By. George P. Nassos
We have been reading about global warming, now known as climate change, for over 20 years, justifiably because the atmosphere is warming more every year, and we’re experiencing many of the negative impacts. A good example is the recent heat dome affecting many parts of the world like France and Spain which experienced the highest temperatures recorded in its history. Climate change is also responsible for the many droughts in the world, some of which lead to wildfires.
Another major environmental issue is the continuing decline in quality and quantity of freshwater worldwide. Of all the water on this earth, only 3% is freshwater but only 0.5% is available in lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater. The rest of the freshwater is in glaciers, icecaps and underground aquifers. Of the available freshwater, agriculture consumes about 60% of it and industry consumes about 30%, leaving only 10% of the 0.5% for human consumption. Water pollution represents the largest contributor to water insecurity globally. This consists of untreated sewage, agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers, and industrial waste contaminating rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources.
The installation of data centers which are used to fuel artificial intelligence around the U.S. and the rest of the world is also contributing to the decline in available water. Data centers consume a large quantity of energy as well as water. Energy is needed to operate the computers while water is used for the required energy production but more so for cooling the data centers. Since data centers require large quantities of land, many of them are being installed in low density populated areas which may already be drought stricken along with some water shortages. Arizona is expected to operate about 160 data centers within a few years, and they will have a major impact on the already dwindled water supply from the Colorado River which obtains its water from Lake Mead. This reservoir is currently at its lowest level in history and will have to wait until next spring to obtain a new supply from the melting Rocky Mountains.
We must make every effort possible to reduce the waste of water whenever and wherever we can. Some examples are taking shorter showers, turning off the water when brushing teeth, and avoiding washing your own car. Another example is to avoid bottled water. In some countries, bottled water is necessary because their tap water may be contaminated. However, here in the U.S. there is no need for bottled water for at least these three reasons. Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) while tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has more stringent standards than the FDA. In general, tap water is cleaner than bottled water. In fact, much of the bottled water today is obtained from tap water but now it can dissolve some plasticizer from the plastic bottle. Producing a plastic bottle requires almost twice the bottle volume of water just to produce the plastic bottle which has only about 10% probability of being recycled. So, when you drink a 12-ounce bottle of water, you are really consuming about 30-34 ounces of water. The third reason is cost. Depending on whether you buy the bottled water at a grocery store or at a sporting event, you will pay about 300 to 3000 times the cost of tap water.
To minimize the waste of water, another recommendation is to avoid watering lawns, something I haven’t done in well over 15 years. The best explanation can be obtained by reading a conversation between God and St. Francis. Although this is a synthesized discussion, there is plenty of truth to be learned.
A conversation in heaven between God and St. Francis.
God: St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the USA? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
St. Francis: It’s the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers “weeds” and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
God: Grass? But it’s so boring. It’s not colorful. It doesn’t attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It’s temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
St. Francis: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
God: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
St. Francis: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week.
God: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
St. Francis: Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
God: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
St. Francis: No, sir — just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
God: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
St. Francis: Yes, sir.