Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
WATER REALITIES
Climates have always been changing. But add in global
warming, and it can create a crisis for the nation's water
supplies.
In addition to global warming and climate change, cul-
prits that squeeze the nation's water supplies include
changes in population location and size; pollution, both
natural and man-made; water and land use and overuse; strict
water-use regulations or lack thereof; antiquated or ineffi cient
and worn-out infrastructure; outdated water treatment plants
that can't handle twenty-fi rst-century poisons; water waste and
what to do with it; and methods of developing land that prevent
natural replenishment of groundwater.
Antiquated infrastructure represents a tremendous threat to
our water supply. As amazing as it seems, more than half of the
wastewater that runs off and away via many cities' metropolitan
wastewater infrastructure actually is potable water that drains or
leaks into the systems and then is carried away forever.
“Fixing” the infrastructure problem will cost hundreds of billions
of dollars.
That leaky faucet at home adds up to plenty of water waste—
one drip could send more than 6,000 gallons of water down the
drain over a year's time.
Even when there seems to be enough water, other issues—
including geological and topographical features such as drainage
basins and continental and subcontinental divides—can lead to
short supplies and even to water rationing.
Not all water pollution is man-made. Arsenic contamination, for
example, can occur naturally in areas with basalt and volcanic rock.
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