Tackle Water Scarcity with These 8 Supply and Demand Solutions

These water conservation and production innovations can combat water scarcity.

When I arrived in the hot dry desert town of Bakersfield, Calif., to spend the summer, I relished the prospect of admiring yards studded with cacti surrounded by drought-resistant herbs and ornamental grasses instead of the typical lawns I usually see in Washington, D.C. 

So it was quite a shock to stroll around my new neighborhood at dawn to the whoosh of sprinkler systems splashing across green lawns and flooding the sidewalks with runoff. Even worse, my Airbnb’s owner insists on scheduling sprinklers to click on in the middle of the afternoon when most of the water evaporates before it even touches the grass. 

You’d think in a climate like this most homeowners would have adapted by now to xeriscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water. 

Today, water scarcity impacts nearly every continent and more than 40% of people around the globe, according to research by Genesis Systems, developer of a system that produces water from the atmosphere. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in regions with water scarcity and two-thirds of the world’s population could be living under water stressed conditions. 

Almost the entire U.S. Southwest, including states such as California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, faces extreme water stress issues by 2030, according to a report by BlackRock. 

Homeowners in every generation are aware of the need to address water scarcity, according to Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data.  As the chart below shows, more consumers in every generation are willing to pay for water innovation upgrades. Millennials and Gen Zers are especially interested in managing water supplies. 

Source: COGNITION Smart Data

Create Your Own Water Supply

Multiple companies use technology to produce potable water through a variety of mechanisms.

For example, Genesis Systems introduced the WaterCube, a whole home waterless well at CES in 2024. The WaterCube captures water in the air and generates an average of 100 gallons a day per household. That’s more than the average consumption of 82 gallons of water day per household, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

The WaterCube sits outside the home and is similar in size to an air conditioner. The modular system is designed to be stackable to make it easier to generate more water for a larger home or household. The system runs on electricity and produces filtered, drinkable water, according to David Stuckenberg, a water security expert and co-founder, president and chief operating officer of Genesis Systems. The WaterCube costs about $20,000 to install, compared to $60,000 to $100,000 to drill a well, Stuckenberg says.

Another option to generate water at home is Source Hydropanel technology that works in a similar manner to a solar photovoltaic panel. Instead of creating electricity, the hydropanel creates clean, safe drinking water using the sun and several patented inventions, according to the Source website. The water can be plumbed directly into a home or into a water dispenser.

A company called Future AC Water obtained a patent in 2021 to recycle air conditioning water for multiple uses such as outdoor landscaping, filtered drinking water, ice makers and indoor plants, according to patent holder Michael Molinar. Home air conditioning units can generate five to 25 gallons of water per day, while commercial units can generate 100 to 200 gallons per day.

“The water is filtered for safety,” Molinar says. “We upgrade home air conditioners to atmospheric water generators, ensuring clean and safe water. Home atmospheric water generators that produce from six to 12 gallons of water a day range from $1,700 to $3,000 on Amazon. Our residential installation costs are between $2,500 and $3,500, depending on the number of AC units and if a UV light is added for drinking water.”

Homeowners will need to regularly change water and air conditioner filters and clean the condensate pump every four to six months, Molinar says. In addition, the system includes a submersible pump in the water storage to prevent stagnation.

Reduce Your Water Consumption

While generating water addresses the supply side of water scarcity, reducing consumption is imperative, too. 

The EPA offers an array of water saving suggestions, starting with purchasing products identified with the WaterSense label. The average family spends $1,100 per year in water costs but can save $350 from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances, according to the EPA.

In addition, some of the EPA’s recommendations include: 

• Fix leaks. Even a small leak can result in gallons of wasted water.
• Take a short shower instead of a long bath. 
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.
• Use a dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the water until it’s cool.
• Sweep your driveway or sidewalk instead of hosing it off.

If you’re shopping for new fixtures, you may want to consider a RainStick shower, which saves up to 80% of water and energy. The shower uses each drop of water up to six times with its water recycling system that sanitizes the water before sending it back through the fixture. 

The water flow is estimated to be double most standard showers. The manufacturer estimates that consumers can save $500 to $700 on their water and electricity bills with the RainStick. 

If you’re in the market for a luxury bathroom upgrade, you can consider Kohler’s Numi 2.0 Dual-Flush Smart Toilet , which retails for about $11,500.

“Switching from a 1.6 gallons per flush toilet to the Numi 2.0 Dual-Flush toilet can result in a staggering savings of over 69,000 gallons of water over 20 years – equivalent to over 16 years’ worth of flushes,” says Andrew Van Gorden, product marketing manager at Kohler Co. 

However, Van Gorden says, “Almost all our Kohler Smart Toilets deliver dual flush technology backed by WaterSense certification to lead in sustainability without compromising performance.”

The company’s Highline Two-piece Elongated Toilet, 1.0 gallons per flush, which reduces water use by more than 35 percent over 1.6-gallon toilets for water savings of more than 4,500 gallons per toilet per year, retails for about $335.

Kohler offers water conservation at various price points for their showerheads, too. Their Cinq Filtered Showerhead sells for about $150.

“The Cinq Filtered Showerhead embodies the belief that less is more with its advanced five-layer filtration system,” says Tom Sindelar, marketing manager- performance showering at Kohler Co. “As water flows through multiple layers, including activated carbon, it enhances water quality by removing toxic metals, chlorine, sediments, and other impurities while reducing scale. With purer, cleaner water, every drop works harder, so you can use less and experience more.” 

Kohler’s higher priced  Anthem+ Digital Showering, which starts at $441, includes digital interface to control the system. 

With the optional built-in eco mode, you can conserve water by using just one outlet at a time, while the summary screen encourages mindful water usage. Monitoring your water consumption not only enhances your experience but also supports a more sustainable planet by reducing water waste,” Sindelar says.

If you’re thinking about replacing your washing machine, consider an HE model. An old washing machine uses approximately 40 to 45 gallons per load, while an HE machine uses about 10 to 25 gallons, according to Whirlpool. In addition, many HE washing machines are ENERGY STAR certified, which indicates that they use about 25% less energy and 33% less water than regular washers,^, according to ENERGY STAR.

Front load HE washing machines are the most water efficient, according to Whirlpool. Top load HE washing machines require more water because they have agitators, but both options only fill the bottom of the machine and move clothes through the water.

If a new drought-friendly landscape, or new appliances and fixtures aren’t in your budget yet, keep taking the small steps to conserve water. Innovations continue to be made that you take advantage of when you’re ready for a new house or a renovation.

Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.