India

(2009)

Water clashes

kill 40 in Kenya

and Ethiopia

(2006)

Mexican farmers

shot in duel over

spring (2004)

Information from the Pacific Institute: http://www.worldwater.org/conflict/map/

Terrorists Target

Water Systems

(2002)

Revenues of the world's water-related

businesses will rise from $522

billion in 2007 to nearly $1 trillion

by 2020, and global water shortages

will drive the need for innovative

water technology and efficiency of

use.

Source: New York based Lux Research

Why is it that water takes up

70% of the earth’s surface and 60% of our bodies, yet

so little of our thinking?

Imagine turning water problems into

opportunities!

Develop a Center for Sustainable Water Practices

Working Mission Statement:

The Center for Sustainable Water Practices seeks to make a positive

impact with respect to preserving and protecting the Water Quantity

and Quality in Northeastern Illinois by mobilizing and connecting

business leaders and academia to water sustainability and the green

economy.

Director

Business Community

University Partners

Community

Government Partners

Utilities

Not-For- Profit Orgs.

Develop a vision, mission and goals for the Center

Review and evaluate: National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in Alton, IL

The Milwaukee Water Council Model

Establish a central hub for information exchange Stay abreast of environmental research and begin to create an archive of

information.

Raise awareness with stakeholders and the community about the center

through: ▪ Workshops, Conferences, Peer-to-Peer Forums

▪ Multiple Media Sources: Social Media, Newspaper, Video, Blog, etc.

▪ Outreach to schools and guidance counselors

Translate research into educational programming to increase the

adoption of sustainable water practices;

Promote the understanding of the Great Lakes, watersheds, floodplains,

groundwater and the interactions between the built and natural

environment;

Work in partnership with the business community to connect

coursework to the evolving economy;

Translate education into jobs!

30 minutes

Sustainability means providing for the current without

compromising the needs of the future.

What does sustainable water mean to you?

What should the college focus on for sustainable water?

What is happening now in sustainable water management that is being done well? What could be done better?

What regulations are holding back sustainable water or could be used to improve our efforts to sustainably manage water?

What do you see as current and future needs for programs?

Government, business and industry? ▪ Certificates, professional development, continuing education…

Community education? ▪ Workshops…

▪ How do we inform the public about this program?

How could we best prepare students for work in sustainable water? ▪ Focus area? Certificate programs? Transfer curriculum?

Who should be the key partners in the development of the Center?

Would you be interested in participating in an advisory group?

30 minutes

Questions?

“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to

use it with love and respect.” Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

Cassandra McKinney Director, Green Economy and Sustainable Water Center

19351 W Washington Street

Grayslake, IL 60030-1198

Phone: (847) 543-2645

[email protected]