CHAPTER 3
Water, Water Everywhere . . .
Although every age can boast prophets of doom, the world, with its
increasing population, does seem to be moving towards a crisis : a serious
shortage of water. In all probability this crisis will involve countries
which so far have not felt the pinch ofprolonged drought—at present
the doubtful privilege ofpeoples living in semi—arid and desert regions.
But the need for water is not restricted to special groups or nations; it is
an essential raw material for agriculture, industry and homes alihe, the
very stuf of civilization. Every gallon ofpetrol produced takes about
10 gallons of water. A ton of steel is made at the expense of 4,400
gallons. The gures grow even more alarming when agriculture needs
are considered. A ton ofwheat alone consumes 300,000 gallons of water
during cultivation. B y comparison, a man’s annual consumption of
220 gallons ofdrinhing water seems modest, until one starts to count the
heads. The message is clear: the world needs considerable quantities of
fresh water.
INEVITABLY, as the collective thirst of the world’s population and
attendant agriculture and industry increases, tighter controls will
have to be enforced on the use of water. Already in some areas and
cities the water supplies
metered in order to alleviate the
problem of a threatened shortage. But such measures are little more
than stop—gaps; for lasting benet, efforts must be made to conserve
and increase available supplies. Conservation involves the improved
treatment of industrial waste and sewage, so that water can be re—
cycled many times, the more efcient capture of water running olÎ
the land and the prevention of loss by evaporation—to give but a
few examples. Und0ubted1y, astute and scientic management can
produce considerable savings, and in many cases may completely
remove the danger of a water shortage—a point not always made by
.
7t
Water, Water Everywhere . . .
Although every age can boast prophets of doom, the world, with its
increasing population, does seem to be moving towards a crisis : a serious
shortage of water. In all probability this crisis will involve countries
which so far have not felt the pinch ofprolonged drought—at present
the doubtful privilege ofpeoples living in semi—arid and desert regions.
But the need for water is not restricted to special groups or nations; it is
an essential raw material for agriculture, industry and homes alihe, the
very stuf of civilization. Every gallon ofpetrol produced takes about
10 gallons of water. A ton of steel is made at the expense of 4,400
gallons. The gures grow even more alarming when agriculture needs
are considered. A ton ofwheat alone consumes 300,000 gallons of water
during cultivation. B y comparison, a man’s annual consumption of
220 gallons ofdrinhing water seems modest, until one starts to count the
heads. The message is clear: the world needs considerable quantities of
fresh water.
INEVITABLY, as the collective thirst of the world’s population and
attendant agriculture and industry increases, tighter controls will
have to be enforced on the use of water. Already in some areas and
cities the water supplies
metered in order to alleviate the
problem of a threatened shortage. But such measures are little more
than stop—gaps; for lasting benet, efforts must be made to conserve
and increase available supplies. Conservation involves the improved
treatment of industrial waste and sewage, so that water can be re—
cycled many times, the more efcient capture of water running olÎ
the land and the prevention of loss by evaporation—to give but a
few examples. Und0ubted1y, astute and scientic management can
produce considerable savings, and in many cases may completely
remove the danger of a water shortage—a point not always made by
.
7t