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CAPTION:

TNC staff walk in rubber boots at the edge of the water at an oyster restoration site at Alabama Port. The 100-1000: Restore Coastal Alabama concept was born out of the success of the Conservancy’s ARRA-funded project which restored nearly 3 miles of oyster reefs in Mobile Bay using three different techniques: bags of oyster shells, Reef Balls and ReefBLKtm. These same techniques are being used to build the 100 miles of oyster reef for the 100-1000 project.

CREDIT: © 2010 Andrew Kornylak

About this project

Nature plays an important role in keeping urban water sources reliable and clean, one that has gone largely untapped. Natural solutions such as reforestation, better farming practices and stream bank restoration can reduce erosion and run-off that pollutes water. These solutions can improve water quality for more than 700 million people and reduce treatment costs felt by cities and utilities.

The Urban Water Blueprint analyzes the state of water in more than 2,000 watersheds and 530 cities worldwide to provide science-based recommendations for natural solutions that can be integrated alongside traditional infrastructure to improve water quality. City and utility leaders who embrace both natural and engineered water infrastructure will not only meet future water demand; they will reshape our planet’s landscape for the better.

We have continued to improve our scientific analysis over time, correcting reported errors and improving our methodology. None of these updates change the overall results of our study, but can significantly change the estimates for a few cities. These updated results are not reflected in the report or website, but we urge anyone considering using the results from the Urban Water Blueprint for analysis or decision-making to contact us at water@tnc.org to obtain the most current estimates.

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a network of the world’s megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The International Water Association brings together people from across the water profession to deliver equitable and sustainable water solutions for our world.

Downloads

Global report

Regional reports

The Urban Water Blueprint would not have been possible without the generous support of Ecolab through its Foundation, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Foundation, and 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation.

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