Cassandra McKinney is the Director of the new Green Economy and Sustainable Water Center located in Grayslake, Illinois. The Center seeks to preserve and protect water quality and quantity in Northeastern Illinois by connecting business, academia, utilities, non-profits and government to promote sustainable water practices and jobs. McKinney discussed developing the Center's vision and goals, becoming a hub for information sharing, and translating research into educational programs to increase sustainable water adoption and prepare students for related careers. She is interested in forming an advisory group with key partners.

1. Cassandra McKinney – Director, Green Economy and Sustainable Water Center
9/12/2012 1

3. CONDENSATION
EVAPORATION
PRECIPITATION
TRANSPIRATION
GROUNDWATER
RUNOFF SURFACE WATER
INFILTRATION WETLANDS/FENS

5. 60% of your body
70% of your brain
80% of your blood

6. While you can survive almost a month
without food…

7. You can’t survive one week without
water!

9. The Great Lakes
contain one-fifth of
the world's fresh
surface water.
Lake Michigan is the
third largest Great
Lake by surface area
and the sixth largest
freshwater lake in the
world.

12. Impervious Surfaces Urban Sprawl
Irrigation Overuse

13.  Less than ¼ of Americans
know where their water
comes from.
 How about how its
used…?

14. One 0.3 pound burger requires:
660 Gallons of Water

15. 1 pound of Chocolate requires:
3,170 Gallons of Water
Each pound of dark chocolate is 40 percent cocoa paste, 20 percent coca butter
Cocoa paste has a water footprint of 3,993.8 gallons of water for 1 pound chocolate
Cocoa butter has a water footprint of 6,091.7 gallons of water for 1 pound

16. 2.2 pounds of Refined Sugar requires:
396 Gallons of Water

17. 1 cup of coffee requires:
37 gallons of water
1 gallon of coffee requires:
880 gallons of water
If everyone in the world drank a cup of coffee each
morning, it would “cost” about 32 trillion gallons of
water a year

18. The standard
washing machine
uses 40 gallons of
water per load.

19. A home car wash can go
through 80 to 140 gallons
In the summer, about half
of our water uses goes to
watering our lawn and
garden.
An open faucet or hose can pour
out 530 gallons an hour

21. “Water is crucial for the economy.Virtually every
industry from agriculture, electric power and
industrial manufacturing to beverage, apparel,
and tourism relies on it to grow and ultimately
sustain their business.”
Pacific Institute, Water Scarcity & Climate Change:
Growing Risks for Businesses and Investors

22.  2000-2009 World Water Conflicts
Drought and water
inequities spark
killings in India
(2009)
Terrorists Target
Water Systems
(2002)
Water clashes
Mexican farmers kill 40 in Kenya
shot in duel over and Ethiopia
spring (2004) (2006)
Information from the Pacific Institute: http://www.worldwater.org/conflict/map/

23. Revenues of the world's water-related
businesses will rise from $522
billion in 2007 to nearly $1 trillion
by 2020, and global water shortages
will drive the need for innovative
water technology and efficiency of
use.
Source: New York based Lux Research

25. Why is it that water takes up
70% of the earth’s surface and 60% of our bodies, yet
so little of our thinking?
Imagine turning water problems into
opportunities!

26. Develop a Center for Sustainable Water Practices
Working Mission Statement:
The Center for SustainableWater Practices seeks to make a positive
impact with respect to preserving and protecting theWater Quantity
and Quality in Northeastern Illinois by mobilizing and connecting
business leaders and academia to water sustainability and the green
economy.

28. Business
Community
Not-For- University
Profit Orgs. Partners
Director
Utilities Community
Government
Partners

29.  Develop a vision, mission and goals for the Center
 Review and evaluate:
 National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in Alton, IL
 The Milwaukee Water Council Model
 Establish a central hub for information exchange
 Stay abreast of environmental research and begin to create an archive of
information.
 Raise awareness with stakeholders and the community about the center
through:
▪ Workshops, Conferences, Peer-to-Peer Forums
▪ Multiple Media Sources: Social Media, Newspaper, Video, Blog, etc.
▪ Outreach to schools and guidance counselors

30.  Translate research into educational programming to increase the
adoption of sustainable water practices;
 Promote the understanding of the Great Lakes, watersheds, floodplains,
groundwater and the interactions between the built and natural
environment;
 Work in partnership with the business community to connect
coursework to the evolving economy;
 Translate education into jobs!

31. 30 minutes

32. Sustainability means
providing for the
current without
compromising the
needs of the future.

33. What does sustainable water mean to you?

34. What should the college focus on for
sustainable water?
 What is happening now in sustainable water
management that is being done well? What could be
done better?
 What regulations are holding back sustainable water
or could be used to improve our efforts to sustainably
manage water?

35. What do you see as current and future needs
for programs?
 Government, business and industry?
▪ Certificates, professional development, continuing education…
 Community education?
▪ Workshops…
▪ How do we inform the public about this program?
 How could we best prepare students for work in
sustainable water?
▪ Focus area? Certificate programs? Transfer curriculum?

36. Who should be the key partners in the
development of the Center?
 Would you be interested in participating in
an advisory group?

37. 30 minutes

38. Questions?
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.
When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to
use it with love and respect.”
Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

39. Cassandra McKinney
Director, Green Economy and Sustainable Water Center
19351 W Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
Phone: (847) 543-2645
cmckinney@clcillinois.edu