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WELCOME to the 21 ST CENTURY!. 50% of the water humans use domestically comes from ground water; the other 50% comes from surface water, primarily streams and rivers. ~90% of agricultural and industrial water comes from streams and rivers There is plenty of water, but Nobody uses ice!.
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50% of the water humans use domestically comes from ground water; the other 50% comes from surface water, primarily streams and rivers ~90% of agricultural and industrial water comes from streams and rivers There is plenty of water, but Nobody uses ice!
WATER AVAILABILITY AND USE, BY CONTINENT(all applications, including irrigation and industry) CONTINENT WATER AVAILABLE WATER WITHDRAWN (m3/person/yr) (m3/person/yr) North/Central 16,000 1,700 11% America Oceania 76,000900 1 Europe 4,700725 15 Asia 3,400 52515 South America 35,000 475 1 Africa 6,500 240 4 Globally, irrigation accounts for 71%; in the USA, ~80%
DIRECT HUMAN WATER CONSUMPTION: At 4 liters/person/day, the world’s human population (6.8 billion) requires 100,000,000,000 m3/yr. Annual precipitation (rain, snow) just over over the State of Pennsylvania is 10 times that!!
DIRECT HUMAN WATER CONSUMPTION: At 4 liters/person/day, the world’s human population (6.8 billion) requires 100,000,000,000 m3/yr. There is a lot of water Annual precipitation (rain, snow) just over the State of Pennsylvania is 10 times that!!
DIRECT HUMAN WATER CONSUMPTION: At 4 liters/person/day, the world’s human population (6.8 billion) requires 100,000,000,000 m3/yr. But it isn’t uniformly distributed Annual precipitation (rain, snow) just over over the State of Pennsylvania is 10 times that!!
DIRECT HUMAN WATER CONSUMPTION: At 4 liters/person/day, the world’s human population (6.8 billion) requires 100,000,000,000 m3/yr. Nor is it efficiently used……… Annual precipitation (rain, snow) just over over the State of Pennsylvania is 10 times that!!
Trends in Global Population, Diet, Energy: • The global human population is growing • The per capita water demand is growing faster than the population: # cal/person/day is rising we are all eating higher on the food chain • Energy use/person/day is also growing faster than the population • These trends will continue – we are “losing” • We are moving rapidly away from “sustainability”
THERE IS A LOT OF WATER ON EARTH: 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules of H2O or 4 x 1049 molecules (except for deep ground water and glacier ice, the world’s water mixes in 2,000 years) Water that has passed through any one human being = 2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules of water or 2 x 1030 molecules That means that one molecule out of 20,000,000,000,000,000,000, or 219 molecules, has passed through Moses.
A 6-ounce glass of water contains 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1025 molecules of H2O • 40,000 molecules of water in the glass of water have passed through Moses • CONCLUSIONS: • 1. Molecules are very small, and there are a lot of them • The wisdom of the ages resides in each glass of water • All water is recycled
A 6-ounce glass of water contains 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1025 molecules of H2O • 40,000 molecules of water in the glass of water have passed through Moses • CONCLUSIONS: • 1. Molecules are very small, and there are a lot of them • The wisdom of the ages resides in each glass of water • All water is recycled Moses?
Solutions: New supply: traditional sourcesinterbasin transfers require more energy desalination Reduced demand (RRR): conservation improved exploitation save energy deliberate re-use of sewage Other: genetic engineering of food sources?
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (site of this evening’s reception)
Hidden River by Stacy Levy On permanent exhibit at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
Reading Pottstown Schuylkill River Phoenixville Norristown Hidden River by Stacy Levy On permanent exhibit at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center Philadelphia The Ocean
Is there a “Solution”? • Bottom line: There is enough water • There may not be “enough” energy (energy is conserved) • Any solution must be an international solution, and will involve transfer of other resources besides water: energy, knowledge, $$, food, good will