In an Era of Scarcity, Water is Now a Major Economic Driver

WYSO | By Julie Grant (The Allegheny Front) Published March 2, 2016 at 6:44 AM EST

In a world facing growing problems with water scarcity, the Great Lakes region could be poised to draw businesses—big and small—from other parts of the country. But despite the region’s vast quantities of freshwater, water quality can’t always be taken for granted.

One example: Big Crickets Farms, which raises edible crickets for restaurants and specialty foods producers. Owner Kevin Bachhuber moved his business from drought-stricken California to Youngstown, Ohio in part because there was plenty of water. But after moving to Youngstown, he noticed the farm would periodically lose entire generations of crickets.

Bachhuber suspected the city water.

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