According to the United States Geological Survey, the United States uses more than 320 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d). Specifically, freshwater use is about 281 Bgal/d while saline water use is about 41 Bgal/d. Freshwater and saline water refers to both surface and underground water. Common sources of this water include; rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Additionally, various states differ in terms of how they use water. For instance, states such as Texas, California, Idaho, Colorado, Florida, New York, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska and Montana account for more than 50 percent of total water withdrawals in the United. Apart from the water being used for domestic purposes, a lot of it is used in irrigation projects, in thermoelectric plants, and various industrial processes.
To focus on a single state for instance, Arizona’s main source of water is the Colorado River. Other relatively smaller rivers are Verde and Salt rivers (PBS NewsHour, 2019). These rivers are crucial in supplying water to Phoenix City, which is popularly referred to as Desert City. Phoenix City is mainly dry, and if Colorado River was to dry up, life in the city would not be sustainable. Therefore, just like many other States in the U.S, several measures have been created to conserve water in Phoenix.
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Firstly, authorities in Phoenix have built aquifers-underground water storage systems to preserve water for posterity. Most of the water which is used in the city is recycled and reused. Used water is directed towards a nuclear water power treatment plant before it is either used or directed to the aquifers. The effects of climate change currently are noticeable and if conservation efforts are not made, then life into the future may be unbearable (Bozeman Science, 2015). For example, the water levels in the Colorado River as well as Lake Mead have dropped, and it is the sole reason the state of Arizona is trying to use water sparingly.
References
Bozeman Science. (2015). “Environmental Science.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE9KTG9PFho&list=PLllVwaZQkS2qK4Z6xBVDRak8an1-kqsgm
PBS NewsHour. (2019). “Amid drought, Phoenix plans for a future with less water.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHcI-IvsC2U
United States Geological Survey. “Total Water Use in the United States.” https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/total-water-use-united-states?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
