Nícola Ulibarrí’s research reveals abundance gap is about distribution, not supply
In a report commissioned by UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, Ulibarrí argues that California’s existing water infrastructure already collects enough water to sustain all state residents. The real crisis, says the UC Irvine associate professor of urban planning and public policy, is that thousands of Californians remain disconnected from that abundant supply.
“Water is already abundant for most California residents,” says Ulibarrí, whose work focuses on water policy and environmental governance. “The question isn’t how to create more water. It’s how to ensure everyone can access what we already have.”
While most Californians enjoy reliable tap water, Ulibarrí’s research highlights stark inequities…