Article
Managing Water, Energy, and Food in an Uncertain World
Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education
(2013)
Abstract
Water footprint analyses generally show that we consume very little water directly, even when normal domestic uses such as toilet flushing and lawn watering are considered. Rather we consume the majority of our water indirectly through the food we eat, and most of the rest through the energy we use. The average American, for example, consumes about 2842 cubic meters of water annually. Of this, 84 percent is consumed through food, including 174 cubic meters of “blue” water through irrigation, and 1968 cubic meters of “green” water through rainfed agriculture (Water Footprint Network 2013). Of the remaining 16 percent much is consumed through energy-related activities such as thermoelectric cooling, biofuel production, and water use in fossil fuel production.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2013.03145.x
Citation Information
Christopher L. Lant. "Managing Water, Energy, and Food in an Uncertain World" Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education Vol. 151 Iss. 1 (2013) p. 1 - 3 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christopher_lant/174/