Water services and societal benefits

Definitions

Water services refers to the breadth of benefits provided by clean and abundant water in the natural and built environment, including those derived from water service providers like water supply or wastewater utilities. 

Water service benefits may be felt directly or indirectly by society and fall into four categories:

• Regulating: Environmental quality, carbon sequestration, disease and flood control...
• Provisioning: Water supply, energy, sustenance, and food production...
• Supporting: Fundamental ecosystem processes, habitat, biodiversity...
• Cultural: Recreation, tourism, community and spiritual connection, mental and physical wellbeing...

Societal Benefits

High-quality water and water services are necessary for public and ecosystem health, social and cultural cohesion, and a prosperous economy. The Twin Cities metropolitan region benefits when water and water services are protected, restored where degraded, and enhanced wherever possible. Planning for water and water services helps to ensure these benefits for current generations and for all who will live, work, and play in this region in the future. Securing clean, safe, and plentiful water for residents and a thriving economy – while protecting the region’s diverse water sources and surrounding environments – requires coordinated, holistic, interdisciplinary, and ongoing effort. 

Minnesota is known for its abundant clean waters, which can lead to the misconception that it always will be. If people have ever been without water or only have had access to unsafe water, they may not trust that water can be safe for use. Complacency, distrust, or a willingness to sacrifice long-term sustainability for short-term gains can increase the risks to, and potential for, negative outcomes for water, the ecosystem services it supports, and the services provided by water utilities.

The diversity of water and water needs across the region’s many landscapes means that water is being used, managed, regulated, and planned for at many different scales: from individual homes to businesses and industries, to cities and watersheds, and to the region and state. As water enters and moves through the region, it doesn’t naturally adhere to political boundaries. The diversity of landscapes and the complexity of engineered water systems requires collaboration between communities, the public, political bodies, and technical experts to address challenges. It also requires integrated planning, holistic thinking, and adaptive approaches so that current and future generations have:  

• Robust, reliable, and trusted water utilities and infrastructure
• Safe and abundant water sources for supplies
• High-quality, resilient water features that support recreation, community and individual well-being, thriving economies, cultural activities, and ecosystems