Urban Water Cycle: The Urban Infleuence on our Most Valuable Resource

Graphic courtesy of The City of Auckland

One of the most environmentally damaging aspects of urban life is the high percentage of impervious surfaces in and around most metropolitan regions. These conditions (as seen in the nice graphic above) reduce aquifer recharge and contribute to reduced stream flow or, in the case of heavy rains, flooding. The world's fresh water reserves are at an all time low and rapid development coupled with poor water management practices are creating what will become a global water crisis. The price of one barrel(US, petroleum) of oil is floating somewhere around $100.00, whereas the average price of one barrel(US, petroleum) of water is somewhere around $0.25. Wow...! What a bargain considering humans cannot live for much more than a few days without water, but we certainly do not need petroleum to be able to biologically function. I wonder what will happen when tap water is as expensive as oil? Bottled water already is...

For some insight on an urban area trying to address this issue...

For some interesting facts on the price of water in the US...
Post submitted by William Aultman@ EcoUrbanity