Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
areas? asks Richards. “When there's a water shortage, the greater
number of people in urban areas versus rural, agriculture ones,
may well outweigh and outvote, and out-infl uence, the decision
makers,” says Richards.
Florida is another populous state straining its water supplies.
One option is to convert land use from agricultural to residential,
says water negotiator Mumme. Florida's agriculture is highly devel-
oped, with lots of water committed to it. “But as its population
grows, it displaces that agriculture. Yet you still have water allocated
and part of the concept is to convert that water to public supply
use.” Given the many demands on water, Mumme says it's “abso-
lutely inescapable” that we learn to use it more frugally. That's slow
to happen because the economics of consumption and develop-
ment strongly favor past practices, and regulating water resources is
not a popular thing, he adds.
BOTTLED DETAILS
Beyond agricultural and municipal water sources and usage, bottled
water—consumed by billions of gallons a year (see Table 7.1)—has
its own issues and controversies. They range from cost to content—
toxins included—to costly containers. There's even a new kid on
the block, Boxed Water Is Better, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based
company that peddles its product in old-fashioned containers in
new-fangled ways. The company claims three-fourths of its box con-
tainer is made from renewable resources; the boxes are shipped
fl at to regional fi llers, and if that's not environmentally friendly
enough, the company gives 20 percent of its profi ts to water relief
and reforestation foundations. (Check them out at http://www
.boxedwaterisbetter.com.)
The Real Cost
Unlike its tap-water cousin, bottled water is anything but cheap.
Even the most fanatic afi cionado of bottled water is quick to
admit that. The lowest-price generic brand likely costs about $1
or so per bottle, while some of the high-end, haute cuisine varieties
can set you back considerably more than that. To get a fi gurative
taste of some of the newest waters out there, check out industry
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