“The Nature Conservancy’s Urban Water Blueprint examines the state of water in more than 500 cities around the world. Our research reveals that there’s an enormous potential for nature to improve water quality for cities. In fact, cities could potentially save $890 million a year in water treatment costs by investing in nature–based solutions in their watersheds such as riverbank restoration and reforestation. 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.”

• See also – “The China Urban Water Blueprint analyzes the state of the 135 surface water sources tapped by the country’s 30 largest and fastest growing cities. The findings reveal less than 6 percent of China’s land mass provides more than two-thirds of the country’s water supply, mostly from small and medium-sized catchments. If conservation strategies—such as reforestation and improved agricultural practices—are applied to a cumulative area of roughly 1.4 million hectares, sediment and nutrient pollution could be measurably reduced—by at least 10 percent. In turn, more than 150 million people in these cities could see improved water quality.”