Water Resources Planning, Management, and Development

What Are the Nation's Water Supply Problems and Issues? Gao ID: CED-77-100 July 28, 1977

The development of solutions to the serious water problems facing the United States poses challenges for the establishment of priorities and responsive implementing programs. Issues and concerns related to water and water-related programs which merit attention include: (1) Are existing water resource plans and programs adequate to meet the competing demands for water uses? (2) Do water agencies and industry have effective water conservation and reuse programs which reduce demand and make more efficient use of water supplies? (3) How can the constraints of water laws and rights on meeting water needs be effectively resolved? (4) Do federal agencies' benefit-cost analyses fully and realistically consider the beneficial and adverse effects of water resource projects? (5) Are water supply and water quality programs being effectively coordinated? (6) Are water research programs making progress in developing technology and in finding new ways to increase the Nation's water supply? (7) Is conjunctive use of surface water with ground and saline water sources adequately considered in meeting water needs? (8) What are the problems affecting the timely, efficient, and economical construction of water resources projects? and (9) Are cost-sharing requirements of federal and federally assisted water resource projects and programs viable today: what are the considerations and issues?



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