Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Water Shortages on Tap
Water woes across the country remain the norm, despite persis-
tent on-again, off-again spotty wet and extreme weather. At least
36 states expect some kind of water shortage to continue through
2013 under normal climate conditions, according to a 2003 report
from the U.S. General Accounting Offi ce.
6
Factor in drought condi-
tions that already affect areas of the United States, and that number
climbs to 46 states!
The National Climatic Data Center reported that as of the end
of August 2010, nearly 10 percent of the contiguous United States
was affected by drought. The same report also said that
nationally, summer 2010 was the fourth-warmest on record,
with 10 Eastern states experiencing record warm summers—
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
7
Some other grim numbers to think about include:
The temperature-related national energy demand for summer
2010 was the highest in 116 years. Keep in mind that energy is
the single-largest daily consumer of water in the United States.
8
The Great Lakes is the largest freshwater lake system in
the world and holds one-fifth of Earth's freshwater. Yet Lake
Superior, the largest lake, hit record lows in August 2007.
9
The lake remained 13 inches below its average level as of
August 2010, despite above-average precipitation for that
month.
10
The United States had its fifth-driest December to February
on record (2008-2009), with Texas recording its driest win-
ter ever. Twelve states in the southern plains, Southeast, and
Northeast had at least their tenth-driest January to February
since 1895, according to the National Climatic Data Center.
11
Alaskans worry about water availability in some smaller cit-
ies because the rivers freeze above ground, making their water
inaccessible for major portions of the year. Therefore, they have
to store water during short spring and summer periods, which
presents a number of water-quality issues, according to Sandia's
Hightower.
