US Uses Less Water Now Than 35 Years Ago
| Wed Nov. 4, 2009 3:02 PM PST
This news is particularly relevant heading into Copenhagen...for those who think conservation of any kind is impossible or unattainable or out of keeping with American goals.
The US Geological Survey released a study today showing that Americans used less water in 2005 than 35 years ago—despite a 30 percent population increase. Most of the decline is attributable to alternative cooling methods at power plants and to more efficient irrigation systems.
(The AAAS reminds us that some commercial farmers in the US have doubled the crops they grow with a given amount of irrigation water by using sub-surface drip irrigation.)
In 2005, 297 million Americans used 410 billion gallons of water per day. That's 5 percent less than in 1980, the year of peak water use, when there were 227 million Americans. Or ~1,400 gallons of water per day per American in 2005, compared with ~2,000 gallons per person per day in 1980. Not bad. And a reminder that trends can be managed, not just suffered.
The quick stats on water use in the US today:
- Nearly half of water cools thermoelectric power plants (more reason to conserve energy).
- Irrigation appropriates 31 percent (more reason to eat consciously).
- The public uses 11 percent.
- The remaining 9 percent supplies industry, livestock, aquaculture, mining, and rural household use.
We need to remember however that a changing climate requires changes in water planning. In a blog posted last year, I cited a study in Science predicting water supplies will decrease substantially in parts of North America as the globe warms (as well as in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa).
Wonder about your own water footprint? Read Josh Harkinson's fine MoJo piece.
Drip, drip, drip. It's all finite. Let's act accordingly.
CORRECTION: Now made in the water use per American per day. Thanks to readers.
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Comments
Correction
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Nov. 4, 2009 11:19 PM PST.
A slight math error by the author leads one to believe that each American uses 1.4 billion gallons of water per day, instead of 1,400 gallons.
Great news though! Our technology is working to reduce our impact.
Jason
Error Error
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Nov. 5, 2009 9:10 AM PST.
Slight math error? The author only multiplied the actually usage by a million.
410 Billion per day / 297 million persons =! 1.4 billion/person
Let's do the math...
410,000,000,000
297,000,000
Cancel out the zeros
410,000 / 297 = 1,380 gallons per day.
Oops. Thanks for the
Submitted by Julia Whitty on Thu Nov. 5, 2009 12:07 PM PST.
Oops. Thanks for the correction! The flu is striking me (again). Brain power dwindling.
Julia Whitty, Environmental Correspondent, Mother Jones
Also, 1980 to 2005 is 25
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Nov. 5, 2009 1:45 PM PST.
Also, 1980 to 2005 is 25 years, not 35. Small matter, it's true, in relation to the enormity of this data. I'm amazed.
Since irrigation sues such a
Submitted by Michael Lach (not verified) on Thu Nov. 5, 2009 4:23 PM PST.
Since irrigation sues such a large amount of water why not start there when it is overlooked? http://www.IrrigationThatMakesSense.org is a non profit group trying to battle our national water issues by providing funding and installation of green irrigation products. They have a irrigation product that conserves up to 80% of water use after two years. Their product is installed sub-surface therefore you never see it watering. It makes the plants stronger, uses less fertilizer along with water and no over spray onto sidewalks and roads. The cost to install their underground irrigation product is comparable to overhead sprinklers but this is the green irrigation choice.
Hmm
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Nov. 5, 2009 7:32 PM PST.
I think this could be a bit misleading. This article states that the top consumer of water is used to cool power plants. But, this water isn't CONSUMED, is it? Lake/river water is often used to cool power stations and other industrial operations, but it's not ruined by it. It's returned to the lake or river at a higher temperature. We can use it again and again, and we even drink it.
Even water that is converted to steam for cooling (as in nuclear power stations) falls back down as fresh water...?
Right?
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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat Nov. 7, 2009 12:14 AM PST.
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
Very interesting article on water usage..thanks for sharing
Really awesome post. It is
Submitted by Neil kevin on Thu Nov. 12, 2009 5:36 AM PST.
Really awesome post. It is really amazing that after globalisation and industrial revolution US is consuming less water than 35 years ago . It is really great that they are saving water. Thanks for this update.
There is no shortage of
Submitted by fete des peres (not verified) on Sat Nov. 14, 2009 3:23 AM PST.
There is no shortage of water in the Eastern US. What are you "saving" it for. It's eventually going into the Gulf of Mexico or the atmosphere whether you "use" it or not. Especially water used for cooling power plants. It isn't "used" at all, just heated and returned to the source.
