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But not because of hydroelectric. 0% of the water is "consumed" by hydropower, even if a huge percentage of the water passes through its turbines. The water is
by throwaway09223 4y ago
But not because of hydroelectric. 0% of the water is "consumed" by hydropower, even if a huge percentage of the water passes through its turbines.
The water is siphoned off elsewhere for irrigation.
- tadfisher 4y agoThe primary purpose of some dams is for water control, whether to control flooding, provide for irrigation and consumption, or both. You cannot divorce the power station from the reservoir in judging a particular hydro dam's environmental impact, because generating power is only one purpose of the dam. The Hoover with Lake Mead is certainly, objectively, and effectively of this dual purpose.
- throwaway09223 4y agoYes, but none of that consumes water. In fact, the opposite is true: The dam makes more water available for consumption throughout the year.
- moloch-hai 4y agoMaintaining the reservoir consumes water, because it exposes thousands of times as much surface area for evaporation vs. a narrow river.