Similarly, National Security and

the Threat of Climate Change, a re- port from the CNA Corp. Military Advisory Board, a group of retired three- and four-star admirals and generals tasked with assessing the effect of global climate change on key matters of national security, says, “The consequences of climate change can affect the organization, training, equipping, and planning of the military services.”

Finding solutions DoD has stated decisively climate change is a national-security concern that will shape the operat- ing environment and the missions it undertakes. The DoD 2014 Climate Change

Adaptation Roadmap identifies in great detail how the military’s plans, operations, training and test- ing programs, and built and natural infrastructure likely will become adversely affected. It commits the military to finding solutions. Retired Navy Capt. Leo Goff,

program manager for the Military Advisory Board, points to a 2014 meeting of all combatant command- ers, at which recommendations for department-wide plans for how to deal with climate change were documented for the first time, as real progress. But tackling the issue of water

scarcity requires a multipronged approach and calls for action from average citizens and the military- industrial complex. Conservation efforts, the innovative use of existing and new technology, as well as infra- structure upgrades, will be necessary worldwide. Education outreach, information sharing, and diplomacy also will prove vital in improving the world’s water security. Goff refers to conservation ef- forts as low-hanging fruit. These include modifications similar to those you can do in your own home,

PHOTOS: AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOSHUA SMOOT, USAF; FACING PAGE, PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roshia Johari, stationed at Andersen AFB, Guam, demonstrates maintenance of a reverse osmosis water purifi- cation unit, which turns untested water into potable H2O.

such as installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and advanced monitoring systems, detecting and repairing leaks, harvesting rainwa- ter, and xeriscaping (adapting land- scaping to be less water-intensive). DoD estimates military depart- ments account for 98 percent of its total potable water consumption, so reducing the military’s water footprint is a high priority. These im- provements are being implemented at military facilities around the world. As a result, DoD substantially exceeded its 2013 goals for reduc- ing potable water intensity, and the Army already has exceeded its goals established for 2020. Additionally, desalination — the

process of removing salt — to render saltwater fit for consumption already is used by the military on ships and submarines, as well as by soldiers via point-of-use kits. The process, as it exists today, is expensive and energy- intensive and therefore has not been considered a realistic solution for widespread use.

However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Goff says he “wouldn’t be surprised to see [desalination] happening in California.” According to Goff, new Navy ships

also are equipped with reverse osmo- sis systems, a more energy-efficient method of desalinating water. Other methods for purifying water, such as solar technology and advanced nano- technology applications, might prove adaptable for large-scale use. Better food distribution networks,

improved infrastructure develop- ment (such as levees and water treatment facilities), large-scale drip irrigation systems, and the develop- ment of drought-resistant crops all will help reduce the need for water. But technological advances and proven techniques, as they relate to water management, will be needed across the globe.

MO

— Vera Wilson is a freelance writer from North Carolina. Her last article for Military Officer was “Consider the Costs,” March 2015.

JANUARY 2016 MILITARY OFFICER 79