Environmental Consequences

1. Environmental Consequences • Population displacement • Destruction of ecosystems • Deprivation of nutrients downstream • Affects farmland • Rupture • Can destroy habitations along the river downstream

2. Water Conservation • Maintains reasonable prices because… • Depletion of water sources = increased cost: • Wells dug deeper • Water piped greater distances • More polluted water must be cleaned

3. Water Conservation - Agriculture • Water loss - from evaporation, seepage, and runoff • Drip irrigation systems - deliver small amounts of water directly to plant roots as needed

4. Water Conservation - Industry • Instead of discharging used water into a nearby river, industries recycle water • Many cities have incentives to save water

5. Solutions for the Future • When conservation isn’t enough (population growth is explosive): • Desalination • Transporting Fresh Water

6. Desalination • Removes salt from ocean water • Distillation, reverse osmosis • Too expensive for many nations

7. Transporting Water • Water can be transported from other regions in huge bladders. • Ex. Greece, US • Use of ice bergs