Total industrial water
use in the world is about 22%, with high-income countries using
59%, and low-income countries using a minuscule 8%. These figures
will rise with industrial production.
Annual water volume
use by industry is increasing at an enormous rate. Annual water
volume use will most likely increase from 752 km3/year
in 1995 to 1,170 km3/year by the year 2025. All figures
are according to the website Water
Science For Schools.
According to the UN
World Water Development Report, some 300-500 million tons of heavy
metals, solvents, toxic sludge, and other wastes accumulate each
year from industry, most of which gets into the freshwater supply.
In some developing countries, 70% of industrial wastes are dumped
into untreated waters where they pollute the drinking water. Clearly,
there are some issues concerning freshwater supplies and industry
is a major contributor. See more interesting facts
and figures regarding industry and the water supply.
Major
Uses
Industry is reliant
on water for all levels of production. It can be used as a raw material,
solvent, coolant, transport agent, and energy source. According
to Environment Canada's website, many liters of water are used to
produce glass, plastic, along with some fabric components. Fresh
water is not just for drinking anymore.
Car washes are a great
example of an industry that uses gallons and gallons of water everyday.
People in developed countries use them frequently without really
thinking about all of the water being used. It is the Core countries
that use the majority of freshwater in industry, and the United
States leads the way. It is astounding if one thinks how much water
is consumed by industry. It is predicted to represent 24% of the
total freshwater withdrawal worldwide by 2025.
Now that one knows some
facts about industrial water use, along with its major uses, it
is time to explore some of the concerns regarding freshwater use
for industries.
Concerns
and Conservation
We have
learned that water is a necessity for all industrial production.
In turn that means water must be protected, conserved, and used
in a proper manner. For most industrial purposes, the water used
needs to be freshwater, not salt water, because salt can corrode
metal.
Another
major concern about water use in industry is that the government
does not regulate or enforce the standards put in place to conserve
water. Standards are put in place, however they are not closely
followed. According to the website CSE:
Down to Earth Supplement on Water Use in Industry: "Countries
across the world set water consumption standards and targets for
industries to achieve, and regularly revise the standards in a bid
to control water use. China, for instance, sets water targets for
major water consuming industrial sectors. According to a report
from the China Water Conservation Agency, the first national quotas
for industrial water consumption will push companies to save as
much as 6 billion cubic meters of water a year by 2005. Similar
water saving targets are fixed across the developed world."
To see more concerns facing the water supply in the future
see CSE:
Down to Earth Supplement on Water use in Industry.
Countries
need governing bodies to control water use and enforce those guidelines
strictly. Fresh water is needed for industries to survive, but it
is also needed for humans to survive. There needs to be a conservation
plan that is followed to help make freshwater accessible to all.