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> One almond takes about 4 liters of water to produce How long does it take for that water to re-enter the ecosystem in a usable way? Water isn't just destroye

> One almond takes about 4 liters of water to produce How long does it take for that water to re-enter the ecosystem in a usable way? Water isn't just destroyed, yeah? Water planning is definitely worthwhile, but seems there are a few other variables in play.

bzbarsky 9y ago
> How long does it take for that water to re-enter the ecosystem in a usable way? It depends on where you got the water from. If you got it from a river or lake, probably "until the next time it rains". If you got it from an aquifer, then it depends on how long it takes water to filter down into the aquifer, assuming it can do so at all. > Water isn't just destroyed, yeah? In the case of aquifers it actually can be, effectively. Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquifer#Human_dependence_on_groundwater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquifer#Human_dependence_on_gr... second paragraph: Fresh-water aquifers, especially those with limited recharge by snow or rain, also known as meteoric water, can be over-exploited and depending on the local hydrogeology, may draw in non-potable water or saltwater intrusion from hydraulically connected aquifers or surface water bodies. This can be a serious problem, especially in coastal areas and other areas where aquifer pumping is excessive. In some areas, the ground water can become contaminated by arsenic and other mineral poisons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer#Aquifer_water_balance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer#Aquifer_water... is a worthwhile read with specific numbers for a specific aquifer that illustrates some of the possible problems. All of which is to say that in some places (and in particular in much of the Western US) water may closer to a non-renewable resource than a renewable one if it comes from an aquifer. At least on years-to-decades timescales.
- mcguire 9y ago
  An interesting case is the state of Georgia, which periodically makes nose about disputing its boundaries with Alabama and Tennessee, in order to move the boundary far enough to access the water of the Tennessee River. It has been many years since the lakes and resovoirs in northern Georgia have been "full" and I believe the Atlanta metropolitan area users more water normally than it recovers from rain.
mcguire 9y ago
Most is lost to evaporation, which rains out in a relatively short time somewhere else. The problem is that the water used frequently comes from either groundwater, leaving users downstream with a deficit, or deep aquifers, which take a very long time to recharge.
jlebrech 9y ago
1KG of beef uses 3X as much.
- hanoz 9y ago
  As one almond?
  - jlebrech 9y ago
    per kg

bzbarsky 9y ago

> How long does it take for that water to re-enter the ecosystem in a usable way? It depends on where you got the water from. If you got it from a river or lake, probably "until the next time it rains". If you got it from an aquifer, then it depends on how long it takes water to filter down into the aquifer, assuming it can do so at all. > Water isn't just destroyed, yeah? In the case of aquifers it actually can be, effectively. Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquifer#Human_dependence_on_groundwater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquifer#Human_dependence_on_gr... second paragraph: Fresh-water aquifers, especially those with limited recharge by snow or rain, also known as meteoric water, can be over-exploited and depending on the local hydrogeology, may draw in non-potable water or saltwater intrusion from hydraulically connected aquifers or surface water bodies. This can be a serious problem, especially in coastal areas and other areas where aquifer pumping is excessive. In some areas, the ground water can become contaminated by arsenic and other mineral poisons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer#Aquifer_water_balance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer#Aquifer_water... is a worthwhile read with specific numbers for a specific aquifer that illustrates some of the possible problems. All of which is to say that in some places (and in particular in much of the Western US) water may closer to a non-renewable resource than a renewable one if it comes from an aquifer. At least on years-to-decades timescales.

mcguire 9y ago
An interesting case is the state of Georgia, which periodically makes nose about disputing its boundaries with Alabama and Tennessee, in order to move the boundary far enough to access the water of the Tennessee River. It has been many years since the lakes and resovoirs in northern Georgia have been "full" and I believe the Atlanta metropolitan area users more water normally than it recovers from rain.

mcguire 9y ago

Most is lost to evaporation, which rains out in a relatively short time somewhere else. The problem is that the water used frequently comes from either groundwater, leaving users downstream with a deficit, or deep aquifers, which take a very long time to recharge.

jlebrech 9y ago

1KG of beef uses 3X as much.

hanoz 9y ago
As one almond?
- jlebrech 9y ago
  per kg