Since the cultivation of seeds early in human history, along with the domestication of animals, agriculture has formed the basis of support and stability that feeds society and allows it to progress. Once only located in climates where the soil could support it, it later began to spread throughout even arid regions through the use of irrigation. Now with many once desert areas supporting farmlands and crops previously impossible, it is easy to determine where the water in other locations has disappeared to.
Although the blame of water shortage is easy to switch to agriculture, realistically the problem lies in the population in areas where shortages occur. With only enough diverted water to support the land directly related to its population, the higher the population the higher the need of diversion. But is population the only cause for water loss, or are the inefficiencies of agriculture ultimately to blame?
In a comparison study between regular water use and agriculture use, studies have determined that of the water normally consumed by a population, the majority (roughly 90%) of the consumed water returns to the land and then the water cycle. Where agriculture is concerned, nearly half of the water used is lost to the atmosphere, and doesn’t return to the land. This loss can be attributed to evaporation, plant transpiration, or faulty pipes and watering systems (defective delivery networks or distribution lines). As these regions were dry to begin with, this loss is an expected but costly outcome.
With water returning to the soil and the water cycle, there is the action of giving back to the valuable water tables beneath. Though water given to the atmosphere has a chance to return as rain, there are two problems associated with it. The first problem is that arid climates are arid because there is little rain to begin with. The second problem is with cities and towns essentially blocking the water from returning to the water tables. This block occurs as a result of cement, asphalt, and buildings funneling water from roofs, streets, and what used to be bare earth, into storm drains that channel water into streams or rivers, and not giving it a chance to soak in. From this perspective, rain does little to return water to the usable cycle.
The act of rain water not returning to the water table, the inefficiencies associated with irrigation, and the loss of water due to evaporation from faulty aqueducts only accelerates the act of water lost in the process, water that could have been used elsewhere. With so many problems associated with loss, current practices are questioned and policies are adjusted. But until an easy solution can be found, the water loss will continue for the sake of the people reliant on the produce.
