53
The spatial and temporal scale of these types of water systems is primarily driven
by human decision-making processes and conflicting demands on limited supplies
of available water. These conflicts are often rooted in, quantified by, and sometimes
resolved by infrastructure and economic considerations that are incorporated into
models (see Chap. 15). Such systems often depend on assumptions of what the
hydrologic cycle has been versus what it is projected to be.
The decision-making process will often suggest an important metric that may be
simple such as the volume of production or consumption, or a more complex metric
such as the efficiency of use, or intensity of water demand, or a metric of a side
effect such as the greenhouse gas emissions related to the water flows. The decisionmaking process will usually suggest a timescale for the parameter. Metrics will be
explored in depth in Chap. 13.
Food and energy are often considered when developing models of water systems.
Traditionally, the consideration is where food and energy are two types of demands
on water.
Food demand on water includes the following:
• Agricultural production uses of water such as crop irrigation, water for animals,
and water for farming practices.
• Impacts of runoff from agricultural fields and production.
• Production of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers.
• Food processing water use.
• Changes in land use and ecosystem functioning from agricultural practices
impacting water flows.
Energy demand on water includes the following:
• Production processes such as hydroelectric power, oil and gas drilling (especially
hydraulic fracturing), and irrigation of biomass crops.
• Energy transformation processes such as thermoelectric power plant cooling systems and biofuels production.
• Changes in land use and ecosystem functioning from energy production such as
the creation of reservoirs, adding heat to rivers with water used for cooling.
• Impacts on the water cycle, such as through the release of greenhouse gases.
Other demands on water are also considered, such as demographics and human
consumption, ecosystems, industrial uses, and non-consumption uses for human
recreation. There is also a movement to ensure that rivers have a right to water
as well.
Thoughtful approaches to water systems also recognize the land and energy
needs of water, including the following:
• Land required for water capture and storage diverted from agricultural use.
• Energy use to pumping groundwater, transport and distribute water.
• Energy use to treat water before and after use and for the heating and cooling of
water.
2 Systems Science
The spatial and temporal scale of these types of water systems is primarily driven
by human decision-making processes and conflicting demands on limited supplies
of available water. These conflicts are often rooted in, quantified by, and sometimes
resolved by infrastructure and economic considerations that are incorporated into
models (see Chap. 15). Such systems often depend on assumptions of what the
hydrologic cycle has been versus what it is projected to be.
The decision-making process will often suggest an important metric that may be
simple such as the volume of production or consumption, or a more complex metric
such as the efficiency of use, or intensity of water demand, or a metric of a side
effect such as the greenhouse gas emissions related to the water flows. The decisionmaking process will usually suggest a timescale for the parameter. Metrics will be
explored in depth in Chap. 13.
Food and energy are often considered when developing models of water systems.
Traditionally, the consideration is where food and energy are two types of demands
on water.
Food demand on water includes the following:
• Agricultural production uses of water such as crop irrigation, water for animals,
and water for farming practices.
• Impacts of runoff from agricultural fields and production.
• Production of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers.
• Food processing water use.
• Changes in land use and ecosystem functioning from agricultural practices
impacting water flows.
Energy demand on water includes the following:
• Production processes such as hydroelectric power, oil and gas drilling (especially
hydraulic fracturing), and irrigation of biomass crops.
• Energy transformation processes such as thermoelectric power plant cooling systems and biofuels production.
• Changes in land use and ecosystem functioning from energy production such as
the creation of reservoirs, adding heat to rivers with water used for cooling.
• Impacts on the water cycle, such as through the release of greenhouse gases.
Other demands on water are also considered, such as demographics and human
consumption, ecosystems, industrial uses, and non-consumption uses for human
recreation. There is also a movement to ensure that rivers have a right to water
as well.
Thoughtful approaches to water systems also recognize the land and energy
needs of water, including the following:
• Land required for water capture and storage diverted from agricultural use.
• Energy use to pumping groundwater, transport and distribute water.
• Energy use to treat water before and after use and for the heating and cooling of
water.
2 Systems Science