Gray Water System
As the world's population continues to grow, there will be an ever greater need for potable or purified water. Most people are completely unaware of just how big the problem of world water consumption is because they never think past turning on their sink or sprinkler system. Take into consideration the demands on the water supply by less obvious factors such as livestock and farming. There is an economy of scale: those massive agricultural irrigation systems that suck water out of rivers, lakes, streams and ponds consume hefty amounts of water that cannot then be used for any other purpose. Farms, cities, industry and the many other levels of human consumption place a great deal of pressure on Mother Nature. Globalization has actually increased the demand for water and has strained many regionally dry areas into even worse water deficits. For example, "industries and communities located in cold regions often face different challenges in treatment of wastewater from those of warmer regions." (Gao, Smith, & Sego) Unfortunately, the world has yet to create an economical or cost effective method for converting the vast amounts of ocean and sea water into useable drinking water.
That being said, the world's supply of fresh water that is salt free, pollution free or not in the form of ice has to be considered a finite material that is more in line with commodities such as oil or coal. When we run out of fresh water we will be hard pressed to get more. That realization brings to light the fact that we will have to recycle the water we use. "Production of drinking water and wastewater treatment are two essential steps of the water cycle." (Guillaume, Lorain, Azouni, & Aurelle) Recycled water can fill a large need if it is properly captured, cleaned and then appropriately reused. The first step is to capture the various sources of sullage. Gray water systems do just that -- capture water that to be reused.
We have a few viable options to purify and recondition water similar to Mother Nature. "Suspended and dissolved impurities present in naturally occurring...
One potential solution for farmers would be to switch to a subsurface drip irrigation system that could permanently cut farmers' water use by 25 to 50%. This would alleviate some of the need for conservation and free up more state water reserves for urban locations during times of regional drought. ("University of Arizona studies underground irrigation,"2005, U.S. Water News Online) Arizona farmers are resistant to drip irrigation, however, and prefer
Water Scarcity The World Water Council estimates that approximately 1.1 billion people, which translates to one-sixth of the world population, lacks access to safe drinking water. Another 2.6 billion lack access to proper sanitation facilities (World Water Council, n.d.). It is estimated that by 2025, almost 3 billion people will be finding it almost impossible to meet their basic water needs (Concern Worldwide, 2012). This text discusses the potential causes of
While these solutions are expensive, and are certainly years away, the City of Lubbock should begin studies now, to ensure a safe and secure water supply for the future. In addition, the city should look at tougher restrictions for new building and landscaping as alternate ways to save water and ensure a consistent water supply for the future. Basing a block billing system on water usage in the winter
As a consequence, social unrest can then be avoided only by subsidies. The town is socially and entinancially heavily burdened. Another problem is that the spontaneous rainwater flow, mixed with wastewater in a heavy downpour, pollutes the river or lake once again and provides more problems for gaining potable water. Scenario 3: As a result of climatic and geological conditions there is little potable water available; the resources are quickly
Rachel Carson, she asserts that water is our most precious natural resource and goes on to state that "most of the earth's abundant water is not usable for agriculture, industry, or human consumption because of its heavy load of sea salts" (1) and therefore "in the midst of this plenty we are in want" (1). Okay, so let's examine this particular argument; first she says that the earth's abundant water
Cambrian System of the Grand Canyon The purpose of this work is to research and examine the relevant information available in relation to the Cambrian System of the Grand Canyon. Just above the break in the historical record of rocks which is referred to as "the unconformity" in the Grand Canyon noticed in 1869 by John Wesley Powell while on his pioneer voyage, are the Cambrian Tapeats Sandstone. The Great Uncomformity is
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