When I first joined the faculty of what is now the O’Neil School of Public and Environmental Affairs, I was fortunate to have my friend Bill Blomquist (then a political science professor, later Dean of Liberal Arts) as an informal academic mentor. Joining the faculty meant–among many other new things–formulating a research agenda, and my lack of understanding of what that entailed might best be conveyed by a brief anecdote: the dean who hired me had noted that I would need to do a lot of reading to keep up in my field. I went home and asked my husband “what do you suppose my field is?” (I still don’t have one.)
Bill helped me sort out a number of academic conventions that I found confusing and/or daunting. During our discussions, I asked him about his own research agenda, and he told me he researched water.
Water?
Bill explained that water–or more accurately, its scarcity– was becoming increasingly political, especially in the West, where there were competing claims to water from the Colorado River. That discussion took place nearly 30 years ago, and as usual, Bill saw the future a lot more clearly than I did.
I thought about my original reaction to the notion of centering one’s research on water rights when I came across an article from Medium on the subject of “water wars.” The lede tells the tale:
Myriad stories have been written about the fight over water rights in the West, especially after 20+ years of a megadrought. The Colorado River Compact was written 101 years ago and no longer applies to today’s environmental conditions.
However, there’s a new area where water is running short: the Midwest.
From Minnesota to Missouri and Iowa to Indiana, the market is quickly identifying water as the most precious resource it always has been.
it turns out that some 50% of the Midwest is technically in drought right now. According to the article, 94% of Iowa is currently in drought, with 24% in extreme drought. And drought is still impacting 68% of Wisconsin and 58% of Minnesota. The report says that the small city of Caney, Kansas will have zero water by next March 1st without decent rain.
All this might be surprising since we’re in the middle of November, but you need to remember that warming temperatures extend the growing season, which increases the amount of water that needs to be used for irrigation. This is just one example of the cascading effects of climate change.
We’re seeing those same effects up and down the Midwest and Plains states, as the Mississippi River is at historically low levels, which translates to smaller loads in the barges that transport much of the country’s grain.
As of Sept. 18, between Cairo, Illinois, and the Gulf of Mexico, average loading drafts for barges are down 24% and average tow sizes are down 17–38%.
Combined, this means more barges will be needed to move the same quantity of products and more boats will be needed…
Water wars are no longer confined to the American West, and we are seeing one emerge right here in Indiana, where a proposed industrial park in Lebanon, Indiana, wants to divert 100 million gallons of water from Tippecanoe County every single day. Boone County, where Lebanon is located, doesn’t have enough water to meet the needs of the kinds of manufacturers Lebanon hopes to attract.
The proposal calls for water to be drawn from the Alluvial Aquifer in Tippecanoe County. That aquifer is not directly connected to the aquifer that both West Lafayette and Lafayette draw from but experts say it is unclear whether the two aquifers could impact one another.
For obvious reasons, residents of Lafayette have reservations. A well-attended forum addressing the issue was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette; at the Tippecanoe County Fairground during a question and answer period, experts participating on the panel were asked if the pipeline valve to Lebanon would be closed if there was a drought event impacting Tippecanoe County. The question was met with applause from the crowd.
Water can clearly be political…
Only 0.5 per cent of water on Earth is useable and available freshwater – and climate change is dangerously affecting that supply. Over the past twenty years, terrestrial water storage – including soil moisture, snow and ice – has dropped at a rate of 1 cm per year, with major ramifications for water security.
Remember the sailor’s lament from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge? “Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink…..”
Yes indeed. I wonder if Canada will become the wealthy water seller. It seems they have a lot of lakes and water.
There is a fascinating book named “Running Out” that traces the overuse and decline of the aquafer in Kansas by large farms and corporate interests. Like the war on buffalo more than a century ago, people know they are doing something unsustainable but can’t help themselves.
I live near Rochester, NY, right on the south shore of Lake Ontario.
The Great Lakes Watershed drains a considerable area of the North Central US and South Central Canada over Niagara Falls, into Lake Ontario, and out the St Lawerance River into the North Atlantic. https://images.app.goo.gl/VhmbKunefC4nqeZv5
Niagara Falls and St Lawrence generate a considerable amount of electrical energy for the US and Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses-Saunders_Power_Dam from flow of water into, then out of, the Great Lakes watershed.
The St Lawrence Seaway shipping route connects the Midwest to the rest of the world.
Many places like Rochester use the great lakes for both treated sewage disposal and fresh water.
How does that work? Life is built from organic chemicals from conception and consumes other living things and produces organic waste through the whole life cycle. Death ends the life cycle and produces more organic waste. Bacteria consumes organic waste back into organic chemicals and water. https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/earth-system/biogeochemical-cycles.
The point is that water and organic chemicals are the secret to all life, and , so does human civilization depend on water flow for green energy production and transportation.
Whoever said everything is connected knows all of this.
Human civilization energy production from organic (fossil) fuels) moves carbon (the required ingredient of everything organic) from useful to harmful because it changes the weather patterns that distribute water around Earth.
When humans compete rather than cooperate with nature we lose every time, over time.
Humans need “woke” and education to continue to thrive on the single home of life (as far as we know).
I live near Rochester, NY, right on the south shore of Lake Ontario.
The Great Lakes Watershed drains a considerable area of the North Central US and South Central Canada over Niagara Falls, into Lake Ontario, and out the St Lawerance River into the North Atlantic. https://images.app.goo.gl/VhmbKunefC4nqeZv5
Niagara Falls and St Lawrence generate a considerable amount of electrical energy for the US and Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses-Saunders_Power_Dam from flow of water into, then out of, the Great Lakes watershed. The St Lawrence Seaway shipping route connects the Midwest to the rest of the world.
Many places like Rochester use the great lakes for both treated sewage disposal and fresh water. How does that work? Life is built from organic chemicals from conception and consumes other living things and produces organic waste through the whole life cycle. Death ends the life cycle and produces more organic waste. Bacteria consumes organic waste back into organic chemicals and water. https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/earth-system/biogeochemical-cycles.
The point is that water and organic chemicals are the secret to all life, and , so does human civilization depend on water flow for green energy production and transportation.
Whoever said everything is connected knows all of this. Human civilization energy production from organic (fossil) fuels) moves carbon (the required ingredient of everything organic) from useful to harmful because it changes the weather patterns that distribute water around Earth.
When humans compete with, rather than cooperate with the nature that we are part of, we lose every time, over time.
Humans need “woke” and education to continue to thrive on the single home of life (As far as we know).
https://youtu.be/yqc9zX04DXs?si=xSKrjmP3lFOH0S45
For those who actually want to DO something about the water problems of central Indiana you can go to the Hoosier Environmental Council’s web site and sign the petition protesting the “development” of the Class III wet land in southeast Marion County. After that bit of action ask some questions about the water you use, questions like “Exactly where does the water come from that I drink?” and “What happens to the rain water that falls on my land?” If you are really inquisitive, you might want to do some research on aquafers, wet lands and water rights.
An informed citizen is a smart voter.
For the last several months, the New York Times has been running a series about ground water in the US. It’s treated like it’s inexhaustible and their articles paints a bleak picture opposing that viewpoint. State and federal regulations are patchy and poorly enforced. Usually the first indication there’s a problem is when some homeowners well suddenly goes dry.
It’s definitely an area that needs serious regulatory scrutiny.
I love living in Canada and being Canadian. There are many reasons for this: family, safety, health care, education, multiculturalism, environment, resources, _space_, etc., etc. And fresh water may be the biggest resource reason. You better believe we think about this. 🙂
Pat, Canada is third in fresh water supply behind Brazil and Russia.
Pat, John H, I had a friend about 20 years ago from Canada (Edmonton), and even then she would scream about how the US was ‘stealing’ Canadian water (the water was safe from her, she drank spirits 🙂 Lots and lots of spirits)
But all kidding aside, as stated above, while much of the earth is covered with water, very very little is potable. This is just another example of something we take for granted until it’s not there.
Sheila. Thank you for addressing this issue. As a former science teacher, I have been banging this drum for decades.
What?? Global warming ?? No such thing! Just ask all the GOPIGGIES who have never, and will never, apologize for their denial.
Pete, I’m currently reading a related book, “Symphony in C…Carbon and the Evolution of (Almost) Everything,” by Robert M. Hazen. He is, among other things, the Clarence Robinson Professor of
Earth Science at George Mason University.
The fellow who, apparently, first said that everything is connected to everything was John Muir, and the impact is that nothing happens in isolation.
I got involved in the proposed damming of the White River in Anderson to build a reservoir. It was done hastily and became very political. They failed to address all the contaminated soil in Anderson left behind by the auto industry, among other issues. There were plenty of political forums, pros and cons, AND lots of propaganda churning by the “economic development folks.”
As it turned out, Nestle in Anderson was sucking off tons of fresh water from the White River for their business use and then reselling to the public.
The proposal didn’t survive the scrutiny and examination even with Mike Pence’s endorsement.
99% of Indiana’s fresh water is polluted with algae and bacteria from all the CAFOs. Not to mention all the pharmaceuticals and plastics. Have no fear; Hoosiers buy bottled water from protected springs bottled in plastic containers. #assinine
Whoever recommended Hoosier Environment Council, I second that motion. Check out their website and look at CAFO Watch, which shows the thousands of manure lagoons polluting our fresh water supply.
IDEM is the most corrupt government department in Indiana, next to INDOT. Lottery and Gambling may be a strong tie for 3rd most corrupt.
https://muncievoice.com/podcast/oligarchy-animal-industrial-complex/
A great book for more learning more about this: “Blue Revolution” by Cynthia Barnett. It is as scary as climate change itself…
If you think it’s bad in Indiana, you should check out good old Florida. Everyone talks a good game, all while plotting to develop more wetland. Just one more difference between red states and blue.
One thing to keep in mind. There is exactly as much water on earth as there has been since before our species emerged thanks to evolution.
We do have a distribution problem thanks to too many people living too civilized and to progress that brought us here to this place of ultimate human comfort.
This is an interesting bit of knowledge about ground water. As water sinks down through the soil and into the vast aquifer after a year any of the bacteria in that water dies off. The cold does it. What does not die off is chemicals… farm chemicals and industrial chemicals. Down there, deep underground, those chemical laden waters are merging and mixing together in some Frankenstein ways. Water purification systems will remove bacteria that might be there if the well site is less than a year old, but it will not remove all the chemicals.
You know, with all of the talk about climate change and its consequences (water and food shortages, etc.), environmental degradation and the likely extinction of many, many animals and plants, no one ever seems to mention out-of-control population growth. The world is currently at 7.888 billion and expected to reach 9 billion by mid-century. Everyone complains about congested highways, rampant development (especially in the coastal South) and reduced resources everywhere. But no one ever mentions that there are just too many damn people. There was a time when Zero population growth was considered a good idea. There should be tax incentives for NOT having children. I saw an fascinating piece on “60 Minutes” this past Sunday about Quantum computing (which is way beyond my ability to explain accurately; just Google it.) Between that and AI, these 2 technologies just might figure out we’re not a very successful species and wipe us out!!
Zero population growth may be desirable, but there are downsides. See China. Think about who might be persuaded to skip children.
So what are we going to do about it? Massive desalination? Undersea pipeline projects? Converted oil tankers? Great Lakes pipelines? Seeded clouds?
Let’s take a look at my take on how this looming disaster is likely be managed. Perhaps when faced with global disaster Republican politicians will abandon their get even antics and negotiate with water-rich countries for such excess resource, and if Trump is elected he can appoint the Brazilian and former congressman George Santos to conduct such negotiations with Brazil on our behalf – so what could go wrong when we have such ace negotiators?
To be even more concerned with the opportunities for profit afforded by the coming shortage, there are terminal capitalists in the oil business who have enormous resources for investment and a looming drop in demand for oil such as MBS, so perhaps Khashoggi’s murderer will pre-empt “dry” governments by contracting with “wet” governments for their excess water and re-sell such resource to “dry” governments or private contractors for resale under the same monopoly conditions (OPEC) he as the dominant partner of OPEC now sells oil to the world, and via a corporate structure in which he can sell stock while retaining control, all free from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, with a cut to a Swiss or Cayman bank to then President Trump for his assistance in negotiations leading to such contract with Brazil. If all else fails, we can always go on bended knee to our much nearer and friendlier northern neighbor, Canada, for relief.
Far out? It can’t happen here? Little to nothing is far out in an era which may feature election of a self-admitted fascist president who is facing 91 felony counts, and don’t get me started on Wall Street and various international cartels, who see opportunities for profit in every human disaster and endeavor. . .
Here is a link to an in-depth study by the Purdue University Agriculture dept about how climate change is currently affecting agriculture and how it will drastically affect food production by mid-century. Water availability and increasing temperatures will have serious consequences.
https://ag.purdue.edu/indianaclimate/agriculture-report/
DNR department in charge of wetlands is located in Denver Co. When the Federal government has shut down due to Congressional squabbling those department chiefs/employees continue to work since they are funded by the Teddy Roosevelt foundation. Also, US Department of Justice has environmental/conservation departments working constantly on these issues. It’s vital that libertine capitalists aren’t allowed to take over the use of these resources.
Everytime I think about water rights and fights I think of Native Americans and how they have been championing the importance of water for their communities. In fact, over all I worry about what will happen to these folks who are such strong advocates for the environment while living someplace like the United States where the population doesn’t seem to actively care about issues like population, consumption, and pollution. I cringe everytime I hear someone say in defense “I recycle”. As if that is all that is needed. As it is, I live outside the city where they are developing all sorts of housing and roundabouts which is dislocating all the wildlife. Our local grocery stores out here can’t seem to keep enough in stock for the population that is here and yet they are widening roads in anticipation of more traffic. In other words, prepare for things to get worse if people don’t start paying better attention.
Sheila, after leaving a degree in mechanical engineering and studying chemical engineering at the University of Texas. I worked in a refinery and a chemical plant I went to work for a fortune 500 chemical company as technical Director. I started my own company. I taught engineering in five continents. and worked on numerous industrial projects. In 1994 I was chosen as man of the year for the American Association of water technologist. A large percentage of my presentations had to do with water used used in industrial plants. I have patents in the US and Asia. I have pointed out that Texas has seven rivers, and together with the water we waste, bye, eliminating Mississippi river flowing into the golf. I believe that the ultimate solution is to utilize nuclear power plants that produce a handle amount of waste china, and India are scheduled to build 18 nuclear plants. Presently the United States has over 100 reactors that police no CO2 or any greenhouse gases. both climate problems and water problems will be solved using nuclear reactors. Bill Gates is the only influential person taking this stand.
Kathy M > True, and as Vern often suggests, we are having too many people for the planet to accommodate, and if the present Republican cultists think our southern borders are bringing us troubles, just wait until an exploding Africa makes itself known in this hemisphere. Them cultists ain’t seen nuthin’ yet, and white racists who need to have someone to hate may then ally themselves with American blacks who are culturally assimilated, speak English, and contributors to society, since racism is not just about color (as we have seen with Trump’s and Hitler’s fascist “vermin” chatter, Rwanda, master-servant, class distinction by rich/ poor etc.).
China’s attempt to limit population increase failed, or depending on your point of view, succeeded, and I confess that I don’t know how to make a law or instill an ethos that would likely succeed in saving our planet and its waning resources from the ravages of overpopulation, which I would leave not to lawyers and medical doctors but rather to sociologists.
Not mentioned in above comments is controlling how we use water. I worked for a while in Scottsdale, AZ, and was appalled to see— every morning —rivers running in the streets from spray irrigation of elaborate boulevard plantings. Miles of uncovered canals bringing water from dammed rivers allowed evaporation of water by countless tons— every day. Golf courses in the AZ desert took and largely evaporated huge amounts of water. Finally, almost unbelievably, agriculture is a major industry in The Valley of The Sun, and consumes the largest portion of water. The only recourse— and only a short term fix— is limitation of household and industrial water usage, minimizing evaporative losses, and restricting new draws on the supplies (developers’ hands tremble). The needed changes would mean sharp constriction of some personal liberties— lawns and home swimming pools forbidden, brown golf courses, no long showers, forced recycling of “used” water, and much more. What it would take to get the US public behind such changes is beyond me. Disasters will be required, I suspect.
Decades ago our son was get his undergrad degree in Geology. He told us over and over that the future wars would be fought over water, not fossil fuel resources.
Cut to the current plan to pipe water from the Wabash to Lebanon to the tune of 100M gals per day. No one to my knowledge has addressed the issue of waste water disposal from a production facility that has few options for disposal into existing waterways that will not profoundly impact downstream communities both in containment and pollution control. The costs will be enormous.
The draw off from the aquifer certainly must have impacts on downstream communities along the Wabash corridor as well. I have serious concerns about the quality of research being done on the project. Who hired them and what did they want to results to show? It matters.
Our Great Lakes are one of the largest depositories of fresh water in the world yet we, as local, state and federal, public and private, actors have been using them as sewers for a couple of centuries. It is still going on daily. Just ask anyone living up in the region.
Our perils, physical, financial, political, cultural, remain intrinsically tied together yet we continue to think short term, with blind commitment to “progress”. To what end do we progress?
“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”
Becky — rRght! You’re headed to OZ! Good luck there!
amazingly, for the second time in a couple of weeks: what Todd said.
CGH, are you referencing the key initial plot point of the movie Idiocracy??
Thank you for writing this!
The aquifer in Tippecanoe county mentioned in this article IS immersed with the Teays aquifer, from which most of Tippecanoe County gets its water. That is per a public comment by the hydrologist employed by INTERA who is testing how much water can be pumped from the Wabash alluvial aquifer. During the 1st testing period residents on private wells that draw from the Teays experienced problems.
JD: INTERA was hired by the IEDC. The massive industrial development in Lebanon,IN is the IEDC’s scheme, er, plan.