Humans and the Water Supply

Types of Water Use Non-consumptive Consumptive Water use that does not remove water from the ecosystem Includes recycled and reused water, such as sewage being reused as drinking water Consumptive Water use that is “used up” or removed from the ecosystem Irrigation is the biggest example

Worldwide Water Use Worldwide, agriculture uses the most water Lower in the U.S. and Europe, high in Africa Industrial use 2nd in the U.S., followed by home use

Agricultural Water Very consumptive use Major types of irrigation Overhead sprinklers Trench: water flows out onto fields Major waste due to evaporation Better option Drip irrigation: water goes to roots of plants directly underground

Aquaculture Big industry, includes the farming of seafood Has negatives Reduces shoreline vegetation that protects land from storms Parasites spread easily between fish If genetically modified, a problem if fish escape into the wild

Industrial Use 15% of worldwide use, higher in U.S. and Europe Most goes to power plants for electricity production

Domestic Use 15% of worldwide use Very non-consumptive use Sewage converted to drinking water in developed countries

Recreational Use Less than 1% of water use Golf, swimming, fishing, boating Mostly non- consumptive

Environmental Use Less than 1% of water use Maintaining and restoring wetlands Providing habitat for wildlife Non-consumptive use