I. Water Supply

This set of papers is intended to present to you some details regarding the absolute limits of water in terms of human needs and use. Note that in our terms, it is the FRESH water that matters. Like it, or not, using salt water for agriculture and/or domestic consumption is not desirable.

Desalinization is remarkably expensive, and it consumes a great deal of fossil fuel in those places where it is used extensively.

High TDS (high salt) water can be used for agricultural purposes – for a LIMITED time. Then the soil involved is useless for centuries (or longer.)

Taking a shower in salt water is “unpleasant” to say the least. Soap will not foam, the salt is on your skin when you are finished. At Great Salt Lake, you are invited to shower with the salted water AND THEN, you are permitted to reshower.

- Ambroggi, R. 1980. Water. Scientific American 101- -115. In deference to someone who tried, quite early, to present the coming disaster to the general public. Read it if you wish.

- Abramovitz, J. 1995. Freshwater failures: The crises on five continents. World Watch 8(Oct.):26-35.

- Postel, S.; Daily, G., and P. Ehrich. 1996. Human appropriation of renewable fresh water. Science 271:785-788.

- Postel, S. 1995. Where have all the rivers gone? World Watch 8(3):9-19.

- Gardner, G. 1995. From oasis to mirage: The aquifers that won’t replenish. World Watch 8(3):30-36.

- Glantz, M. 1990. Running on empty. The Sciences 30(6):16-20.

- Gray, P. 1991. The Colorado: A fight over liquid gold. Time (July):19-26.