Municipal water use in the UShas actually been declining a percent or 2 per year for at least the last 20+ years. Probably attributable to reduced heavy industry (it went to China) and passive water saving devices like low flush toilets, and more apartment dwelling (no lawn to water). . This is creating a financial crisis for water and wastewater providers because they have fixed costs that have to be funded , so they must raise rates. The issue is not water use, at least from surface waters, but inefficient use and lost water. The unused water in the river will eventually wind up in the ocean, so it should be used effectively and returned in better quality than when withdrawn. Actually multiple use, i.e. water reuse and recycling is much better than one pass use or no use at all.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Municipal water use in the UShas actually been declining a percent or 2 per year for at least the last 20+ years. Probably attributable to reduced heavy industry (it went to China) and passive water saving devices like low flush toilets, and more apartment dwelling (no lawn to water). . This is creating a financial crisis for water and wastewater providers because they have fixed costs that have to be funded , so they must raise rates. The issue is not water use, at least from surface waters, but inefficient use and lost water. The unused water in the river will eventually wind up in the ocean, so it should be used effectively and returned in better quality than when withdrawn. Actually multiple use, i.e. water reuse and recycling is much better than one pass use or no use at all.