미국 지질연구소(USGS)의 새 연구보고서에 따르면, 미국 전역의 물 사용이 지난 45년간의 기록 중 최하를 기록했다.

새 전략은 지난 2010년 동안 하루에 약 3천550만 갤런의 물이 미국 전역 곳곳에서 사용됐다고 밝혔으며, 이는 2005년의 물 사용보다 13% 절감된 기록이다.

Mike Connor 내무부 장관은 “45년 동안 최하의 수치를 기록한 것은 물 사용 기술과 관리에 있어서 향상될 수 있는 긍정적인 트렌드를 보여준다”면서 “미국 인구가 계속해서 증가하면서 사람들은 더욱 물 의식에 대해 깨우치게 되고, 한정적인 담수자원을 유지하기 위해 노력하고 있다”고 말했다.

 

 

 

According to a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report, water use across the country has reached its lowest recorded level in nearly 45 years. New statistics indicate that about 355 billion gallons of water per day (BGD) were withdrawn for use in the entire U.S. during 2010 -- a 13-percent reduction of water use from 2005 when about 410 BGD were withdrawn and the lowest level since before 1970.

 

"Reaching this 45-year low shows the positive trends in conservation that stem from improvements in water-use technologies and management," said Mike Connor, deputy secretary of the Interior. "Even as the U.S. population continues to grow, people are learning to be more water conscious and do their part to help sustain the limited freshwater resources in the country."

 

In 2010, more than 50 percent of the total U.S. withdrawals were accounted for by 12 states in order of withdrawal amounts: California, Texas, Idaho, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, New York, Alabama, and Ohio.

 

California accounted for 11 percent of the total withdrawals for all categories and 10 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all categories nationwide. Texas accounted for about 7 percent of total withdrawals for all categories, predominantly for thermoelectric power, irrigation and public supply. Florida had the largest saline withdrawals, accounting for 18 percent of the total in the country, mostly saline surface-water withdrawals for thermoelectric power. Oklahoma and Texas accounted for about 70 percent of the total saline groundwater withdrawals in the nation, mostly for mining.

 

Water withdrawn for thermoelectric power was the largest use nationally, with the other leading uses being irrigation, public supply and self-supplied industrial water, respectively. Withdrawals declined in each of these categories. Collectively, all of these uses represented 94 percent of total withdrawals from 2005-2010.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 11월 11일]