AWWA JAW64306

Aquatic ecosystems provide irreplaceable benefits, including water supplies, food for people and wildlife, water purification and filtration of pollutants, flood and drought mitigation, even recreational opportunities. As the economic and ecologic services provided by aquatic ecosystems gain more recognition and the deleterious effects of mismanaging water resources become more apparent, the global water community is taking steps toward ecologically sustainable water management. Because their operations have significant and far-reaching consequences for aquatic ecosystems, drinking water providers can play a major role in safeguarding the health of these systems. Strategies to protect aquatic ecosystems include reducing water demand through conservation, managing water within the bounds of an ecological flow prescription, planning for ecosystem allocation during drought, and protecting source watersheds. With urban populations growing and water demands on the rise, utilities must act now to ensure that the benefits provided by healthy aquatic ecosystems are available to future generations. Includes 33 references, table, figure.