Severe water shortage is one of the most serious long-range environmental problems facing the United States. How can this be? After all, the United States receives, on average, 16 trillion liters (4.2 trillion gallons) of precipitation per day—about
57,000 liters (15,800 gallons) a day for every man, woman, and child. Although this is an
enormous amount of water, the impending shortage is real. Moreover, many other countries
are facing similar problems. There are several reasons for this apparent paradox: (1) rapidly increasing population, especially in arid or semiarid areas, (2) rising demand by
agriculture, industry, and cities, (3) continued inefficient use by many sectors, and (4) unequal
distribution. Even water pollution, the subject of the next chapter, affects water supplies.
Concepts
- 10.1 The Water Cycle
- 10.2 Flooding: Problems and Solutions
- 10.3 Water Shortages: Issues and Solutions
- 10.4 Irrigation: Issues and Solutions
Learning Objectives
- learn where water is found on the planet
- learn how water impacts humans (floods, droughts)
- understand how humans modify water resources (dams, irrigation, drainage, etc.)
