Page 425 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

Saudi
Arabia

5000

United
States
4000 UAE

Desalination capacity (thousands of cubic meters per day) 3000 Spain Netherlands Israel Iran Kazakhstan South Japan Pacific

Korea
UK
Italy
Russia
2000
Ocean
Mexico
Netherlands
Libya
Kong
Algeria
Oman
Antilles
Egypt
Iraq Qatar India Hong Taiwan
1000 Kuwait Bahrain Singapore
Indonesia
Atlantic Indian
Chile Ocean Ocean Australia
South Africa
0
Figure 15.19 Much of the world’s desalinization occurs in arid nations with few fresh water
resources and little access to reliable supplies of energy. In the United States, both seawater and saline
groundwater are desalinated to produce fresh water. Only nations with a desalination capacity of 70,000 cubic m per day or
more are shown. Data from Pacific Institute, The world’s water, 2009.

In addition, selective breeding (p. 70) and genetic modifi- Industry and municipalities can take water-saving steps
cation (pp. 279–286) can produce crop varieties that produce as well. Manufacturers are shifting to processes that use less
high yields with less water. water and in doing so are reducing their costs. Las Vegas
is one of many cities that are recycling treated municipal
wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses. Governments
We can lower residential and industrial in Arizona and in England are capturing excess runoff and
water use pumping it into aquifers. Finding and patching leaks in
pipes has saved some cities and companies large amounts
In our households, we can reduce water use by installing of water—and money. Boston and its suburbs reduced water
low-flow faucets, showerheads, washing machines, and toi- demand by 31% over 17 years by patching leaks, retrofit-
lets. Automatic dishwashers, studies show, use less water ting homes with efficient plumbing, auditing industry, and
than does washing dishes by hand. Catching rain runoff from promoting conservation to the public. This program enabled
your roof in a barrel—rainwater harvesting—will reduce Massachusetts to avoid an unpopular $500 million river
the amount you need to use from the hose. And if your city diversion scheme.
allows it, you can use gray water—the wastewater from
showers and sinks—to water your yard. Better yet, you can
replace a water-intensive lawn with native plants adapted Market-based approaches to water
to your region’s natural precipitation patterns. Xeriscaping, conservation are being debated
landscaping using plants adapted to arid conditions, has
become popular in the U.S. Southwest (Figure 15.20). Each Economists who want to use market-based strategies to
of us can cut our daily water use dozens, hundreds, or even achieve sustainable water use have suggested ending gov-
thousands of gallons a day by reexamining aspects of our ernment subsidies of inefficient practices and instead letting
424 daily lives. water become a commodity whose price reflects the true costs

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