In the future, we’ll see greater national and global movement toward using water wisely. As agriculture, the environment, and cities compete for water, sources will be strained, causing higher prices and shifting our priorities. We won’t run out of water, but we will recycle it and describe it by type: drinking water, gray water, black water, rainwater.

Scott Chaplin of the Rocky Mountain Institute predicts: “We’re going to see a great reduction in water use.” Through conservation and a wide range of water-saving products and technologies, current indoor usage of about 77 gallons per person per day will probably drop to 30 gallons or less. Globally, 2 billion people already lack adequate clean water or sanitation; regional shortages will likely worsen as pollution and demand increase.

Here are a few observations from experts:

“Federal programs are maturing, so water quality should improve over the years ahead, both in terms of source water protection and in more stringent standards for water at the tap.”—Steve Clark, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

“We don't have to rely on taking water from the farmers. There’s more than enough water that could be supplied through conservation in our cities to meet all of our needs for the next 20 years or more.”—Scott Chaplin, Rocky Mountain Institute

“Water is going to be the future energy engine. It will replace fossil fuels as the primary national treasure of all countries. It will become the gold.”—Paul Bierman-Lytle, Group 70 International, Inc.

“We want basic human needs to be met for drinking, sanitation, cleaning, and growing enough food. All those things require that we use water as efficiently and wisely as we can. That’s something we’re not doing now.”—Peter Glick, The Pacific Institute

Five water trends you can count on by the year 2012:

1) Efficient appliances. Appliances will become highly efficient in their consumption of water. Dishwashers and clothes washers will have sensors for tailoring water to a load’s needs.

2) Reclaimed water. Homes will have rainwater collection kits and dual water supplies—one with drinking water, the other with reclaimed water for toilets and outdoor irrigation.

3) Low-maintenance/high-tech gardens. Landscaping will utilize more native plants. Sophisticated mulching and drip-irrigation sensors will control delivery of reclaimed water.

4) Low-flow fixtures. Faucets, showerheads, toilets, and other fixtures will operate effectively with very little water.

5) Organic local treatment. Local treatment facilities will use plants, algae, fish, and aquatic organisms to produce clean water.