Reliable water supplies are critical to industry, agriculture, cities and the natural environment. Because of these multiple dependencies within a region or watershed, water risks cannot be completely managed within individual facility footprints. Water users benefit from knowing how others are using this shared resource. The Louisiana Water Synergy Project addresses the need to understand and take collective action to address shared water risks by creating a forum where business leaders can work with each other and with other stakeholders to identify and prioritize shared water risks, prioritize innovative, practical solutions, and craft implementation plans for their region. In Louisiana water stresses include wetlands restoration, severe storm protection, Mississippi River nutrient loading, and rapid industry growth. Two years into the project 21 companies are participating in the Water Synergy Project along with an active Technical Advisory Group that includes leaders from industry trade associations, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. Project work is underway in the following areas: • Nutrient management strategies emphasizing voluntary initiatives, like a Water Quality Trading Program, to improve water quality. • Diversion of facility water for wetlands restoration/protection and flood control that can also reduce water treatment and pumping costs. • Development of alternatives for shared water systems to minimize risks of freshwater scarcity, restrictions on municipal and industrial water withdrawal, and impacts of 316(b) regulations. • Updating the Industrial Nutrient Inventory for the Louisiana Mississippi River Industrial Corridor. • Consideration of a shared data collection program for Mississippi River biological background data required to support compliance reports.

Project Results

• Replicable and scalable business solution to address regional water quality, quantity, and storm water risks. • Development of a collective capacity for conserving watershed systems as both private and public goods. • Reduced nutrient loads in the lower Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico through voluntary measures, including a Water Quality Trading Program. • Wetlands restoration and protection in southeastern Louisiana. • Increased options for sustainable water supplies and decreased competition for high quality water. • Lower cost levee construction through use of alternate levee construction materials.