SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum
GLD 386.88-0.1%Dec 3 4:00 PM EST
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: gg cox who wrote (25681)11/26/2007 10:02:26 PM
From: arun gera  Read Replies (2) of 218167
 
The biggest water use is in agriculture. Municipal is just 10 percent of that.

globalchange.umich.edu

What fraction of AR is used by humanity?

* Withdrawals: agricultural withdrawals = average water application rate (12,000 m3/ha) x world irrigated area (240 x 10^6 ha in 1990) = 2880 km3. Assuming 65% is consumed, 1870 km3.

* Industrial water use is estimated at 975 km3 and roughly 9% (90km3) is consumed. Remainder is discharged back into environment, often polluted.

* Municipal use is estimated at 300 km3 per year, of which 50 km3 (17%) is consumed.

* Evaporation from reservoirs is estimated to average 5% of gross storage capacity of reservoirs (5500 km3) or 275 km3/yr.

* Instream flow needs are estimated from pollution dilution, assuming that this suffices to meet instream needs. A common dilution term is 28.3 liters per second per 1000 population. Using the 1990 population yields a dilution requirement of 4700 km3. If half of water received adequate treatment, the dilution requirement is reduced to 2350 km3/hr.

* Combining these estimates (see table 4) indicate that humans appropriate 54% of AR. Human use of ET (18,200 km3) plus runoff (6780 km3) constitutes 30% of total accessible RFWS and 23% of unadjusted RFWS.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News