News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry. Parent comment

Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by thesausageking on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @07:55PM (#26963659)
This infographic is very misleading. All water isn't created equally. A liter in a very wet place like Florida used to grow strawberries doesn't have much of an impact, while a liter taken from depleted aquifers in dry, northern Texas makes a bad situation worse.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by Spooky23 on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:52PM (#26964065)
Water and land isn’t fungible.

US policy made it possible to grow produce in the desert for free. When climate changes reduce Colorado flow and groundwater in the Midwest runs out, you can’t just grow tomatoes in New Jersey and Long Island anymore. It’s converted to millions of homes and businesses.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by dsalzman on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:00PM (#26963711)
that is true, but just like oil water can be transported via pipelines.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by Retric on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:49PM (#26964046)
In theory sure, but not so much in practice. The east coast of the US dumps a lot of fresh water into the ocean, but trying to transport it to the Midwest is pardon the pun a herculean task.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by Clubber on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:58PM (#26964104)
We transfer millions of dollars of fresh Florida water all over the world every day at a profit margin of ~1600x. It comes in little plastic bottles.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by Retric on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @09:14PM (#26964206)
Now make it competitive with desalination at around 1/2 a cent a gallon and realize even that is far to expensive for agricultural use.

That’s the difference between theory and practice.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by CapitalistCartr on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:33PM (#26963940)
And, just as oil, it costs money, adding to the price.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry by ed25519FUUU on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:33PM (#26963941)
And, with enough electricity, taken right from the ocean.
[ Parent | on HN ]