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The bottom line is that water availability will be a major investment consideration in business expansion plans around the world.

Just one example from the United States: In Chandler, Ariz., Intel has negotiated a unique relationship with the city to clean and return water tainted by its wafer manufacturing operation back to the local aquifers. Chandler owns the technology to do this, but Intel has helped make that investment possible. Both sides benefit

2. Sanitation, irrigation needs transform wastewater treatment

most wastewater is still wasted: in high-income countries, the treatment rate is 70 percent, but it falls to just 28 percent for lower-middle-income nations and 8 percent in low-income economies.

3. Utility costs are rising quickly

4. Distribution networks are aging rapidly

Overall, the World Bank estimates the annual global value of water lost by utilities at $14 billion. The average U.S. utility pours up to 30 percent down the drain through leaks or un-billed usage.

5. Data centers guzzle more water