Message from the Chair

Sustainability at Scale

By Quentin Hahn

Working in an environmentally conscientious industry is something I am deeply grateful for. I consider sustainability to be one of the most important and pertinent topics that now spans generations. I feel fortunate to know that many readers already have an above average awareness of this topic. Therefore, I want to highlight a sustainability topic I recently considered deeply, then share some broader perspective.
Have you considered how sustainable your choice of drink is? You may be surprised to find out your favorite drink has a bigger footprint than you thought. I have included a graph showcasing the water footprint of several popular drinks below.

It is important to note, most of the water equivalents of each beverage is tied to the agricultural
practices used to produce the ingredients.

I have not written this to advocate for you adjusting your lifestyle, even though every little bit helps. The larger point is that many of our personal decisions to be more sustainable make a difference and should be celebrated, but as professionals in our industry we can have a much more significant impact through our work and advocacy. Making informed decisions about

replacing aging equipment at a treatment facility or securing funding for a green infrastructure project can save dramatically more water, energy and carbon dioxide emissions than an individual’s lifetime of choosing to drink tap water instead of coffee. Advocating for a client, policymaker, or corporate partner to prioritize sustainability in targeted, significant ways is an opportunity not afforded to many outside our industry.

We can be the advocates for more sustainable education, practices, and decisions within our networks. Our role in improving designs, operations, and systems should not be understated. Efficiency has always been something human development has optimized for. Now it is time to continue progress through efficiency and sustainability.

Sources:
1. Water Footprint of Food Guide - Water Footprint Calculator
2. Water footprint: Understanding the hidden water costs in your daily drink choices