Nope, it’s not the latest craze in mountain-fresh bottled beverages, “peak water” is an environmental term describing the moment when a population’s water supply tops out. After that, people are forced to make do with less and less every year. As California residents, we’ve been thinking a lot about peak water lately; a few weeks ago, after our driest spring in 88 years, the Governor officially declared a drought. Peak water is something the developing world has been struggling with for decades, but it’s a relatively new concept for industrialized nations, and one they will increasingly confront as populations increase and climate change takes hold. Could California be next and what does the future look like for communities that have hit peak water? Wired Magazine recently published a fascinating article exploring this topic. Even if you don’t live in California, peak water may be closer than you think. And the next time you take a refreshing sip of H20, remember the words of our famous Governor: “Water is like gold.”