1. Humans and the Water Supply

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

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

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