Via Circle of Blue, an interesting article examining the water cycle of the tar sands and noting in particular that the price of oil may be defined, and, in some cases probably already is, by the actual price or the cost of managing water: The Suncor refinery in Edmonton, Alberta produces 135,000 barrels per day […]
Read more »Via Aquadoc and AWWA.org, an interesting paper by Frederick Bloetscher on the coming power struggle for water. As the abstract notes: Water has much competition for its use. Many basins are overtaxed, and demands continue to increase. Water supplies can become more reliable and sustainable through comprehensive planning that includes using alternative water sources and […]
Read more »Via Lightbucket, a look at desalination’s energy impact: Very large scale desalination projects may be needed to meet the world’s future fresh water needs. There’s certainly enough seawater, but how much energy does it take? In many areas, fresh water is getting used up faster than it’s being replenished, and demand for water is growing. […]
Read more »Via Earth and Industry, a report on the impact that fracking is having upon unallocated water markets in Colorado: In what is starting out to be a very dry 2012 in Colorado—98% of Colorado is already in a drought—energy companies are outbidding farmers for unallocated water at the state’s water auctions. The average price for […]
Read more »Via The Atlantic, a brief look at the watergy nexus: Every time you turn on your kitchen sink or flush your toilet, your electricity meter should be running. And every time your electricity meter is moving, imagine a faucet somewhere pouring out water at full blast. Water and electricity – two resources we […]
Read more »Via Satellite O’er The Desert, an interesting look at How Saudi Aramco takes seawater from the coast, treats it, transports it, and injects it into the ground, thus helping to force the oil to the surface: Synopsis: A poignant little film about someone taking a lot of precious seawater, piping it miles into a parched […]
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