Certain areas of the world are already facing drought, decreasing groundwater and increasing populations, and other areas are sure to face similar problems soon. So how do we get the water we need?

One of the riches counties in the country, Orange County, California, plans to begin operating its $500 million water-purification plant, which turns wastewater into drinking water, this week. In doing so, it joins Cloudcroft, Arizona, Singapore and a town in Namibia. It's a progressive act, and one that doesn't float everyone's boat. But when you consider that a fifth of California's energy is used to move water from north to south, you begin to realize that steps like these are as necessary a part of life as, um, going to the bathroom. Plus, the system pumps water back into the underground aquifer, helping to hydrate Mother Nature.

Of course, there's always limiting your water intake from the start. A new residential apartment building in Portland, Oregon plans to take water conservation to what some may consider extreme measures. The Kenton Living Building will have nine units, two shared kitchens and living rooms, and private baths, pantries and mini-refrigerators. Yeah, the residents have to share close quarters for rent that's about $625 a month, but the kicker is that their allowed water usage. They will be limited to 18 gallons of water a day, which equates to a daily five-minute shower, five uses of the bathroom sink for 15 seconds, four uses of the kitchen sink for a minute and five toilet flushes. Residents will drink filtered rainwater, if the city permits, and their "gray water" – water from the washing machine and sinks and tubs – will flush the toilets and irrigate the garden.

Purifying wastewater is expensive, but makes water conservation more manageable for people's everyday lives, while very limited water usage can be a hassle but addresses the root of the issue. When we look to our futures, we'll be forced to adopt water conservation measures, whether it's models like these, new innovations or a mixture of them all. Projects like these are not actually ahead of the game, they're right on time. By the time the rest of us catch up, these projects just may turn out to be great prototypes and learning lessons.