Bullet Points: The Intersections of Energy & Water

Posted Wed, 11/04/2009 - 8:32pm

THE INTERCONNECTIONS OF ENERGY AND WATER
Robert Wilkinson (Water Expert, University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Global climate change predictions are getting tighter — activity and effects on much larger systems can be predicted with some degree of accuracy today
  • Associated human health factors related with climate change range dramatically
  • Patterns are essential to consider
    • Dry areas could get drier and wet areas could get wetter
    • Climate fluctuation could occur as onset occurs
  • Concern with energy inputs to water systems
  • Energy intensity of water supply sources in Southern California for instance, is sobering:
    • 38% of freshwater is used for thermoelectric
    • Only 3% is for consumption
  • Vulnerabilities in water infrastructure:
    • Following 9/11, security at water facilities across the US was reexamined and tightened for fear of deliberate contamination by terrorists
    • Fort Tejon, California, water facility experienced, in 1857, what has been called the largest earthquake in recorded history to hit the state. If water facilities experienced these today, with the infrastructure — largely built several decades ago for a different era’s demographic needs — this could have devastating effects on local populations and sustainability
  • Vulnerability warrants a reexamination of transfer and distribution
    • Water efficiency would yield the greatest impact in mitigation of the potential effects from depletion
    • New ways of recapturing water, recycling, and integrated management (e.g., use of grey water)

 

Conversation: 
The Intersections of Energy & Water