4 ms·

>the concept of Peak Water hardly matters It matters if we're using water faster than the hydrologic cycle can process it.

mattmanser 16y ago
It doesn't really, the peak water argument was a busted flush when people realised there's constant water trade going on at rock bottom prices all around the world. A few years ago it was fashionable to predict water wars. And then they didn't happen and people realised that when you buy any food from any other country, you import water. D'oh. Given that the US is apparently a net exporter of food, seems to me they have plenty of water. All it might mean is that if water becomes scarcer in America, water intensive crops will become more expensive, thus their exports will drop. On a side note, there are already many countries that are way past their own sustainable water use, but they buy food from countries which have excess water, so no ill ever comes of it.
- electromagnetic 16y ago
  Realistically, for the majority of human civilization desalination is a prime (and also becoming a much less-expensive) alternative. Considering Israel and Singapore have already deployed desalinated water at lower costs than regular water in many parts of western countries, it really is a moot point. Again, considering technological advances the prices will drop and once it hits a tipping point, every coastal city in the world will be able to switch as increased usage of the technology will not only mean lower construction costs of existing designs, but also lead to huge increases in research budgets. Since countries are already deploying it, it's really just a matter of time. As mattmanser is pointing out, a lot of our water is exported through food. With desalination saving river water, there's a potential to greatly increase our exportation of water-intensive crops without damaging our waterways.
  - pyre 16y ago
    Desalination of water costs energy. If the energy costs are more than just pumping it out of an aquifer (or other fresh water source), then you're increasing your reliance on energy to get the amount of water that you need. This then increases the amount of reliance that we have on energy sources like oil just to get a basic necessity like water. > With desalination saving river water, there's a potential to greatly increase our exportation of water-intensive crops without damaging our waterways. Well, we still need waste treatment to keep those waterways clean. Let's just hope that someone doesn't come with the 'bright' idea that since we no longer rely on the waterways for drinking water, that we don't need to care about waste treatment.

mattmanser 16y ago

It doesn't really, the peak water argument was a busted flush when people realised there's constant water trade going on at rock bottom prices all around the world. A few years ago it was fashionable to predict water wars. And then they didn't happen and people realised that when you buy any food from any other country, you import water. D'oh. Given that the US is apparently a net exporter of food, seems to me they have plenty of water. All it might mean is that if water becomes scarcer in America, water intensive crops will become more expensive, thus their exports will drop. On a side note, there are already many countries that are way past their own sustainable water use, but they buy food from countries which have excess water, so no ill ever comes of it.

electromagnetic 16y ago
Realistically, for the majority of human civilization desalination is a prime (and also becoming a much less-expensive) alternative. Considering Israel and Singapore have already deployed desalinated water at lower costs than regular water in many parts of western countries, it really is a moot point. Again, considering technological advances the prices will drop and once it hits a tipping point, every coastal city in the world will be able to switch as increased usage of the technology will not only mean lower construction costs of existing designs, but also lead to huge increases in research budgets. Since countries are already deploying it, it's really just a matter of time. As mattmanser is pointing out, a lot of our water is exported through food. With desalination saving river water, there's a potential to greatly increase our exportation of water-intensive crops without damaging our waterways.
- pyre 16y ago
  Desalination of water costs energy. If the energy costs are more than just pumping it out of an aquifer (or other fresh water source), then you're increasing your reliance on energy to get the amount of water that you need. This then increases the amount of reliance that we have on energy sources like oil just to get a basic necessity like water. > With desalination saving river water, there's a potential to greatly increase our exportation of water-intensive crops without damaging our waterways. Well, we still need waste treatment to keep those waterways clean. Let's just hope that someone doesn't come with the 'bright' idea that since we no longer rely on the waterways for drinking water, that we don't need to care about waste treatment.