8. Drinking Water Treatment and Supply in Developed Countries in 2045—Where Will We Be?

An adequate and secure drinking water supply is one of the key components of infrastructure in developed countries. This infrastructure has been developed over a number of decades and will continue to evolve. For those who provide this vital service, it is important to think about what things may look like several decades from now, to facilitate intelligent planning and development. A glance at the past tells us that it is impossible to predict specific technological developments that may occur several decades from now. However the basic paradigm that describes public water supply (choose the best possible source, design and operate adequate treatment, provide secure distribution, conduct adequate monitoring, and respond appropriately to an adverse monitoring result) will still be relevant. Each of these five elements has technical, institutional and human aspects that are all important for the development and maintenance of robust systems. Using this paradigm, this article discusses important trends that can guide us in developing and improving water supplies over the next several decades.