There's a big difference between fuel and water. When that 5 gallons of fuel is used to produce 1 gallon of soybean oil the fuel is consumed. It undergoes a ch

There's a big difference between fuel and water. When that 5 gallons of fuel is used to produce 1 gallon of soybean oil the fuel is consumed. It undergoes a chemical transformation that results in it becoming non-fuel. When 1 gallon of water is used to grow 1 almond, only a very tiny amount of the water undergoes a chemical transformation into non-water. The rest (over 99.9% of it) remains as water at the almond farm. It is no longer in easily accessible pipes or storage tanks, instead becoming water vapor in the air or moisture in the soil, but it is still water. It is going to end up eventually in someplace where it will be usable.