Introduction to Water Resources and Contamination - Investigations in Environmental Geology - page 197

III. Introduction to Water Resources and Contamination 197

TABLE ill.2 Water Required to Produce Selected Foods

My estimated weekly Estimated weekly

Selected Food intake of selected water use in

Items Water Required foods in kg or lbs food production

m 3 /kg gal/lb

Citrus fruits 1 120

Cereals 0.4-3 48-360

Poultry 6

Roots and tubers 11

Grain-fed beef 15

My total water use for food production

(Modified from Table 2 of 2004 Stockholm International Water Institute report, Water—More Nutrition per Drop*)
* http://www.siwi.org/downloads/More_Nutrition_Per_Drop.pdf

b. Complete column 2 in Table III.2 with the equivalent
number of gallons per pound.

6. As human population increases and changes in diet (more
protein) continue, more food will be needed. At the same
time, groundwater depletion due to irrigation threatens the
needed increase in food production. What options would
you suggest for addressing this problem?

c. Estimate your weekly intake of selected foods in pounds
(or kilograms) and record in Table III.2.

d. Determine your weekly "food gallons" or "food liters" of
water per week and record in column 4 (1 m 3 = 1000 liters).

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