National Smart Water Grid, Integrated Solutions for Sustainable Fresh Water Supply

The United States repeatedly experiences floods along the Midwest's large rivers and droughts in the arid Western States that cause environmental disasters and economic impact. These problems can be alleviated with an integrated approach and solution. Withdrawing flood water from the Mississippi River will mitigate the flooding and provide a resource of fresh water to the West. Increasing heavy precipitation and flooding on the Midwest's Rivers is supported by scientific literature that documents the effects of climate change. The Colorado River Basin and the west are experiencing a multi-year drought. Fresh water can be pumped via pipelines and aqueducts from areas of flood to areas of drought. Calculations document 10 to 60 maf of fresh water per flood event can be captured from the Midwest's Rivers and pumped via pipelines to the Colorado River and introduced in Lake Powell and Denver and used along the new water transportation routes. Water users of the Colorado River include Nevada, California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Indian Tribes, and Mexico. Proposed water transportation routes are documented, including information on right-of-ways necessary for state and federal permits. The National Smart Water Grid could create a million jobs for construction, operation, and maintenance and save billions in drought and flood damage. The socio-economic benefits include decreased flooding in the Midwest; increased agriculture, and recreation and tourism; improved national security, transportation, and fishery and wildlife habitats. The sale of captured flood water could pay for the National Smart Water Grid. The cost benefit analysis indicates that the NSWG should be net beneficial. The Second Edition expands flooding and recent climate change data, emphasis on cost/benefit analysis, details on pipes, pumps, aqueducts, and patent pending modified levees. The availability and sustainability of freshwater is the most important issue facing humanity in this century.