Water Resources in Food and Energy Production

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Abstract
Conflicts for water between US agriculture and energy sectors are projected to increase. Currently agriculture consumes 83% of the water withdrawn, and an increase of 17% is projected by the year 2000. At the same time, a major synfuel program from coal and oil shale could increase water consumption for energy production 4- to 30-fold over present levels. A significant portion of this growth in water demand will occur in the western states where most irrigated agriculture and one-half of US coal reserves are located. Environmental restrictions and the necessity to maintain aquatic ecosystems are additional constraints.