Invisible water, the hidden virtual water market | Seth Darling | TEDxNaperville

Summary

The transcript discusses 'virtual water,' the hidden water used in everyday goods, from food to manufactured products. It explains how vast amounts of water are required for production and the global movement of water resources through trade. As water demand rises and supply diminishes, future shortages and conflicts are likely. The speaker stresses the importance of recognizing water's value, comparing its future significance to oil, and advocates for the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) to manage water sustainably.

Takeaways

• 💧 Water is virtually everywhere, even hidden in everyday items like food and products.
• 🥛 It takes 683 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of milk, demonstrating the massive water footprint of food production.
• 🍇 A single grape requires 1/3 gallon of water, a walnut takes about 5 gallons, and a hamburger demands over 600 gallons of water.
• 🚗 The concept of 'virtual water' highlights how products like cars, steel, and phones represent huge amounts of water used in their creation.
• 🌍 Countries with dry climates, such as Saudi Arabia, import virtual water through goods like alfalfa from wetter regions like South America.
• 🔵 Water can be categorized as blue (freshwater), green (rainwater in soil), or grey (polluted water), with differing levels of sustainability.
• 🌊 The majority of Earth's water is salty ocean water, while only 3% is freshwater, with much of that trapped in ice caps or deep underground.
• 🔥 Climate change is affecting freshwater sources through glacier melt, droughts, and the pollution of rivers and lakes, worsening the water crisis.
• 📉 By 2050, global water demand is projected to increase by 55%, leading to potential conflicts over water resources similar to oil conflicts in the 20th century.
• ♻️ To address the water crisis, people need to reduce their virtual water consumption, reuse water when possible, and invest in advanced water recycling technologies.

Q & A

What is 'virtual water' and how does it relate to the things we use every day?

'Virtual water' refers to the water used in the production of goods and materials. Even though we don't see this water, it's hidden in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the products we use. For example, producing a car can involve 40,000 gallons of water, even though that water isn't literally inside the car.

Why is it challenging to transport water between regions, and how does this lead to 'virtual water' movement?

It's nearly impossible to transport large amounts of water between regions due to logistical and cost constraints. However, by transporting goods like food and materials that require a lot of water to produce, countries effectively transfer 'virtual water' across the globe.

How is water consumption linked to food production, and what are some examples of the water required for various foods?

Food production consumes a significant amount of water. For example, producing one gallon of milk requires nearly 700 gallons of water. A single grape requires about 1/3 of a gallon, a walnut about 5 gallons, and a hamburger over 600 gallons.

What is the distinction between blue, green, and grey water?

Blue water is the fresh water from sources like lakes and rivers, often used for drinking and irrigation. Green water is rainwater stored in soil, used by plants. Grey water refers to polluted water that can no longer be used without treatment.

Why is the unsustainable use of groundwater a growing concern?

Groundwater is being depleted faster than it can naturally be replenished. Many regions rely on groundwater for irrigation and drinking, but overuse, like in the case of Libya’s Great Man-Made River, can lead to long-term shortages as these aquifers may take centuries to refill.

How does climate change affect the availability of fresh water?

Climate change leads to glacier melt, which threatens the major river systems that supply fresh water to billions of people in Asia. It also causes more frequent and severe droughts, like those seen in California and the Middle East.

What are some examples of conflicts over water that are already occurring?

Conflicts over water are already happening in regions like Central Asia around the Aral Sea, South India, and the Nile Basin. As water becomes scarcer, tensions over access and control of water resources are expected to grow.

Why is reducing virtual water consumption important, and how can individuals contribute?

Reducing virtual water consumption helps lower the demand for water-intensive products like meat and dairy. Individuals can contribute by making more sustainable choices, such as reducing meat consumption, eating locally, and being mindful of their overall water footprint.

What are the three R's of water sustainability, and how do they apply to water usage?

The three R's—reduce, reuse, and recycle—apply to water by encouraging people to cut back on water use (reduce), find ways to use water more than once (reuse), and develop technologies to clean and recycle wastewater back into the system (recycle).

How does water recycling offer a solution to the global water crisis?

Water recycling can help address water shortages by treating wastewater to make it usable again. This process accelerates the natural water cycle, allowing us to reuse water for various purposes and reducing reliance on scarce freshwater resources.