How do we use our water GPH 111

How do we use our water? GPH 111

How do we use our water? • Residential – 1, 020, 000 acre feet • Agriculture – 850, 000 acre feet* • Industry – 138, 000 acre feet • Golf Courses – 103, 500 acre feet • Governmental – ~92, 000 acre feet • Construction – 92, 000 acre feet At least, as best as I can piece it together… *Known amount?

Residential Uses… Uses roughly 44% of water available in the Phoenix AMA

Agricultural Uses… Dropping 11, 500 acre feet a year… because 1) Urbanization of agricultural lands* 2) 2) the prohibition on the irrigation of new lands 3) 3) conservation efforts by farmers Uses ~37% of water available in the AMA *there’s a catch

Agricultural Uses… $6 to 7 billion a year industry in the state of Arizona US Water News

Agricultural Uses… Utilizes 37% of water available for use in the Phoenix AMA Water-intensive crops. Crop Typical water requirement (in pounds) per 1 pound of crop Cotton 3, 500 – 14, 500 Rice 1, 500 – 2, 500 Sugar Cane 750 – 1, 500 Soya 1, 000 Wheat 450 Potatoes 250 And alfalfa…

Industry Uses… Uses roughly 6% of water available in the Phoenix AMA How much money does industry make?

Golf Course Uses… Uses roughly 4. 5% of water available in the Phoenix AMA Generates $3. 4 billion annually in Arizona

Governmental Uses… Uses roughly ~4% of water available in the Phoenix AMA Schools, Parks, Governmental Buildings, Tempe Town Lake…

Construction Uses… Construction site Separation of clast sizes Dust control and washing Uses roughly 4% of water available in the Phoenix AMA Greater than $2. 2 billion annually, likely closer to $7 billion

Interesting Water Use Statistics: • Americans use 2, 000 gallons a day • Some people use 10 gallons a day • At home, we use 200 gallons a day • A watered lawn uses 36, 500 gallons • 26 gallons to grow each ear of corn • 3, 500 gallons to produce one pound of beef • 1, 400 gallons to produce a single fast food meal

Problems with Our Water Supply: • 520 million cubic yards of water are mined from 1) Unsustainable groundwater supplies • 2) Surface and ground water contamination • • • Arizona aquifers every year, double the recharge rate 90 billion gallons of water (Leachate) seep from 18, 500 landfills each year in the US Lake Mead and Powell at low levels, CAP will take the first hit Phoenix is growing rapidly: both residential and industrial growth requires more water Dams and sediment, lose ability to store water and clog waterways over time 3) Drought conditions 4) Continued growth 5) Infrastructure issues

Long Term Problems with Our Water Supply: Lake Powell Lake Mead

Between now and the Meeting!!! • Break the class into groups: Residents, Farmers, Industry, Construction, Government, Golf Course Industry • Research your “Group” over the next two weeks • Write a TWO page paper (bibliography) • Page 1 – defend your “group’s” water use • Page 2 - how YOU (as a member of your group) propose to solve our 251, 000 acre feet overdraft for PHOENIX Your Goal: 100% Renewable Water Supply for Phoenix

What’s needed for the Meeting!!! • WATER LAB 2 RESPONSIBILITY: Come to class well dressed (worth 1/2 of the lab grade) on the Nov. 14 th, 15 th, or 16 th (your lab time) prepared to discuss your group’s point of view (worth the other 1/2 of the lab grade) (NOT A FORMAL PRESENTATION). • This is the same date your papers are due. • Ask me about extra credit! Class Goal: 100% Renewable Water Supply for Phoenix

Things to Know: (for the exam) • Who are the major water users in the Phoenix AMA by rank of use • The 5 problems with our water supply? Help: Chapter 6