Tag archives for water footprint
The Perils of Ignoring the Water-Energy Nexus
Posted by Sandra Postel of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative in Water Currents on January 31, 2013 
As we pump gasoline into our automobiles, we watch the register ring up dollars, but we don’t see the water cost: some 13 gallons for every gallon of fuel. It’s one of the most inconvenient truths of modern times that it takes increasing amounts of finite water to supply energy and increasing amounts of climate-disrupting…
Visualizing Water
Posted by Brian Richter of The Nature Conservancy and University of Virginia in Water Currents on September 25, 2012 
By Brian Richter with Jason Pearson of TRUTHstudio Help Us Communicate the Water Story of our Planet! In a poll taken last year, The Nature Conservancy found that 77% of Americans have absolutely no idea where their water comes from. This lack of understanding about how water is delivered to our homes is symptomatic of broader water…
Humanity’s Growing Impact on the World’s Freshwater
Posted by Sandra Postel of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative in Water Currents on February 17, 2012 
As the human population has climbed past seven billion, and the consumption per person of everything from burgers to blue jeans has risen inexorably, the finiteness of Earth’s freshwater is becoming ever more apparent. It takes water to make everything, and the explosion of demand for all manner of products is draining rivers, shrinking…
Water for Chocolate – A Valentine’s Day Quiz
Posted by Sandra Postel of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative in Water Currents on February 14, 2012 
It’s dark, sweet, and a Valentine’s treat. Since today’s the big day we decided to tweet On a question about chocolate… So straighten up in your seat. Which river basins grow the cocoa beans to make those scrumptious little things? I’ll offer a tiny hint, so you don’t have to cheat: One of them contains…
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Next time the person sitting across the table from me jokes about my tendency to finish every last bite, I will be able to defend my gut reaction to not waste food. (After I’m finished chewing, of course.) Recent studies now quantify the water and energy costs of discarded and spoiled produce, grains, meat, and…
American Lifestyle Costs Nearly 2000 Gallons of Water Each Day
Posted by Sandra Postel of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative in Water Currents on August 18, 2010 
By now, most of us probably turn off the tap while brushing our teeth. If we’ve lived through a drought maybe we’ve shaved a couple minutes off our showers, and even ripped out some thirsty turf grass and planted drought-tolerant shrubs. What more can we do to conserve water? As it turns out, quite a…
