Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7
CHAPTER
THE COST OF WATER
CASH, COMMODITIES, AND CAPITALISM
When the well runs dry, they know the worth of water.
—Benjamin Franklin
T
he cost of water—whether from the tap, bottle, or irrigation
ditch—is rising and will keep doing so as supplies and availability
shrink. When was the last time you bought a cup of coffee or a bot-
tle of water? Chances are the water cost more than the coffee did.
That 16-ounce bottle of Evian easily could set you back close to two
bucks at the convenience store. (In some states, you'll need to add
another several cents for the plastic bottle deposit.) A simple cup of
joe, on the other hand, could cost $1 or less, no deposit required.
Even a latte at $4 is a bargain compared with a designer bottle of
water, which easily can run $8 and up.
That's a frightening thought, considering that 70 percent of
Earth's surface is water and, theoretically at least, anyone can put
out a pot to collect rainwater free of charge (if it's legal in your
state). These days, though, there's no guarantee on the quality of
what falls from the sky!
As supplies of safe drinking water become scarcer, and as
science and medicine reveal the dangers of additives in water sup-
plies, more people willingly—or unwillingly—pay a premium for
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