GEO 106 Lecture 19: 19 Desire for Water and Consequences
Document Summary
Urbanization (more concrete and asphalt driveways we have, more trees are dying. Industrial agriculture (cows in every other movie theatre seat example) On the planet 1. 5 billion people depend on groundwater for drinking water. Usa 50% of pop dependent on groundwater. Canada about 33% dependent on ground water. Overpumping cost power and technology, commons attitude, lack of visibility. Problem of lack of visibility: more costly over time, water more contaminated with minerals. Oil production water is pumped into oil reserves to increase pressure therefore, production. About 204 billion liters every year: water left behind is contaminated. Separation process oil from sand requires very large amounts of water. New process will take 9 barrels of water to produce 1 barrel of oil. Natural gas is trapped in coal beds and held there by water pressure. Add this to severe drought in the last few years.