Water quality, quantity and costs will be our next problem

George Kunkel, Jr., wrote in March, 2008 issue of water, 50000 found that drinking water services of the United States to withdraw some 40 billion litres of water per day from their sources. This estimate does not take into account that the water used each day, and he does not take into account all the water in the course of preparation in the aquifer and various other sources for irrigation. There would be no exaggeration to say that more than 50 billion litres of water from all available sources.

It is sufficient to remain with 40 billion gallons per day, but only compare the extent of the use of water in gasoline. Our country used ten million barrels of oil per day. When a barrel of oil could convert to the maximum potential for gasoline, it would not be more than 40 gallons per barrel refined. The ratio of the actual, for a variety of reasons, to the maturation of the procedures and requirements for the mixtures and the different levels of octane, is closer than 27 gallons per barrel. Let’s round to 30 gallons. Ten million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to 300 million gallons of petrol. 40 billion litres of water, even taking into account the 6 billion gallons of water to escape estimated for the supply of lines on the road to end-users, is more than a hundred times the gallons of petrol, which we use daily.

The price of gasoline and the supply limited, despite this limitation, is at the heart of this headlines.This is due to the sharp rise in prices for gasoline and all of these elements, the products petroleum products, such as plastics based on petroleum products in the refining and a large quantity of electricity generation. But the reader, the cost of water is also increasing, if these costs are taken into account in the water or not, the costs for water is increasing.

The first increase of costs for water are increasing the cost of the necessary energy to water pumping and treatment of water. The second higher costs have to see to the increase in the cost of the necessary energy for the pumping of sewage and wastewater treatment.

The third series of the high costs for water, based on the offer by the demand. The need for water in some places begins when the offer. This means an increase in costs into account, for the water source and also an increase in the cost of transporting water.

The fourth increase the cost of water comes from the repair and replacement of water supply systems. Vieux old hoses and pumps and lead to flight line and the pump fails. The new hardware is always more expensive. In addition, each new request for a system of supply of water, the expansion: More water, more treatment, equipment, more pipelines.

The fifth increase in the cost of water comes from the other end: the cost of disposing of the water when it was used and in waste water. Once again, the increased use of water required to increase funding for the expansion of the sewage infrastructure: another collection of more waste than to treat more treated (or in some cases not treated) of water are worn will be rejected.

The water is not invisible in our society. We see drinking water and water from the spotlight everywhere, we are taking showers and flushing water in toilets and running dishwashers and washing machines. What is invisible, but the true cost of water. Our water bill generally do not reflect the actual cost of water. Our Law of the sewerage projects are not generally reflect the actual costs for sewage treatment and disposal. Many municipalities try to make the bill of water low. But this creates a false impression that there is plenty of water, and the fact to process and deliver, it is much cheaper, that actually the case.

Result: all that we have the water shock. May-will be on a scale far greater than the current gasoline and energy of the shock. There are still large quantities of water. Finally, we are surrounded by the oceans. But the cost of recruitment and treatment of water and the provision of sufficient quantity is significantly more expensive than is currently the case. It is already possible, the freshwater salt water cycle of the ocean. Large plants that produce water in this way – but at a very high price. More and better methods for the treatment of waste water are also within reach, but also here at a higher price.

What is happening in the United States in parallel, resulting in most other regions of the world and is simultaneously with the energy crisis. In addition to the air, energy and water supply have been taken to acquire. We already have the first phases of air quality shock. Well, it’s the energy of the shock. The quality of water, the amount and cost of the next blow.

For most cases and in most places it is still long at the top of the water disaster. The wise use of water, imagination and reflection of the planning for the future development of creativity in the recycling and regional cooperation in water management to prevent what otherwise be a further blow to catastrophic our economy and way of life. Just as the energy crisis, the issues of water supply and wastewater treatment are no longer regulated by voluntary mouth high and the environment. For our survival, it is now necessary that all levels of our society from the individual to government companies, we develop and implement a policy of the water. What happens now with gasoline can be used as a reminder of what happens if we wait too long to develop sound policies, based on the facts.

In relation to the water, we bite relatively small balls or some much more important now, the ball in the near future!

January 29 2008 06:32 am | Natural Resources

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