Every Drop Counts: How Efficiency Becomes Supply outlines practical steps to recover, reuse and optimize water resources across communities, industry and agriculture

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 – Grundfos, a global leader in advanced water technology, today launched Every Drop Counts: How Efficiency Becomes Supply, a new policy paper that highlights how water efficiency, reuse and smarter management can help address growing water stress across the United States.

Released during Climate Week NYC, the paper argues that one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to increase water availability is to get more value from the water already in use. The report was introduced at "From Scarcity to Circularity: Managing Water in a Changing World," a roundtable hosted by Grundfos and the Consulate General of Denmark in New York at Denmark House, bringing together leaders from government, industry, utilities and civil society.

"As communities across the United States face growing water demands, we have an opportunity to rethink how we manage one of our most important resources," said Ansell Sims, Chief Executive Officer, Grundfos Americas. "Water efficiency and reuse are proven solutions that can help strengthen resilience, support economic growth and create more sustainable communities. The technology exists today. The challenge is scaling what works."

The report examines how water scarcity is increasingly affecting communities, businesses and ecosystems. In a typical year, approximately 60 percent of U.S. land area and half of the population experience medium-to-high water stress. At the same time, significant volumes of treated water are lost through leaks, inefficient systems or one-time uses when reuse solutions are available.

While large-scale infrastructure investments such as reservoirs, pipelines and desalination facilities remain important, the paper highlights efficiency and reuse as practical strategies that can deliver meaningful water savings more quickly and at lower cost.

Proven solutions available today

Every Drop Counts showcases technologies and approaches that are already helping customers optimize water use across sectors:

• Buildings: Smart hot water recirculation systems reduce water wasted while waiting for hot water and can help identify hidden leaks.
• Agriculture: Precision irrigation technologies apply water based on crop requirements, soil conditions and local weather data.
• Industry: Water stewardship strategies focused on measuring, reducing, reusing and reclaiming water can significantly reduce freshwater withdrawals while maintaining operational performance.
• Utilities: Pressure management and water loss monitoring technologies help utilities recover treated water that would otherwise be lost through leakage.

The paper also highlights the connection between water stewardship and economic development. As communities attract new manufacturing facilities, data centers and energy infrastructure, efficient water management can help support growth while reducing pressure on local water resources.

Recommendations for policymakers and industry leaders

The report provides a roadmap for federal, state and local governments, utilities and businesses to accelerate adoption of proven solutions. Key recommendations include:

• Expanding consistent reporting and measurement of water loss.
• Directing infrastructure investments toward recoverable water savings.
• Modernizing policies that support safe water reuse.
• Encouraging water-smart development standards.
• Strengthening incentives for technologies that reduce both water and energy consumption.

According to the report, broader adoption of these measures can help communities improve resilience while making existing water supplies go further.

Advancing collective action on water resilience

The Climate Week NYC roundtable focused on identifying barriers that limit the scale of water efficiency and reuse projects, as well as opportunities for collaboration among governments, utilities, businesses and civil society organizations.

The event reflects Grundfos' broader commitment to advancing water resilience through technology, partnerships and collective action. This includes the company's work with the Water Resilience Coalition, support for water stewardship initiatives in priority regions, and its role as a Basin Champion for the Colorado River Basin.

"Our goal is to move successful projects from isolated examples to standard practice," Sims said. "By aligning policy, investment and innovation, we can make measurable progress in addressing water challenges before they become crises."

Read the Report