New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued a call for "big ideas" to solve his state's water crisis, according to a report in today's Free New Mexican.
How did top water thinkers in the state respond? They called for installing modern technology to clean and recycle wastewater; revising government regulations to encourage - rather than discourage - farmers to use the latest water-saving equipment; and establishing a business incubator to develop new water-conserving products and services.
New Mexico seems poised to join Arizona as the second U.S. state seriously thinking about how to attract and grow companies that develop, commercialize, and implement modern water-friendly technologies. It's a smart move. Water-related equipment and services already make up a $400 billion market, according to expert estimates.
Yet the conversation about targeting the emerging industry as a growth sector is hardly underway in the Great Lakes region. Political leaders and economic development officials in the Rust Belt settle for the water-bottling industry, and give little thought to the broader spectrum of companies and opportunities now organizing around improved water stewardship.
